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In 2015, ASN carried out 123 inspections on approved
organisations and laboratories, 50% of which were
unannounced, which can be broken down as follows:
•
76 inspections of organisations carrying out radiation
protection technical checks;
•
28 inspections of organisations assessingnuclear pressure
equipment conformity and carrying out in-service
monitoring of operational equipment;
•
8 inspections of organisations measuring the activity
concentration of radon;
•
11 inspections of laboratories approved for taking
environmental radioactivity measurements.
3.2.8 Checks on exposure to Radon and Naturally
occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM)
ASNalsomonitors radiation protection in premises where
exposure of individuals to natural ionising radiation can
be enhanced owing to the underlying geological context
(radon inpremises open to the public) or the characteristics
of thematerials used in industrial processes (non-nuclear
industries).
Monitoring exposure to radon
Article R. 1333-15 of the Public Health Code and Article
R. 4451-136 of the Labour Code provide for the radon
activity concentration to be measured either by IRSN or
by ASN approved organisations.
These measurements are to be taken between
15th September of a given year and 30th April of the
following year.
For the 2015-2016measurement campaign, the number
of approved organisations is indicated in table 5.
Monitoring exposure to natural ionising radiation
in non-nuclear industries
TheOrder of 25thMay 2005provides the list of professional
activities (ore or rare earth processing industries, spas and
facilities treating groundwater for human consumption)
requiringmonitoring of human exposure tonatural ionising
radiation, owing to the fact that thematerials used contain
natural radionuclides and are likely to generate doses that
are significant from the radiation protection standpoint.
Monitoring natural radioactivity in water intended
for human consumption
Monitoring the natural radioactivity inwater intended for
human consumption is the role of the ARS. The procedures
for these checks take account of the recommendations
issued by ASN and are taken up in the DGS Circular of
13th June 2008.
The results of the checks are jointly analysed and utilised
by ASN and the services of the Ministry of Health.
3.3 Lessons learned
from significant events
3.3.1 Anomaly detection and analysis
History
The international Conventions ratified by France
(Article 9v of the Joint Convention on the safety of spent
fuel management and on the safety of radioactive waste
management of 5th September 1997; Article 19vi of the
Convention on Nuclear Safety of 20th September 1994)
require that BNI licensees, onaccount of thedefence indepth
principle, implement a reliable systemfor earlydetectionof
any anomalies thatmay occur, such as equipment failures
or errors in the application of operating rules.
Based on twenty years of experience, ASN felt that it
would be useful to transpose this approach, which was
initially limited to nuclear safety, to radiation protection
andprotection of the environment. ASN thus drafted two
guides defining theprinciples and reiterating theobligations
binding on the licensees with regard to notification of
incidents and accidents:
•
guide No. 12 of 21st October 2005 contains the
requirements applicable toBNI licensees and to carriers.
It concerns significant events affecting nuclear safety of
BNIs, radioactivematerial transports, radiationprotection
and protection of the environment;
TABLE 5:
Number of organisations approved for measuring radon levels
APPROVAL UNTIL
15TH SEPTEMBER 2016
APPROVAL UNTIL
15TH SEPTEMBER 2017
APPROVAL UNTIL
15TH SEPTEMBER 2018
APPROVAL UNTIL
15TH SEPTEMBER 2019
APPROVAL UNTIL
15TH SEPTEMBER 2020
Level 1 option A*
25
10
1
5
9
Level 1 option B**
4
5
0
0
1
Level 2***
6
1
0
0
1
* Workplace and premises open to the public for all building types
** Workplace, cavities and underground structures (except buildings)
*** Represents complementary investigations
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CHAPTER 04:
REGULATION OF NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES AND EXPOSURE TO IONISING RADIATION
ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015