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1.3 Radiation protection in the
industrial and research sectors
Industrial radiography
Industrial radiography activities presentmajor risks in terms
of radiationprotection. ASNcontinued its inspectiondrive
in these companies and observed very variable situations
depending on the companies and the types of inspections
they carry out. As a general rule, the exposures carried
out in facilities designed specifically for this purpose raise
less issues than those carried out on worksites. During
its inspections, ASN remains particularly attentive to
the work area signalling to be put in place around the
radiation sources. No approximation can be tolerated in
the implementation of thismeasure, which is essential for
the protection of the workers and the public.
In particular, in 2015 ASN continued to closelymonitor a
companywhich had been subject to tightenedmonitoring
since 2013. The observed improvements remain tenuous
and this companywill continue to be specifically inspected
in 2016. The inspections carried out in 2015 also led a
second company to be placedunder tightened surveillance.
Aviolation report concerning the companywas transmitted
to the Public Prosecutor.
Gamma densitometry
In 2015, ASN conducted a campaign of unannounced
inspections of publicworks companieswhichhold sealed
radioactive sources for taking density and humidity
measurements in road surface coatings. This campaign
revealed that the radiationprotection rules arewell defined
by the companies but their actual application on the
worksites must be improved.
Installations Classified on Environmental
Protection grounds (ICPE) under the Public
Health Code
The inspections carried out in 2015 by ASN in the ICPEs
possessing radioactive sources confirmed a good standard
of integration of radiationprotection rules in these facilities.
Universities and laboratories or research centres
ASNobserved in 2015 that the doses received byworkers
in research centres and laboratories using radioactive
sources remain at a very low level. Personnel have good
knowledge of the risks and know how to prevent them.
ASN also emphasises the effort made by many centres to
comply with the applicable regulatory provisions and to
guarantee the updating of the licenses, which indicates
an improvement on the previous years.
Monitoring of approved organisations
In 2015, ASN continued its major campaign to monitor
the organisations responsible for external radiation
protection controls by carrying out six inspections. These
ASN-approved organisations are subject to unannounced
inspections when performing their services, audits of
their head offices, and examination of their procedures
as part of the approval application.
The inspections revealed a very variable standard of
service. Some organisations will be subject to particular
scrutiny on this account. Deviations were noted in
particular in the controls performed in operating theatres.
1.4 Nuclear safety and radiation
protection in the transport
of radioactive substances
In 2015, ASN conducted five inspections concerning
the transport of radioactive substances in the Alsace
and Lorraine regions.
ASN considers that the Fessenheim site has good control
over these activities; no deviations were noted in this
area in 2015. The Cattenom site also displays satisfactory
management in this area, even if progress is required in
the documentation and traceability of on-site transport
operations.
In the medical field, ASNdid not observe any particularly
problematic situations in the Alsace and Lorraine regions
in 2015.
2. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
2.1 International action
by the Strasbourg division
In the framework of the bilateral exchanges with its
German, Luxembourger and Swiss counterparts, the
Strasbourg division of ASN took part in several cross-
inspections in nuclear power plants and hospitals,
either as a guest in foreign countries, or as host to its
counterparts.
The Strasbourg divisionmoreover ensured spokesmanship
for the 2015 meeting of working group 1 of the Franco-
German commission on nuclear safety, dedicated to
reactor safety. The Strasbourg division also responded to
the various requests of its German, Swiss and Luxembourg
partners concerning the Cattenomand FessenheimNPPs.
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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