Exposures for Radon Mitigation Contractors

What is radon and how does exposure happen?

Radon is a radioactive gas that is extremely difficult to detect because it has no color, odor, or taste. It is naturally present in the Earth and is produced when radium decays. What makes radon unique and potentially hazardous is that you might be inhaling too much of it without knowing it.

According to the EPA, radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. It is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year, with over 2,900 of these deaths occurring among people who have never smoked. And now that radon testing is a routine requirement during real estate transactions and rental agreements, awareness of radon levels and its dangers have risen.

The role of a radon mitigation contractor or consultant

Reducing radon requires more than just sealing cracks in a structure’s foundation. On the contrary, sealing and caulking foundation openings on its own has proven to be unreliable in controlling radon exposure. However, when sealing is done in conjunction with other mitigation steps, radon levels can be reduced. Professionals who specialize in testing and mitigation of radon may deal with piping and ventilation in slabs, crawl spaces, drainage systems, and air filtration systems to address these concerns.

Coverage for radon testing/mitigation contractors

Contractors who work with radon, as well as consultants who test radon levels, require specialized pollution coverage. As the environmental insurance marketplace has expanded, many of these firms have found that coverage is readily available and will address potential claims that result from radon exposure, E&O issues resulting from professional services and decisions, as well as the insureds’ owned premises.

Contractors Pollution Liability: Contractors Pollution Liability insurance (CPL) is coverage designed to protect from third party claims for damages caused by “Pollution Conditions” arising from the insured’s covered operations.

Contractors Pollution Liability/Professional: The Contractors Pollution Liability/Professional Policy is a combined Pollution and Professional coverage form. It provides coverage to environmental consultants, environmental engineers, and other environmental professionals who have an E&O exposure from their professional services, as well as a pollution exposure from any jobsite/project management operations.

Site Pollution Liability: Site Pollution Liability insurance is designed to cover claims arising from pollution releases at, on, or emanating from a specific scheduled location.

Recent news stories involving radon exposure

Action 9 investigates dangerous radon gas in apartment

Lawsuits filed over West Lake Landfill and Coldwater Creek

High radon levels found at downtown Reno library

Investigation shows many MN schools not testing for radon

Experts say radon risk extreme in parts of Clark County

Radon gas detected in Warford Elementary School

Grasslands, Oakbridge residents want answers about radiation lawsuit

Information for this document was obtained from the following sources:

https://airthings.com/radon-exposure/

http://www.bvsde.paho.org/bvstox/i/fulltext/toxprofiles/radon.pdf

https://www.epa.gov/radon/health-risk-radon