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The average annual effective dose per individual in France
is 0.33 mSv. It is lower than the global average value of
0.38 mSv per year published by UNSCEAR.
On account of the increased exposure to cosmic radiation
due to extensive periods spent at high altitude, flight
personnel must be subject to dosimetric monitoring.
(see point 3.1.3).
2.2 Ionising radiation arising
from human activities
The human activities involving a risk of exposure to
ionising radiation, called nuclear activities, can be grouped
into the following categories:
•
operation of Basic Nuclear Installations;
•
transport of radioactive substances;
•
small-scale nuclear activities;
•
disposal of radioactive waste;
•
management of contaminated sites;
•
activities enhancing natural ionising radiation.
2.2.1 Basic nuclear installations
Regulations classify nuclear facilities, called Basic Nuclear
Installations (BNI), in various categories corresponding
to more or less restrictive procedures, depending on
the significance of the potential risks (see chapter 3,
point 3).
The main BNI categories are:
•
nuclear reactors;
•
some particle accelerators;
•
the plants that prepare, enrich or transform radioactive
substances, particularly nuclear fuel production plants,
irradiated fuel processing plants, and the facilities for
processing and storing the radioactive waste produced
by these plants;
•
the installations intended for the processing, disposal,
storage or use of radioactive substances, includingwaste,
when the quantities involved exceed thresholds set
by regulations.
The list of BNIs as at 31st December 2015 is given in
appendix A.
Accident prevention and nuclear safety
The fundamental internationally adopted principle
underpinning the specific organisational system
and regulations applicable to nuclear safety is that
of the responsibility of the licensee (see chapter 2).
The public authorities ensure that this responsibility
is fully assumed, in compliance with the regulatory
requirements.
As regards the preventionof risks forworkers, BNI licensees
are required to implement all necessarymeans to protect
workers against the hazards of ionising radiation, andmore
particularly to comply with the general rules applicable
to all workers exposed to ionising radiation (work
organisation, accident prevention, medical monitoring
of workers, including those from outside contractors,
etc.) (see chapter 3).
As regards protection of the population and the
environment, the BNI licensee must also take all
necessary steps to achieve and maintain an optimum
level of protection. Discharges of liquid and gaseous
effluents, whether radioactive or not, are in particular
strictly limited (see chapter 4).
2.2.2 Transport of radioactive substances
When transporting radioactive substances, the main
risks are those of internal or external exposure, criticality,
as well as risks of a chemical nature. Safe transport
of radioactive substances relies on an approach called
defence in depth:
•
The robustness of the packaging is the first line of
defence. The packaging plays a vital role and must be
able to withstand all foreseeable transport conditions.
•
The reliability of the transport operations constitutes
the second line of defence.
•
Finally, the third line of defence consists of the response
resources implemented to deal with an incident or
accident.
2.2.3 Small-scale nuclear activities
Ionising radiation, whether emitted by radionuclides or
generated by electrical equipments, is used inmany areas,
including medicine (radiology, radiotherapy, nuclear
medicine, cell irradiators), biology, research, industry,
but also for veterinary and forensic applications as well
as for the conservation of foodstuffs.
The employer is required to take all necessarymeasures to
protect workers against the hazards of ionising radiation.
The facility licensee must also implement the provisions
of the Public Health Code for the management of the
ionising radiation sources in its possession (radioactive
sources in particular) and, where applicable, manage
the waste produced and limit discharges of liquid and
gaseous effluents. In the case of use for medical purposes,
patient protection issues are also taken into account
(see chapter 3).
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CHAPTER 01:
NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES: IONISING RADIATION AND HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2015