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the INES scale
1
(848 events rated
level 0, 89 events rated level 1 and
one event rated level 2). Of these
events, 15 significant events 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 level 1
events and one level 2 event 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).
In 2015, as a result of infringements
observed, the ASN inspectors
transmitted 14 infringement reports
to the public prosecutor’s offices,
three of whichwere related to labour
inspections in the NPPs.
ASN took eight administrative
actions (formal notice, deposit of
sums, etc.) against managers of
nuclear activities. In 2015, ASN
continued the process initiated for
1. International Nuclear and Radiological
Event Scale.
the first time in 2014, involving
the deposit of a sum by the CIS
bio international company for
performance of work to manage
the fire risk.
The Energy Transition for Green
Growth Act of 17th August 2015
provides for a reinforcement of ASN’s
oversight resources and powers of
sanction. Through the Ordinance of
10th February 2016, measures were
added to the ASN administrative
sanctions, giving its inspectors more
graduated powers of inspection and
sanction.
Outlook
In 2016, ASN intends to carry out
about 1,800 inspections on BNIs,
radioactive substances transport
operations, activities employing
ionising radiation, organisations
and laboratories it has approved
and activities involving pressure
equipment. ASN will as a priority
inspect the activities with potentially
serious consequences, defined in
consideration of the experience
feedback from 2015.
At the same time, ASNwill continue
to revise the procedures for
notification of significant events,
taking into account the feedback
from the events notification guide
in small-scale nuclear activities and
the changes in regulations in the
BNI sector.
It will propose changes to the
sanctions policy, pursuant to the
provisions of the TECV Act and the
Ordinance of 10th February 2016.
In the environment field, ASN
will continue its regulatory work
with a modification of the Order of
7th February 2012, more particularly
to take account of changes to the
regulations, such as the entry
into force on 1st June 2015 of
Directive 2012/18/EU of 4th July
2012 concerning major accidents
involving dangerous substances,
referred to as “Seveso 3”. It will also
complete the revision of the ASN
resolution of 16th July 2013, referred
to as the “Environment Resolution”,
a process which was started in 2015.
Nuclear activities are carried out
with the two-fold aimof preventing
accidents and mitigating any
consequences should they occur.
Despite all the precautions taken,
an accident can never be completely
ruled out and the necessary
provisions for dealing with and
managing a radiological emergency
situationmust be planned for, tested
and regularly revised.
Radiological emergency situations,
arising from an incident or accident,
which risk leading to an emission of
radioactive substances or to a level of
radioactivity, liable to affect public
health, include:
•
emergency situations occurring in
a BNI;
•
accidents involving Radioactive
Material Transports (RMT);
•
emergency situations occurring
in the field of small-scale nuclear
activities.
Emergency situations affecting
nuclear activities can also comprise
non-radiological risks, such as fire,
explosion or the release of toxic
substances.
05
Radiological emergency
and post-accident situations
23
ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN 2015