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In the other fields, a level 2 incident
was linked to the discovery of two
radioactive sources in a laboratory
of the National Institute for Health
and Medical Research at Bordeaux
University, leading to the exposure
of several individuals.
ASN is concerned by the increase
in the number of cases of abnormal
radioactivity being detected inmetals
and consumer goods around the
world and considers that France
needs rapidly to implement a
nationwide radioactivity detection
strategy.
As part of its regulatory duties, ASN
defined a clear regulatory framework
in its resolution of 8th September
2015, concerning the registration
of movements by and rules for
monitoring radionuclides in the
form of radioactive sources. ASN
continued to draft texts aimed at
defining the minimum radiation
protection requirements for the
design of X-ray generating devices,
jointly with the stakeholders. With
regard to industrial radiography, ASN
continued the process initiated with
the General Directorate for Labour,
to reinforce requirements in the field
of justification, given the existence
of recognised alternative methods.
Finally, Act 2015-992 of 17th August
2015 on the Energy Transition for
Green Growth, entrusted ASN
with the regulation and oversight
of the measures to be taken by those
responsible for a nuclear activity
in order to protect sources against
malicious acts. ASN continued its
work to prepare the implementing
texts necessary for actual deployment
of regulation and it reinforced its
efforts being devoted to inventorying
the existing facilities.
Outlook
A guide drawn up by ASN will be
published in 2016, jointly with
IRSN and the National Agency for
Radioactive Waste Management
(Andra), to help assess the protection
means necessary when removing
radioactive lightning conductors.
A report presenting the conclusions
of the investigations carried out with
the stakeholders to define standard
scenarios for loss of source control,
define technical recovery solutions
and best practices in the event of an
incident involving loss of control
of a source, is also currently being
drafted.
ASN will also continue its work
to propose a draft resolution
de t e rmi n i ng t he t e chn i c a l
requirements for ionising radiation
generating devices distributed in
France.
A draft resolution on the minimum
technical rules for the design,
operation and maintenance of
cyclotrons should be the subject
of consultations in 2016.
Finally, in 2016, ASNwill continue
to prepare regulatory texts to take
account of source security when
examining licensing applications,
to define the requirements for
protection against malicious acts
concerning the most dangerous
sources and to organise the regulation
of source security.
ASN will continue to carry out its
licensing and oversight duties,
tailoring its efforts and the oversight
procedures to the specific radiation
protection implications of the
particular activities.
Transport of radioactive substances
11
About 770,000 consignments of
radioactive substances are transported
eachyear inFrance. This corresponds
to about 980,000 packages of
radioactive substances, which
represent just a fewper cent of the total
number of dangerous goods packages
transported each year. 88% of the
transported packages are intended
for the health, non-nuclear industries
or research sectors, of which about
30% is accounted for by themedical
sector alone. The nuclear industry
accounts for about12%of the annual
traffic of radioactive substances (for
example, about 400annual shipments
of new fuel, 220 of spent fuel, about
50 for MOX fuels and about 100 for
plutonium oxide powder).
The content of the packages varies
widely: their radioactivity level varies
from a few thousand becquerels
for low-activity pharmaceutical
packages, to trillions of becquerels
for spent fuel. Their weight also
varies from a few kilogrammes
to about a hundred tonnes. Road
31
ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS IN 2015