A medical and industrial radiation protection culture that must be nurtured In 2022, the level of radiation protection remained at a satisfactory level in the medical field. This field, in which the radiation protection issues are particularly high, is under significant pressure, in particular with regard to human resources, a problem that has been exacerbated over the past two years. This has led to the implementation of new work organisations, notably multi-site or calling on outside contractors. ASN remains particularly vigilant in ensuring that these new organisations do not lead to any impairment of worker radiation protection. These unprecedented situations, such as a complete change in the medical team, must be anticipated, notably regarding change management and professional qualification procedures. Knowledge of and commitment to radiation protection requirements are well established in teams specialising in techniques using ionising radiation. However, the observations made over the past four years show that this radiation protection culture could still be improved in the field of fluoroscopy-guided interventional practices, for which staff training in patient and worker radiation protection is struggling to progress. In addition, the lessons learned from previous events are sometimes forgotten. External radiotherapy calibration errors were once again observed in 2022, despite the fact that similar events had been the subject of ASN Feedback sheets shared within the profession. The same observation can be made in other fields, such as industrial gamma radiography, where there have been further cases of poor practices in the management of source blockages. These events remind us that the radiation protection culture can never be taken for granted, but must be maintained in order to avoid the loss of the competence and experience needed to deal with unexpected or undesirable events. As part of the 2018-2022 action plan for control of the doses delivered to patients, ASN is promoting all measures liable to contribute to the implementation of the justification and optimisation principles, both for routine activities and for the introduction of technological innovations or new practices. In accordance with these principles, ASN stresses the importance and added value of external clinical peer audits, in particular in areas where the risks are high. Similarly, given the significant percentage of radiotherapy treatments in oncology and the improved survival rates, ASN recalls the need to set up follow-up registers for patients who received radiotherapy treatment, to allow improved assessment of the long-term radiation induced effects, in particular for the new practices (hypofractionation, flash-radiotherapy). Codirpa’s innovative and partnership-based approaches which are continuing The Steering Committee for the Management of the Post-Accident Phase (Codirpa) published its report to the Prime Minister containing recommendations on foodstuffs in an area contaminated by a nuclear accident around an NPP, recommendations which are backed up by field work carried out with a panel of local residents. It also continued its work on the management of post-accident situations around facilities other than NPPs, as well as its work on waste management. As part of the work done under the mandate given to Codirpa by the Prime Minister regarding the safety and radiation protection culture among the population, its members were involved on 13 October 2022 in the United Nations International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. The aim of this was to prepare the populations for the appropriate reflexes to deal with in the event of nuclear emergency. ASN, together with the National Association of Local Committees and Commissions (Anccli) and the Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), coordinated the actions of the various stakeholders within Codirpa. … 6 ABSTRACTS – ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2022 Editorial by the Commission
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