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Lessons learned from surveillance: General procedure for controlling occupational exposure to radon

This article provides a historical overview of radon measurements and investigations in mines, as well as other workplaces in Germany. It discusses the lessons learned from surveillance and outlines a general procedure for controlling occupational exposure to radon. The article also highlights the importance of protective measures, limitation of time spent in workplaces, intensive airing, systematic ventilation, and engineering controls. Recommendations, action levels, and guidelines for workplace monitoring and individual measurements are also provided.

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Lessons learned from surveillance: General procedure for controlling occupational exposure to radon

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  1. Lessons Learned from the Surveillance:General Procedure for Controlling Occupational Exposure to Radon T. Beck, E. Ettenhuber Federal Office for Radiation Protection Germany

  2. 1898 Discovery of radium and the radium emanation by M. and P. Curie 1901 First radon measurements by Elster and Geitel in mines of Schneeberg 1920 More precise radon measurements in mines of Schneeberg and Jachymov by Lorenser and Ludewig 1936 Comprehensive investigations in mines of Schneeberg by Rajewsky et al.1944 History - Radon in old mines Average level: 100 kBq.m-3Maximum: 500 kBq.m-3

  3. History - Radon in uranium mines

  4. History - Radon at workplaces other than uranium mines Since 1970 in the Ore Mountains underground mines shaft construction works works in abandoned mines show caves waterworks radon spas Since 1980 in other parts of Germany Several underground workplaces, coal mines waterworks Workplace monitoring, PAEC and radon measurements

  5. Lessons learned from the surveillance Workplaces of concern Mines in operation including tourist mines and caves (exceptions: coal mines, salt mines) Waterworks drawing ground water Spas (small number of workplaces) Normal buildings • Protection measures • Limitation of the time staying in workplaces • Intensive airing before start of work • Systematic ventilation • Engineering control • Sealing of radon sources

  6. Conception of investigations There‘s no universal panacea ! The goal of investigation governs the approach • General overview on the situation • Identifying workplaces of concern • Decision on protective or remedial measures • Planning of protective or remedial measures • Success control • Monitoring of workers exposure Individual measurements should be made if workers have to be systematically monitored

  7. Action level International BSS: 1000 Bq/m³ Annual average value F: 0,4 Annual effective dose of 6 mSv • Recommendations: • A time-integrated radon concentrations should be specified explicitly as action level • 2 . 106 Bq h m³ complies with the annual effective dose of 6 mSv (criterion for category A workers)

  8. Optimized approach to include workplaces in the institutional control Guideline: Directive 96/29 EURATOM Identification of work activities of concern (Article 40, clause 1) Implementation of corrective measures (Article 41 a) Application of radiation protection measures pursuant to all or parts of Titles III, IV, V, VI and VIII (Article 41 b) Individual monitoring shall be systematic for exposed category A workers (Article 25, clause 1) More simple monitoring for category B workers (Article 25, clause 2)

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