ASN Report 2017

257 ASN report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2017 Chapter 08  - Regional overview of nuclear safety and radiation protection PAYS DE LA LOIRE With regard to environmental protection, waste and effluent management is satisfactory but the formalisation of the waste and effluent management plans can be improved to comply with ASN resolution 2008-DC-0095 of 29th January 2008. Furthermore, evidence to substantiate the conformity of the ventilation system of the premises with ASN resolution 2014-DC-0463, approved by the Order of 16th January 2016 is to be provided in 2018. Lastly, 6 significant radiation protection events were reported in 2017 (10 in 2016). Computed Tomography Only one centre was inspected in 2017. This inspection focused more specifically on patient radiation protection, which is found to be properly implemented in this centre. Quality controls and personnel training are carried out at the required frequencies and measures are taken to optimise the doses delivered to patients. A few adjustments are nevertheless still required to improve worker radiation protection with regard to the signalling of regulated work areas and the revision of the job and work environment studies. 1.3 Radiation protection in the industrial sector Industrial radiography ASN carried out 5 inspections of industrial radiography activities in the Pays de la Loire region in 2017, of which one was a worksite inspection. The findings are relatively similar to those of 2016. ASN notes that the regulatory requirements are on the whole met with regard to the organisation of radiation protection, operator training and monitoring and equipment maintenance. Progress remains to be made however in the assessment of risks, the analysis of doses received by workers, the tidiness of exposure bunkers, the filling out of gamma ray project tracking documents, operator knowledge of their dosimeter alarm thresholds, the existence of prevention plans with all the outside contractors working in controlled work areas and the communication of projected worksite schedules. 1.4 Nuclear safety and radiation protection in the transport of radioactive substances In 2017, ASNconducted 2 inspections dedicated exclusively to the transport of radioactive substances in the Pays de la Loire region. One of the inspections focused on the duties of the Transport Safety Advisor (TSA) of a company providing TSA services to other radioactive substance transport carriers. This inspection did not lead to any corrective action requests. The second inspection concerned a nuclear medicine department, andmore specifically the organisational set-up for the reception of pharmaceutical packages. This inspection, which was the first transport inspection for this nuclear medicine department, concluded that its organisation needed to be substantially improved in the short term. More specifically, serious shortcomings were noted in the checks conducted on reception and shipping of the radionuclides. In addition, the centre had neither a radiological protection plan nor a plan for the management of radioactive substance transport incidents and accidents. 1.5 Radiation protection of the public and the environment Radon ASN has participated since 2009 in the campaigns for radon measurement in private homes organised by the city of Nantes. Two public meetings were held during each campaign: the first ending with the issuing of dosimeters to the inhabitants of the districts concerned by the campaign, and the second during which the measurement results are detailed and remediation actions are proposed. Since 2016, other campaigns for radon measurement in private homes have been undertaken by Pays de la Loire municipalities with the support of associations funded by the call for proposals baptised “Act for an environment that fosters health” of the second Regional Health and Environment Plan (“PRSE2”). Consequently, ASN gave public presentations on radon-related risks in 2017 in the towns of Nantes, Bouguenais, Blain and in five municipalities of the Vendéen Bocage Territory. Distribution of the general public information leaflet on radon- related health risks, which was created in 2016 in collaboration with the Regional Directorate for the Environment, Planning and Housing (Dreal) and the Regional Health Agency (ARS), continued, in particular as part of the communications drive on indoor air quality. ASN also contributes to the finalisation of the third Regional Health and Environment Plan (PRSE3) of the Pays de la Loire region, coordinated by the Dreal and the ARS. It more specifically leads the working group responsible for conducting radon communication actions with the general public, professionals of the building trade and health sectors, building trade training organisations, owners of buildings open to the public, etc. Mining sites ASN keeps a close watch on the progress of Areva’s actions around the sites in the public domain where uranium mining waste rock has been reused. Two inspections were carried out in 2017 on the sites in the region which have been chosen and authorised to receive the mining waste rock resulting from remediation work conducted in Pays de la Loire: the Écarpière site (Loire Atlantique département) and the Commanderie site (Vendée département). These inspections confirmed that Areva complies with the provisions concerning radiation protection, the Prefectural Orders regulating the disposal of these materials, dated 4th August 2016 and 9th January 2017 for the Écarpière and Commanderie sites respectively. ASN has also focused particular attention on Areva’s work in the region to remove the mining waste rock reused in the public domain and on the complementary studies conducted in the Guérande sector. ASN also backed the Dreal’s request to have IRSN perform an analysis and expert appraisal in this sector in view of the work carried out by Areva.