ASN Report 2015

3.3.4 Statistical summary of events

In 2015, ASN was notified of:

•

1,039 significant events concerning nuclear safety,

radiation protection and the environment in BNIs;

938 of these events were rated on the INES scale

(848 events rated level 0, 89 events rated level 1 and

1 event rated level 2). Of these significant events, fifteen

were rated as “generic events” including one at level 1

on the INES scale;

•

66 significant events concerning the transport of

radioactive substances, including 9 events rated level 1

and 1 event rated level 2 on the INES scale;

•

617 significant events concerning radiation protection

in small-scale nuclear activities, including 153 rated

on the INES scale (of which 25 were level 1 events and

2 were level 2 events).

The general trend of rising numbers of significant

events observed in recent years is slowing down.

The trends must be differentiated according to the

sector concerned. Between 2010 and 2015, despite

fluctuations in certain years, the number of significant

events notified in BNIs increased by about 8%. Over

the same period, the number of significant events

notified rose continuously in the small-scale nuclear

activities sector, with an increase of about 25%, but

remained relatively stable in transports.

As indicated earlier, these datamust nevertheless be used

with caution: they do not in themselves constitute a safety

indicator. ASNencourages the licensees tonotify incidents,

which contributes to transparency and the sharing of

experience.

GRAPH 9:

Events involving radiation protection

(other than BNIs and RMT) notified in 2015

Total 617

197

120

129

Other event concerning radiation protection

Concerning one or more workers

Loss, theft or discovery of radioactive sources or substances

Concerning the general public

Concerning one or more patients (diagnostic purposes)

Concerning one or more patients (therapeutic purposes)

GRAPH 10:

Events involving the transport of radioactive

substances notified in 2015

Loss or theft of a radioactive substances package during transport

Repetitive event, even if minor, affecting a safety function,

for which the cause has not been identified or which is liable

to constitute an incident precursor

Hazard resulting either from natural phenomena

or from human activities, actually or potentially affecting

transport safety

Shipment of a package even though the consignee is not

in a position to receive the shipment

Any other event liable to affect the safety of transport

and considered to be significant by the licensee or by ASN

Non-compliance with one of the regulation limits applicable

to the intensity of radiation or to contamination

Non-compliance with regulation requirements for the transport

of radioactive materials which had or could have had significant

consequences

Inadvertent discovery of a package of radioactive substances

from a shipment for which no loss was notified

Total 66

Event which affected one or more of the barriers placed between

the radioactive material and humans, with actual or potential

dispersion of these substances or significant exposure of persons

to ionising radiation

Fault, deterioration or failure which affected a safety function,

with actual or potential significant consequences

Event, regardless of the severity, if liable to lead to erroneous

or deliberately misleading interpretations in the media or among

the public

The distribution of significant events rated on the INES

scale is specified in table 6. The INES scale is not applicable

to patients, who are rated on the ASN-SFRO

scale of

significant events affecting one or more radiotherapy

patients, and is described in chapter 9.

3. This scale is designed for communication with the public

in comprehensible, explicit terms, concerning radiation protection

events leading to unexpected or unforeseeable effects on patients

undergoing an external radiotherapy medical procedure.

147

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