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made, more specifically by formalising the technical
controls of radiation protection to a greater extent, by
giving the persons competent in radiation protection
sufficient time to accomplish their duties, by better
informing the personnel of outside contractors, and
by reminding physicians of the need to comply with
radiation protection rules. Lastly, ASN considers that
progress has been made in the optimisation of doses
delivered to patients and that these efforts must be
continued.
Inspection of radiology centres
In 2015 ASN carried out a one-off series of inspections
in 17 medical radiology centres in the Nord - Pas-de-
Calais region. In view of the low radiological risks, this
activity is not subject to systematic and periodic field
inspections. These inspections revealed a better degree of
administrative conformity of the facilities and a significant
improvement in the risk assessments performed by the
centres compared to the situation found in 2009. ASN
nevertheless identified some shortcomings in training,
in the frequency of radiation protection controls and
facility conformity verifications. The application of
radiation protection measures in most of the centres
is satisfactory. ASN did nevertheless identify several
radiology centres in which immediate corrective actions
were necessary.
1.3 Radiation protection in
the industrial and research sectors
Industrial radiography
In 2015, ASN carried out 11 inspections in industrial
radiography. ASNobserves continued improvement in the
organisation of radiation protection and the monitoring
of workers in the companies. ASN’s inspections were
primarily unannounced worksite inspections, where it
notes repeated deficiencies in compliance with radiation
protection rules, particularly in delimiting, signalling
and controlling the work areas. These inspections also
revealed insufficient checks when introducing sources
into gamma ray projectors. Two significant radiation
protection events in gamma radiography were notified
to ASN in 2015.
Since 2005, in partnershipwith the DIRECCTE (Regional
directorate for companies, competition, consumption,
work and employment) and the CARSAT (Retirement and
occupational health insurance fund), ASN has instituted
a charter of good practices in industrial radiography.
The aim of this charter is to optimise the use of ionising
radiation in this area of activity. In this context ASNwill
organise an awareness-raising drive with the ordering
customers, contractors and their radiographers to assess
the impact of this charter on working conditions and
to identify potential areas for improvement.
Universities and research laboratories
ASN oversees the 32 research units of the Nord - Pas-
de-Calais region that hold and use sources of ionising
radiation. These units use a wide variety of ionising
radiation sources. The ASN oversight duties led to six
inspections in 2015, in particular on the subjects of
occupational radiation protection and the management
of radioactive waste and effluents. ASN considers that
the integration of radiation protection rules in these
research units is gradually improving. Nevertheless, the
discovery and management of radioactive sources and
the removal of sources and radioactive waste stored in
some universities remain issues of concern for ASN.
Progress is also necessary with regard to the administrative
regularisation of certain nuclear activities, compliance
with the Public Health Code and notification of significant
radiation protection events to ASN.
Lastly, ASN organised an awareness-raising initiative
attended by 70 public research professionals in 2015.
1.4 Nuclear safety and radiation
protection in the transport
of radioactive substances
ASN carried out in six inspections in nuclear installations
and small-scale nuclear activities in the Nord - Pas-de-
Calais region in 2015. These inspections did not reveal any
major deviations fromthe regulations. In themedical field,
the radiopharmaceutical transport inspections provided
a measure of the progress made. Lastly, ASN carried out
a reactive inspection following the notification in 2015
of a significant event in the transport of a gamma ray
projector, rated level 2 on the INES scale.
2. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
2.1 International action
For many years the Lille division has been organising
international exchanges with the aimof sharing experience
in the area of nuclear safety and radiation protection.
The main focus of the exchanges in 2015 was five joint
inspections conducted with the Belgian Nuclear Safety
Authority (AFCN), its technical support organisation
(Bel V), and, for the first time, the Dutch Nuclear Safety
Authority (KFD,
KernFysische Dienst)
. These exchanges
provided the opportunity to compare the measures
implemented in the nuclear power plants following the
Fukushima Daiichi accident and in small-scale nuclear
activity inspections, among other things.
LILLE DIVISION
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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