Radon Gas
Overview
The Management of Health & Safety at
Work Regulations requires all employers to carry out a radon risk
assessment yet many are unaware of this requirement or, more
commonly, unaware that the risk even exists.
Meanwhile, specialist health & safety
lawyers are calling radon 'the new asbestos'.
Radon is a naturally occurring gas that can
escape from the ground and enter buildings. Long-term exposure to
elevated levels can lead to lung cancer, causing over 2000 deaths
from the disease every year in the UK.
Of these, around 270 are believed to occur
due to exposure received whilst in the workplace.
High levels of radon have been found all
over the country, and speakers propertECO have carried out remedial
work to commercial buildings in the South Downs area.
This seminar will explain what radon is and
how it gets inside buildings, how to test for it and the methods
remediation that can be used if high levels are found, as
well as discussing the requirements regarding radon under the
Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations.
What's in it for me?
Come along and meet like minded colleagues. Its an excellent
opportunity to network and share concerns and ideas.
Who should attend?
All branch members are welcome as well as guests. Come along
even if you are a member of one of our sister branches.
Speakers
Martin Freeman, Managing
Director
Beginning his career as a 'man in a van', Martin has
over 40 years' practical & technical experience in the building
preservation industry.
In addition to working in senior management
roles at several regional and national contracting firms, Martin
has owned a laboratory consultancy specialising in the resolution
of disputes involving biodeterioration of timber and problems of
dampness in buildings. His experience in this field is unrivalled,
and he has an international client base to show for it.
An innovator at heart, Martin has been involved in the
development, testing and introduction of numerous techniques now
taken as standard. These include field trials of water-based wood
preservatives, boron rods for joinery preservation, co-development
of the Helibar System of structural stabilisation and the invention
of a combined system offering basement waterproofing and radon
control. He was also the co-author of two Government publications
on the use of wood treatment in buildings and a member of the ad
hoc committee of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides’ Scientific
Sub-committee.
Martin has been at the forefront of the radon industry since the
early 1990s, when he was the initiator of the industry technical
and self-regulatory body, The Radon Council, of which he is
currently Technical Affairs Spokesman.
Martin has a strong personal interest in radon, and has fought
for many years for the hazard to receive more attention amongst
Government, professionals and the general public. He has
represented the UK at international conferences on the subject, and
has been involved in consultations with some of the world’s leading
specialists in the field.
Martin is a regular speaker at industry conferences and events,
and has received wide praise for his seminars that cover both
technical and practical advice. He has been invited to speak at
numerous events for Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors,
Chartered Institute of Building, British Institute of Facilities
Managers and Association of Building Engineers.
Rebecca Kench, Commercial Director
Rebecca graduated from the University of Bath with First
Class Honours in BSc. Business Administration in 2007. Focusing on
a mixture of project management and marketing, Rebecca spent time
working at BMW and a specialist drinks consultancy firm before
settling into the construction industry upon graduating.
Rebecca spent four years working for a national specialist
building contractor, where she oversaw the re-branding of the
company, authored articles that have featured in numerous technical
journals and was involved in the development and marketing of new
products and services.
Rebecca has devoted much of her time into the field of radon gas
and has become one of the country’s leading communicators on the
subject. She has devised methods of ensuring that the risks of
exposure are easily understandable by non-scientists and to
increase the awareness of the naturally occurring carcinogen in the
UK, Rebecca organised a link-up with US charity, Cancer Survivors
Against Radon (CanSAR) to raise radon awareness amongst the general
public through social networking; The Radon Tee World Trek has seen
a t-shirt with the slogan Reduce Radon travel across the UK &
Europe to be photographed with members of the public and
professionals alike.
Rebecca’s expertise has been called upon by external
organisations, and she has been involved in policy consultations
regarding radon with the Health Protection Agency and Building
Research Establishment and has attended international conferences
on the subject.
Rebecca has worked closely with research scientists in the
development of Thermalogix, and heads-up the PropertECO new product
development team.
In addition to speaking at industry conferences on a wide range
of subjects, Rebecca delivers in-house CPD seminars and training
courses for professionals including architects, engineers,
surveyors and project managers.
What you need to know?
K2 Crawley, Pease Pottage Hill, Crawley, RH11 9BQ. Branch
Meetings are held at 19:00 with refreshments available from 18:30.
For further information please contact the Branch Secretary
Nick Stubbs