Hybrid working is now a normal work practice, and one that is fairly common across the UK, but with it comes a new set of challenges for health and safety. One often-overlooked risk is radon exposure, a naturally occurring radioactive gas that can accumulate indoors and is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking.

Why Radon Matters

Radon is the largest source of radiation for most people in the UK. It’s not often talked about, as outdoors it dissipates harmlessly, but indoors, and especially in basements or poorly ventilated spaces, it can build to dangerous levels.

While most inhaled radon is exhaled, its decay products can lodge in the lungs, emitting radiation that damages cells over time.

Hybrid Working & Home Offices

With more and more employees working from home, often in converted spaces like basements, radon risk assessments are essential. Employers have the same duty of care for home workers as for office-based staff. This includes considering environmental risks alongside stress and ergonomic factors.

HSE Guidance:

The HSE have confirmed that: “Where employees work from home, then employers have a responsibility to risk assess that work activity under The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 and that will include consideration of radon in the home. It is up to the employer if they wish to pay for testing of the home environment.

HSE sought legal advice on the subject of radon exposure to homeworkers and application of IRR17 and, in short, the legal position given was that employers had to consider radon exposure to homeworkers and provide relevant information about the risks and options for checking the radon map and testing etc., but it would not be deemed reasonably practicable for an employer to arrange and pay for radon remediation of an employee’s home. ”

When Should You Test?

• Above Ground: Test if your property is in a radon-affected area (check the UKHSA Radon Map)
• Below Ground: Always test if you have an occupied basement office—regardless of location.

Managing Radon Risk for Hybrid Workers

• Provide information on how to assess the risk
• Encourage staff to measure the radon levels
• Notify HSE if staff are working in elevated radon environments
• Encourage staff to install a mitigation system
• Offer a safe alternative workspace

Actions for Employers

• Provide staff with information and encourage radon testing
• Offer safe alternative workspaces if mitigation isn’t immediately possible
• Include radon in home worker risk assessments

Further Resources

• UK Radon Association – Information for Employers
• UKHSA Radon Guidance
• Radon Awareness Week – 2^nd-8^th November 2026