ASN Report 2018

Medical: persistence of points requiring particular attention and the need for anticipation Improving the analysis and prevention of significant radiation protection events The overall increase in the number of ESR notified indicates greater transparency, in particular in nuclear medicine and radiology (conventional and computed tomography). However, for radiotherapy, the fall in the number of ESR notified that has been observed since 2015, continued in 2018. The causes of this drop should be identified. In 2018, ASN observed that the number of serious ESR notifications was still high. To prevent such events, with the support of a multidisciplinary expert group and as part of a continuous improvement approach, ASN aims to achieve broader publication of recommendations and summary documents intended for those in charge of the activities. Under ASN coordination and following on from the work done on radiotherapy Operating Experience Feedback (OEF), this expert group will in 2019 exploit national OEF about the most serious or frequent ESR in the imaging and nuclear medicine fields, reactively and operationally. At the same time, in conjunction with the learned societies, a review will be carried out on the scales currently used for the ESR classification and the changes that would appear to be needed. Continuing the graded approach to oversight In 2019, ASN will continue to deploy tools for a graded approach to radiation protection oversight. The actions undertaken as of the end of 2017 will be supplemented by decisions concerning the new registration system, which could more particularly concern fluoroscopy-guided interventional practices and scanners. Anticipating technological change A committee to analyse new medical practices or technologies using ionising radiation will be operational in 2019 in order to ensure that they are deployed under the best radiation protection conditions for patients, personnel and the environment. This committee could notably recommend prospective data collection and support measures for professionals. Source security: continued implementation of oversight In 2018, ASN contributed to the preparation of the “Source Security” Order, which is coordinated by the Ministry responsible for Energy, and it made changes to its internal organisation for the management of sensitive information. Measures to implement source security oversight will continue in 2019. Nuclear accident management: improvement actions to be continued The nuclear crisis management system in France is robust. However, the emergency exercises need to be carried out in mobilisation conditions that are more representative of the organisations and they should more closely involve the populations living in the vicinity of the nuclear facilities. ASN is working with all stakeholders to revise post-accident doctrine, so that it is simpler and more operational. The increased radius for the distribution of stable iodine tablets around the NPPs from 10 to 20 km and the performance of a major exercise will also help improve the nuclear accident management system. International: new steps in the sharing of good practices The first Topical Peer Review planned by the European Directive on Nuclear Safety concerned the management of nuclear reactor ageing. This review, held under the aegis of ENSREG (European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group), enables practices to be compared and led to recommendations regarding ageing management. It showed that the approach adopted by the European countries was satisfactory with regard to power reactors and that it should be extended to research reactors. In 2019, each country will draw up a national action plan to incorporate the conclusions of this review. France hosted an Artémis peer review mission as required by the European Directive on Radioactive Waste Management, carried out under the aegis of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to examine the organisation in place for managing radioactive materials and wastes. The review pointed out that the French system covered all the issues and presented many strong points, more particularly in terms of skills and the continuous progress approach. Areas for improvement were identified, for instance effective performance of dismantling as short as possible and optimisation of very low level waste management. These conclusions were made public in a report. ASN continued its involvement in the sharing of good practices in the field of radiation protection. For example, in accordance with the justification principle, it proposed replacing the use of high-level sealed sources with an alternative technology. ASN financial resources: the system must be more robust The resources dedicated to the regulation and oversight of nuclear safety and radiation protection remain a sensitive subject. In its final observations issued at the end of 2018 following its inspection of ASN, the Court of Audit notably pointed out that the contribution from several budgetary programmes meant that the total cost of external oversight of civil nuclear safety in France was difficult to identify clearly. Moreover, in the light of the major issues involved in the oversight of nuclear safety, the Court of Audit recommended that financing arrangements more appropriate to ASN’s duties and working methods be implemented, in order to consolidate its independence and free it from budgetary regulation mechanisms. ASN will continue to address this subject in the future. COMMISSION EDITORIAL ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2018  5