When we think about workplace safety, our minds naturally drift to hard hats on construction sites, ergonomic assessments in corporate skyscrapers, or safety protocols in manufacturing plants. But the definition of the workplace has shifted. Data from Statistics Canada shows that 11.4% of employed Canadians work exclusively from home and another 9.8% work in a hybrid arrangement, meaning roughly one in five workers spend at least some of their working time at home. With millions of professionals logging in from home offices, often nestled in basements or main floor spare rooms, we need to expand our view of what occupational health and safety actually entails.
While working from home offers flexibility, it can also introduce unexpected environmental hazards. Chief among them? Radon gas.
What is Radon?
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in rocks and soil. Because it’s colorless, odorless, and tasteless, you can’t detect it using your senses. Outdoors, radon dilutes harmlessly into the atmosphere. But when it seeps into enclosed structures through foundation cracks, construction joints, sump pits, and floor drains, it can accumulate to hazardous concentrations.
Approximately 17.8% of Canadian residential buildings have radon levels at or above Health Canada’s current guideline of 200 Bq/m³, according to the most recent national estimate from the 2024 Cross-Canada Radon Survey. Prolonged exposure to elevated radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall, after smoking.
Why is this particularly critical for remote workers?
To carve out quiet, dedicated workspaces away from household distractions, many remote professionals set up their home offices in basements, finished lower levels, or main floors. Because radon enters directly from the surrounding ground, concentrations tend to be highest in the lowest occupied levels of a building. Spending full workdays, and often evenings, in a ground-contact or subterranean space may substantially increases cumulative exposure time.
The growth of remote and hybrid work has blurred the line between our workplaces and our homes. That makes it worth expanding the way we think about workplace health and safety.
Home Is Still a Workplace When You’re Working
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) identifies indoor air quality as an important workplace health and safety consideration, noting that a healthy indoor environment should be free from unacceptable levels of certain gases and other contaminants.
Traditionally, employers are responsible for maintaining a safe and healthy work environment, but when your office is your house, the responsibility for indoor air quality and environmental safety often falls squarely on you – the homeowner.
Quick Checklist: Is Your Home Office Safe?
If you are thinking about evaluating the safety of your remote workspace, run through this quick checklist:
☐ Where is your desk located?
If your primary workspace is in the basement or ground floor, your radon exposure risk may be higher.
☐ How many hours do you spend there?
If you occupy the space regularly, health guidelines suggest monitoring your air quality closely.
☐ Have you ever tested for radon?
Because you cannot detect radon with your senses, a radon measurement device must be used to gauge your level of exposure.
☐ Is your testing up to date?
Health Canada recommends re-testing in certain circumstances, including after renovations that affect a home’s structure or ventilation, significant excavation near the home, energy-efficiency upgrades, or when a basement or lower level becomes a regularly occupied space.
Simple, Reliable Testing
The only way to know if your workspace is safe is to test it. Health Canada recommends conducting a long-term test (a minimum of 91 days) during the heating season (when radon concentrations in the home tend to be a their highest), using a certified measurement device to capture an accurate seasonal average.
Testing is non-invasive, straightforward, and requires no technical expertise: you simply place a small, passive detector on a shelf or desk in your primary work area and return it to an accredited laboratory after at least 91-days have passed.
Explore some of our certified radon testing solutions below to find the best fit for your space. Click on any detector to view specifications, testing duration, and order directly from our Radon Shop.
Managing Workplace Safety Across Distributed Teams
Forward-thinking organizations understand the benefits of expanding employee health and wellness initiatives beyond their office doors. While many companies provide ergonomic chairs, dual monitors, or wellness stipends, supporting basic environmental health – such as indoor air quality and radon awareness – is an impactful way to protect your distributed team.
Whether you need bulk testing solutions for remote staff or expert guidance on complex facility hazards, our team is ready to help you foster a healthier, safer workforce.
