National Radon Action Month is a January campaign led by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that encourages people to test their homes and other buildings for radon, fix high levels and build new homes with radon-resistant features. State and Tribal radon programs, health departments and partner groups run local events and test kit giveaways throughout the month.
For employers, January is a natural time to talk about an invisible hazard that most workers never think about. Radon is a home health issue first, but it also gives safety teams an easy way to show they care about health beyond the job site and to check whether their own buildings have been tested.
When Is National Radon Action Month in 2027?
National Radon Action Month runs for all of January, from January 1 to January 31, 2027. The timing does not move: EPA observes radon awareness every January, when cold weather keeps windows closed and many people start thinking about indoor air. EPA also shares radon messages for other months on its National Radon Action Month information page, so the campaign can continue after January ends.
Why It Matters at Work
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of uranium in soil and rock. It has no color, smell or taste, and it can seep into any building through cracks and openings in the foundation. The only way to know the level inside a building is to test.
According to EPA's health risk of radon page, radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States every year, and about 2,900 of those deaths occur among people who have never smoked. EPA calls radon the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause of lung cancer overall, after smoking. The risk is much higher for people who smoke and are also exposed to radon.
EPA recommends fixing a home when radon is at or above 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). Basements, ground-floor offices, crawl spaces, tunnels, vaults and other below-grade areas deserve attention in workplaces too, especially where people spend full shifts. Radon is a good example of a hazard that a risk assessment can miss simply because nobody can see it.
How to Take Part
EPA points participants to free radon publications, the CDC Radon Toolkit's graphics and videos, and the Radon Leaders Saving Lives campaign hosted by the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors. Practical ideas for a workplace include:
- Share the message. Use EPA and CDC graphics in newsletters, break rooms and digital signage during January.
- Encourage home testing. Remind employees that do-it-yourself test kits are sold at hardware and home improvement stores, and that some states and local programs offer free kits.
- Connect people with local help. Share contact details for your state or Tribal radon program, which can explain testing and mitigation services in your area.
- Review your own buildings. Ask facilities teams whether occupied basements and ground-level spaces have ever been tested, and add radon to your list of indoor air quality checks.
- Tie it to smoking cessation. Because smoking and radon together greatly raise lung cancer risk, January is a good time to promote any quit-smoking benefits you offer.
- Bring in an expert. Invite a state radon program contact or a qualified radon professional to give a short lunch-and-learn.
Toolbox Talk: Radon, the Hazard You Cannot See
Use this outline for a 5-minute toolbox talk during January.
- What radon is. Radon is a radioactive gas from natural uranium in soil and rock. You cannot see, smell or taste it.
- Where it builds up. It enters buildings through cracks, gaps and openings in the foundation and can collect in basements and lower floors of homes, offices and shops.
- Why it matters. EPA estimates radon causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths a year in the US and is the leading cause of lung cancer in people who have never smoked.
- How to find out. Testing is the only way to know. Short-term kits are inexpensive and easy to use, and a qualified professional can test for you.
- What to do about high levels. EPA recommends fixing homes at 4 pCi/L or higher. A qualified radon mitigation contractor can install a system to lower indoor levels.
- Report concerns at work. If you work in a basement or below-grade space and have questions about air quality, tell your supervisor or the safety team.
Discussion question: Has anyone here tested their home for radon, and what got in the way for those who have not?
How SMS360 Helps
SMS360's Risk Assessment module helps teams identify hazards like radon, rate the risk and record the controls they decide on. You can assign corrective actions such as building tests or mitigation follow-up, store test results and contractor documents in one place, schedule and track awareness training, and use dashboards to see which locations still have open items. Mobile access makes it easy for supervisors to log observations and concerns from the field, so health hazards that are easy to overlook stay on the radar after January ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Radon Action Month 2027?
National Radon Action Month runs from January 1 to January 31, 2027. EPA observes it every January. Many state radon programs and health departments schedule events, webinars and free test kit offers during the month.
Who organizes National Radon Action Month?
The US Environmental Protection Agency leads National Radon Action Month. State and Tribal radon programs, public health agencies, the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors and other partners support it with local events and outreach. CDC also offers a radon toolkit with graphics and videos.
What radon level is considered high?
EPA recommends fixing a home if the radon level is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher. A qualified radon professional can confirm the result and install a mitigation system if one is needed. In workplaces, radon questions often sit with facilities or industrial hygiene staff, who can arrange testing of occupied lower-level spaces.
