New IAEA guide on protecting workers against radon exposure

The IAEA, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), has published a safety guide on protecting workers from radon exposure. Radon is a radioactive gas produced from the decay of uranium and rocks. It can accumulate in several workplaces, from offices to industrial premises processing naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM), and is the second leading cause of lung cancer worldwide. According to Laura Urso, Acting Head of the IAEA Radiation Protection Unit, the new guide offers practical recommendations on protection against radon and aims to help governments, regulatory bodies, and other relevant authorities in identifying workplaces where radon exposure may be a concern and strengthening protective measures for workers. The publication focuses on a graded approach and the principles of justification and optimization of protection and safety. For Niu Shengli, ILO Senior Specialist on Occupational Health and Radiation, it offers a “framework” for more effective safety measures in radon-prone workplaces.
The IAEA guide also sets qualification requirements for service providers offering individual monitoring or calibration services related to radon and thoron. According to Rachel Lane, radiation and health sciences specialist at the Canadian Safety Nuclear Commission, it emphasizes radiation protection measures to reduce occupational radon exposure and ensure the continued protection of workers. Roges de Oliveira, a researcher at the Brazilian Nuclear Energy Commission, also commended the guide as “very useful” for planning strategies against radon exposure and establishing requirements for the safety of workers. The publication is available free of charge on the IAEA website.