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Nuclear medicine
ASN inspected three of the twelve centres in 2015. These
inspections show that radiation protection is duly taken
into account. Improvements are nevertheless required
regarding the optimisation of occupational exposure and
the management of contaminated effluents. Likewise,
certain reflections on patient radiation protection must
be continued (identitymonitoring, optimisation of image
acquisition protocols). One nuclear medicine centre was
the subject of a study in the area of organisation and
organisational and human factors conducted by IRSN
under the auspices of ASN, with support of the Regional
Health Agency (ARS) of ChampagneArdenne. The results
of this study, based on a period of observation of the
centre’s practices and the identified improvements, were
presented at the end of 2015. They will be analysed by
ASN in 2016 in order to establish recommendations
and draw lessons that can be applied at national level.
Computed Tomography
ASN carried out five inspections in 2015, maintaining
its focus on the examination of the patient radiation
protection measures taken by the centres. The reason
for this is that CT examinations make a significant
contribution to exposure to ionising radiation in
the French population. It was observed that patient
radiation protection is a true concern for the centres.
Progress is still required, on a more occasional basis,
in the technical verification of the equipment and,
more generally in ambient radiological checks and
worker monitoring.
Conventional dental radiology
ASN inspected ten dental surgeries or radiology facilities.
These inspections revealed that progress remains to be
made in the analysis of worker and patient exposure data,
the training of professionals in the radiation protection
of patients, andmore rigorous application of the internal
and external technical verifications of the equipment.
ASN also transmit letters to 65 dentists asking them
to send documents concerning radiation protection
verification and quality organisation. More than half the
addressees were in situations justifying corrective action.
1.3 Radiation protection
in the industrial sector
Industrial radiography
In view of the potential implications with regard to
radiation protection, ASN conducted nine inspections
of gamma radiography activities, five of which were
unannounced inspections on worksites. The preparatory
organisation of the worksites, the precision of the risk
assessment, compliance with the device inspection
frequencies and preparedness for incident situations
still represent areas for progress in this domain.
Devices for detecting lead in paint
Real estate diagnosis professionals use devices containing
a radioactive source in their inspections to detect lead
in paint. More than 150 professionals have thus been
licensed by ASN in Champagne-Ardenne and Picardie.
This activity is characterised by limited though not
negligible radiation protection risks, a large number
of licensees and a radiation protection culture that is
sometimes extremely limited. ASN therefore inspected
fifteen professionals in this sector in 2015, asking
them to communicate various inspection documents.
These actions enabled deviations in the performance
of radiation protection verifications to be corrected
and the cessation of activity of a few professionals to
be supervised (recovery of the radioactive sources by
the suppliers).
1.4 Nuclear safety and radiation
protection in the transport
of radioactive substances
In 2015, in the area of small-scale nuclear activities,
ASN carried out four inspections of radiopharmaceutical
product transporters. These inspections revealed no
notable shortcomings with respect to the regulations
governing the transport of radioactive substances.
Two inspections were moreover carried out on on-site
transport operations on the Chooz andNogent-sur-Seine
sites; they underlined the need to be more attentive to
the utilisation and filling out of the shipment tracking
documents.
1.5 Radiation protection of the
public and the environment
Contaminated sites and soils
Continuing in line with the preceding years, ASN
contributed – along with decentralised government
services and Andra – to the study of the treatment of
legacy radioactive contamination resulting fromoperation
of the former Orflam-Plast plant in Pargny-sur-Saulx
(Marne
département
). Complementary investigations on
plots of land situated outside the industrial site were
continued in 2015.
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CHAPTER 08 :
REGIONAL OVERVIEW OF NUCLEAR SAFETY AND RADIATION PROTECTION
ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015