ASN Report 2018

3 —  Assessment of the radiation protection situation in applications involving radiation risks in the industrial, research and veterinary sectors 3.1  ̶  Industrial radiography 3.1.1 The devices used • Gamma radiography Gamma radiography is a non-destructive inspection method used for detecting homogeneity defects in materials such as weld beads. It involves obtaining a radiographic image on silver-based or digital media using the gamma rays emitted by a radioactive source and passing through the object to inspect. It is widely used in fabrication and maintenance operations in diverse with industrial sectors such as boilermaking, petrochemicals, nuclear power plants, public works, aeronautics and armament. Gamma radiography devices contain high activity sealed sources, mainly iridium-192, cobalt-60 or selenium-75, whose activity can reach about twenty terabecquerels. A gamma radiography device is usually a mobile device which can be moved from one worksite to another. It consists primarily of: ∙ ∙ a source projector which acts as a storage container and ensures radiological protection when the source is not in use; ∙ ∙ a guide tube which guides the movement of the source up to the object to be examined; ∙ ∙ and a remote control cable allowing remote manipulation by the operator. When the source is ejected out of the device, the dose rates can reach several grays per hour at one metre from the source, depending on the radionuclide and its activity level. Radioactive source "user" licenses issued each year “User” licenses and notifications acknowledgement issued for electrical devices generating radiation 0 200 400 600 800 1,000 1,200 New licenses Renewals/updates Cancellations 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Graph 6 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 Notifications Number of facilities Authorisations 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Graph 7 ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2018  243 08 – SOURCES OF IONISING RADIATION AND THEIR INDUSTRIAL, VETERINARY AND RESEARCH APPLICATIONS 08