HARRISBURG – The Department of Environmental Protection has fined a Michigan firm $30,000 for using uncertified employees to install hundreds of home radon mitigation systems and for failing to supervise employees properly and conduct required follow up tests.
Air Quality Control Agency Inc., of Lansing, used four uncertified employees to install radon mitigation systems in homes throughout Pennsylvania during 2005 and 2006, then, in many cases, failed to test the mitigation systems to ensure their proper operation. The company has now certified all of its employees working in Pennsylvania and it has conducted the appropriate follow up tests as part of a settlement with DEP.
“Radon is second only to cigarette smoking in causing lung cancer in the United States, and when people pay hundreds of dollars to rid their home of this dangerous gas, the work must be done right,” said DEP Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty. “This is why companies and employees who do this work must be certified by our department and must report their installations to establish a record of their work.”
Radon is a naturally-occurring, odorless, colorless gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rocks. Radon gets into homes through cracks in basements and foundations. Radon can build to unhealthy levels, especially during colder months when windows and doors are kept closed.
“High levels of radon have been found in homes throughout Pennsylvania and the only way to know the level in your home is to test,” said McGinty. “Testing is easy and inexpensive, with kits costing about $25 and available in many outdoor supply, lawn and garden, hardware, and department stores.”
If levels above those recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are found in a home, residents may want to consider having a remediation system installed. The piping and ventilation included with these systems can draw radon out of a residence quickly and should reduce the radon level permanently. Mitigation systems typically cost between $800 and $1,200, but costs vary by individual homes. If building a home, ask the builder about radon resistant construction, which can be included in a new home for less than installing a mitigation system.
“We take our charge to protect the public health seriously and remind anyone running a radon testing or mitigation business they must be certified by DEP,” said McGinty. “If you’re having radon work done on your home, ask to see the employees’ certification.”