duration

Location
Virtual

Get the latest practical advice on tackling radon, a classified HHSRS radiation hazard and under the scrutiny of the RSH.

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    The facts and figures are hard to ignore:

    • Radon is the second biggest cause of lung cancer in the UK after smoking. It causes over 1,100 lung cancer deaths in the UK every year (in comparison, asbestos is linked to around 5,000 deaths a year and Legionella to 13 deaths in 2024). The danger is much greater for smokers and ex-smokers (synergistic effect)
    • Radon is classified as a radiation hazard under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS)
    • It is a colourless, odourless and tasteless radioactive gas that can enter homes from the ground – so residents won’t know they are being exposed
    • No housing type is automatically exempt. Victorian terraces, particularly those with basements, post-war semis, modern new-builds, flats and bungalows can all be affected
    • There is no safe threshold, but risk is low below 100 Bq/m³ and rises sharply above 200 Bq/m³.

    The responsibilities are clear. Every housing provider must test where required, remediate where necessary, and should maintain a live risk register.

    Yet, in HQN’s experience, very few landlords have a good understanding of the risks in their stock.

    This event takes a practical look at what providers should know and do.

    Wayne Hughes, HQN’s asset management and building safety expert, will set out the processes providers need to have in place – from screening stock and identifying higher-risk homes through to testing, recording results, remediation and retesting. He’ll also look at the evidence, governance and reporting boards need to provide effective oversight and assurance.

    Nicky Hutt, UKHSA will talk about the specialist guidance and resources that are available as the UK’s primary authority on radiation protection.

    Jonny Jones, Two Rivers, will talk about his organisation’s approach – what they consider, how they manage risk across their homes, what they have put in place to provide assurance plus their experience with the RSH during their recent inspection at which they achieved a C1 grading.

    Why attend?

    • Understand why radon matters in a housing context and how it links to HHSRS, resident safety and the Safety and Quality Standard
    • Hear directly from UKHSA on radon risk, mapping, measurement, testing and the meaning of target and action levels
    • Learn from Two Rivers Housing about measurement, prioritisation, follow-up works, risk-based management planning and assurance
    • Take away practical prompts for stock screening, risk registers, remediation planning and board reporting.

    Who should attend?

    This session will be useful for anyone with responsibility for resident safety, building safety, compliance, asset management, repairs, stock condition, governance, risk, assurance or customer-facing housing services.

    It will be particularly relevant for:

    • Compliance and building safety leads
    • Asset management and repairs teams
    • Stock condition and data leads
    • Housing management and neighbourhood teams
    • Governance, risk and assurance teams
    • Senior leaders and board members
    • Anyone responsible for understanding and managing health and safety risks in homes.
  • Our speakers

    Wayne Hughes, HQN Associate; author of Putting radon on the radar

    Wayne Hughes is an experienced consultant who has worked at a senior level within private and public sector housing related organisations for the past 40 years.

    He has authored several articles on asset management related activities and has sat on several advisory bodies for the social housing sector, including sitting on the panel which developed the widely used Disrepair Pre-action Protocol. He was also part of the team which established the English House Condition Survey (now called the English Housing Survey).

    Mark Statton, Head of Asset Safety, Cornwall Housing
    Mark Statton is Head of Asset Safety at Cornwall Housing, with responsibility for a range of building and resident safety areas, including radon.

    He brings practical experience of managing radon as a significant local issue in Cornwall, including the challenges around monitoring, specialist contractors and trained inspectors. Mark’s work provides a useful provider perspective on putting radon management into practice and learning from the journey along the way.

    Nicky Hutt, Radon Services Team Leader, UK Health Security Agency
    Nicky Hutt has worked at UKHSA and its predecessors for over 20 years. Nicky holds a degree in communication, media and culture and over the years, has taken special interest in the radon group’s website www.ukradon.org. She currently heads up the radon services team, which handles around 20,000 radon measurements in homes and workplaces per year. The team also provides specialist advice to members of the public and customers on all aspects of radon.
  • Programme

    9:30am Welcome and introductions

    Wayne Hughes, HQN Associate

    9:40am Putting radon on the radar: Why this matters for housing providers

    Wayne Hughes, HQN Associate and author of Putting radon on the radar
    • Overview of radon from a landlord repairs, maintenance, safety and compliance perspective

    10:10am UKHSA perspective: Radon risk, mapping, measurement and guidance

    Nicky Hutt, Radon Services Team Leader, UK Health Security Agency
    • The work of UKHSA
    • Resources that are available
    • Key facts and figures about radon.

    10:45am Break

    11:00am Landlord case study: Developing a risk-based radon management plan

    Mark Statton, Head of Asset Safety, Cornwall Housing
    • Cornwall Housing’s journey with radon, including the practicalities, some of the challenges and lessons learned along the way.

    11:30pm Q&A, practical next steps and wrap-up

    All speakers

    12:00pm Close

  • Cancellations and substitutions

    If you are unable to attend an event or public training course, please let us know in writing (email is fine) at least 48 hours before. Please email [email protected] Otherwise, a cancellation fee of £60 plus VAT will be chargeable. If you are using a package place to attend and do not inform us within the agreed time frame, then a place will be taken to cover your non-attendance. Cancellations must be made in writing, and will be acknowledged by HQN Limited.

  • Price and booking

    Bookings are closed for this event.

    If you experience any issues when submitting your booking, please email [email protected] with the name and date of the session along with the delegate name(s), email address(es) and job title(s) and we'll process the booking for you.

Dates



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