The UK prison service is facing sanctions from the health and safety regulator after staff and prisoners are reportedly exposed to dangerous levels of radon gas. Multiple reports say the issue involved prolonged exposure and that the regulator has identified levels of radon that pose serious health risks, including cancer. The case is described as rare, with the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) facing a rebuke and potential penalties following the regulator’s findings.
Sky News reports that the prison service may face severe sanctions after dangerous radon concentrations were measured, affecting both prison staff and inmates. The Independent similarly reports that the MoJ is rebuked and may be sanctioned after high levels of the cancer-causing gas were linked to exposure over an extended period.
Across the accounts, the focus is on regulatory action prompted by the circumstances of radon exposure, the health hazards associated with radon, and the fact that the regulator is taking formal steps rather than issuing informal guidance. The reports do not provide further details on remediation steps, the specific prisons involved, or the duration of exposure beyond describing it as over a prolonged period.
