Arbeitsplätze mit erhöhter Radonkonzentration Registrierung

As a company, you must measure the radon concentration in radon precautionary areas and, since January 2019, declare workplaces where the reference value is exceeded despite protective measures.

Radon is a natural decay product from the uranium-radium series that is present everywhere on earth and contributes significantly to natural environmental radioactivity. It is colourless, odourless and tasteless and escapes from the ground through cracks and fissures into the air we breathe and can accumulate indoors. Inhalation increases the risk of developing lung cancer.

If you are responsible for workplaces in an indoor area, you must have the radon concentration measured within the time limits specified in the Radiation Protection Act.

This applies to workplaces on the ground floor or basement level in parts of the country that have a particular radon situation. Until the end of 2018, corresponding regulations applied to particularly exposed workplaces such as in mines, radon spas or waterworks.

By the end of 2020, the federal states must identify radon precautionary areas; these are areas in which a high radon concentration is to be expected in a considerable number of buildings. The responsible state authority publishes the determination of the radon precautionary areas.

The measurement must be carried out within 18 months - after the radon precautionary area has been defined and the occupational activity has commenced or, in the case of particularly exposed workplaces, after the occupational activity has commenced at the workplace.

If the radon concentration at the workplace is more than 300 becquerels per cubic metre, you must take measures to reduce the radon concentration. The measures must have been taken within 24 months and the results of a new measurement must be available. Exceptions to this obligation are possible under strict conditions.

If the radon concentration at the workplace cannot be reduced below 300 becquerels per cubic metre despite reduction measures, you must register the workplace with the competent Land authority, estimate the radiation dose to be expected for the employees within a period of six months and take further measures if necessary.

The notification must be accompanied by:

• information on the type of workplace and the number of workplaces concerned
• the results of the measurements
• information on the measures taken to reduce the radon-222 activity concentration and the results of a control measurement after these measures have been carried out
• the further measures envisaged to reduce exposure

• Your company's workplaces are located in radon precautionary areas that have elevated radon levels or the nature of the workplace may result in elevated radon concentrations
• The measured radon concentration at a workplace exceeds the reference value of 300 becquerels per cubic meter

The competent authority may charge a fee for the registration.

Costs are incurred for the use of the measuring equipment of a recognised body and the evaluation of the measurement.

If your company is located in a radon precautionary area or has particularly exposed workplaces:

• Measure the radon concentration in the rooms of your company over a period of one year.
• You can obtain measuring devices (dosimeters) from a body that is recognised by the Federal Office for Radiation Protection.
• If the evaluation of the measurement shows a radon concentration that exceeds the reference value of 300 becquerels per cubic meter, measures must be taken in the building to reduce the radon concentration.
• Possible measures include closing off openings in the areas that touch the ground and sealing between the basement and living spaces, such as basement doors.
• Take another control measurement after the remediation is complete.
• If the radon concentration continues to exceed the reference value, register the affected workplaces with the relevant state authority .
• Within six months of the notification, the exposure of the affected workplaces must be estimated. If the estimate shows that the exposure may exceed an effective dose of 6 millisieverts per year, this workplace must be monitored with regard to radiation protection and the exposure of the workers must be determined.
• If an affected workplace is monitored with regard to radiation protection, you as the employer must register the employees in the Radiation Protection Register of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection as well as with the competent official measuring agency.

Persons for whom entries are made in the Radiation Protection Register of the BfS will require a unique personal identifier from 31.12.2018: the so-called Radiation Protection Register number (SSR number).

• If your company is located in a radon precautionary area, you must start measurements to determine the radon concentration at workplaces in basements and ground floors so that the results are available within 18 months.
• If you have workplaces where increased radon concentrations are to be expected due to the nature of the work area, you must also start measurements so that the results are available within 18 months.
• If the reference value is exceeded, you must take reduction measures and take new measurements so that results are available within 24 months.
• If the reference value continues to be exceeded, you must immediately register the workplace with the competent Land authority and carry out a dose assessment within six months.

• Radiation Protection Act and Radiation Protection Ordinance - In force since 31 December 2018.
• Measuring and, if necessary, notification obligation for companies for workplaces with potentially elevated radon concentrations.
• This applies to workplaces on the ground floor or basement level in parts of the country with a special radon situation, as well as to particularly exposed workplaces
• Up to and including 2018, there were only regulations for particularly exposed workplaces such as in mines, radon spas, waterworks
• Until the end of 2020: federal states determine in which areas the radon concentration is elevated (radon precautionary areas)
• If workplace radon concentration exceeds 300 becquerels per cubic metre: Initiate reduction measures
• In case of a value above 300 Becquerel per cubic metre despite reduction measures: Register workplace
• Responsible: competent state authority

Federal Office for Radiation Protection
PO Box 10 01 49
D-38201 Salzgitter

Telephone/Telefax

Telephone 030 18333-0
Fax 030 18333-18 85

Contact to the Radiation Protection Register

Federal Office for Radiation Protection
Radiation Protection Register

Ingolstädter Landstraße 1
85764 Oberschleißheim / Neuherberg
Germany

E-mail: ssr@bfs.de

Fax: 030 18333-2415

Competent state authorities

• Forms: Please check with your local authority to see if forms are available.
• Online procedure possible: no
• Written form required: yes
• Personal appearance necessary: no