3.2.2 The radiation protection situation BNIs excluded, ASN carried out 16 inspections from 2019 to 2022 (of which 3 were in 2022) in this sector, out of the 25 facilities currently licensed. These inspections show that the radiation protection organisation (in particular the appointing of a Radiation Protection Advisor – RPA), the radiological zoning put in place on the inspected licensees’ premises, the informing of new employees and the renewal of verifications are satisfactory, as no significant deviations from the regulations have been observed. The risk is well controlled, in particular thanks to the generally satisfactory verification, upkeep and maintenance of the facilities in accordance with the provisions described in the licensing applications. Nevertheless, ASN has found in about one in four inspections that it would be worthwhile adding safety devices or improving their verification. Furthermore, in about one inspection in three, ASN observed that the operator entered the irradiation facility without a radiation monitoring device, even though checking the ambient radiological activity level is a means of ensuring that the sealed radioactive source has indeed returned to the safe position in its biological shielding, thereby preventing any risk of accidental exposure. The availability and proper functioning of the safety devices and the prevention measures taken by the operators will be points on which ASN will focus particular attention in the future inspections in this sector. 3.3 Particle accelerators 3.3.1 The devices used A particle accelerator is defined as a device or installation in which electrically charged particles undergo acceleration, emitting ionising radiation at an energy level in excess of 1 megaelectronvolt (MeV). When they meet the characteristics specified in Article R. 593-3 of the Environment Code concerning the BNI nomenclature, these facilities are listed as BNIs. Some applications necessitate the use of beams of photons or electrons produced by particle accelerators. The installed base of particle accelerators in France, whether linear (linacs) or circular (synchrotrons), comprises in 66 licensed facilities(1) (excluding cyclotrons – see point 4.2 – and BNIs), possessing slightly more than one hundred particle accelerators, which can be used in highly diverse areas such as: ∙ research, which sometimes requires the coupling of several machines (accelerator, implanter, etc.); ∙ radiography (fixed or mobile accelerator); ∙ radioscopy of lorries and containers during customs checks (fixed-site or mobile accelerators); ∙ modification of material properties; ∙ sterilisation; ∙ conservation of foodstuffs; ∙ others. In the field of research, two synchrotron radiation production facilities can be mentioned in France: the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, and the Optimised Source of Intermediate Energy Light of the Lure Laboratory (Soleil) synchrotron in Gif-sur-Yvette. 1. To which can be added seven licenses to use an accelerator, either under worksite conditions, or for the shared use of a device of which possession is regulated by the other party’s license. Particle accelerators have been used for several years now in France to fight fraud and large-scale international trafficking. This technology, which the operators consider effective, must however be used under certain specific conditions in order to comply with the radiation protection rules applicable to workers and the public, in particular: ∙ a ban on activation of construction products, consumer goods and foodstuffs as specified by Article R. 1333-2 of the Public Health Code, by ensuring that the maximum energy of the particles emitted by the accelerators used excludes any risk of activation of the materials being verified; ∙ a ban on the use of ionising radiation on the human body for purposes other than medical; ∙ the setting up of procedures to ensure that the checks conducted on the goods or transport vehicles do not lead to accidental exposure of workers or other individuals. The use of ionising technologies to seek out illegal immigrants in transport vehicles is prohibited in France. During customs inspections of trucks using tomographic techniques, for example, the drivers must be kept away from the vehicle and other checks must be performed prior to irradiation to detect the presence of any illegal immigrants, in order to avoid unjustified exposure of people during the inspection. 3.3.2 The radiation protection situation The use of particle accelerators presents significant radiation exposure risks for the workers; ASN is particularly attentive to these facilities and therefore inspects them regularly. Between 2019 and 2022, 55 facilities equipped with these devices were inspected by ASN, 17 of them in 2022. ASN considers the radiation protection situation in the facilities using these devices to be satisfactory on the whole. In effect, the key requirements for conducting this activity with a satisfactory level of radiation protection (organisation of radiation protection, informing and training, technical verifications, radiological zoning and design of the premises in which these devices are used) are appropriately implemented by the large majority of the licensees concerned. Nevertheless, the inspections have also highlighted areas for improvement on which ASN will remain vigilant: ∙ compliance with the regulations concerning the frequency of technical verifications of radiation devices and associated equipment and the formalised processing of any non‑conformities detected during these checks; ∙ the presence of an unlocking device which can be actuated from inside the rooms in which particle accelerators are used; ∙ the correct operation of the audio signal associated with the in-situ check process to ensure nobody is in the room before the emission of ionising radiation can be enabled; ∙ the availability of radiation monitoring devices in sufficient quantities for the operators who access these rooms and keeping these devices in good working order. Lastly, with regard to experience feedback, no Significant Radiation Protection Event (ESR) was reported to ASN in 2022, apart from the recurrent events associated with the use of particle accelerators in shipment security checks. When conducting these checks, the customs services take precautions (such as broadcasting information messages in several languages) to avoid ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2022 257 08 • 08 • Sources of ionising radiation and their industrial, veterinary and research applications 01 07 13 AP 04 10 06 12 14 03 09 05 11 02
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