ASN Report 2017

225 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 DROM-COM The regulation of radiation protection and the transport of radioactive substances in the 6 overseas départements and regions (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyane, La Réunion, Mayotte, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon) is ensured by the Paris division . It also fulfils duties as expert to the competent authorities of French Polynesia and New Caledonia. I n 2017, 22 inspections were carried out in the small-scale nuclear activities sector in the DROM (French Overseas Départements and Regions). Three on-site inspection campaigns were carried out by the ASN Paris Division. One event involving an external-beam radiotherapy patient was rated level 1 on the ASN-SFRO scale. 1. Assessment by sector in the DROM The inspections revealed the DROM to be somewhat behind in the application of patient radiation protection measures. This is due primarily to a lack of means dedicated to medical physics in radiotherapy and to fluoroscopy-guided interventional practices. While the centre which was served formal notice in 2016 for not having a medical physicist is now compliant, another centre was served formal notice for the same reason in 2017. Tightened oversight will be exercised in 2018. The year 2017 was marked by the construction of an imaging centre using PET-CT (Positron Emission Tomography combined with a Computed Tomography scanner) and including a cyclotron for the local production of radiopharmaceutical products. The centre will undergo a pre-commissioning inspection in 2018. The installations and activities to regulate comprise: ཛྷ ཛྷ small-scale nuclear activities in the medical sector: -- 4 external-beam radiotherapy departments; -- 3 brachytherapy departments; -- 4 nuclear medicine departments; -- 26 centres performing fluoroscopy- guided interventional procedures; -- about 35 centres in possession of at least one Computed Tomography (CT) scanner ; -- about 100 medical radiology centres; -- about 1,000 dental radiology devices; ཛྷ ཛྷ small-scale nuclear activities in the industrial and research sectors : -- more than 70 users of veterinary radiology devices; -- 2 industrial radiography companies using gamma radiography devices; -- 2 cyclotrons, of which 1 is currently being installed. 2. ASN’s action in New Caledonia and French Polynesia During 2017, ASN continued its cooperation work with French Polynesia and New Caledonia as part of their local installation oversight operations and to update the regulatory framework governing nuclear activities in these territories. This cooperation is governed by multi-year agreements signed between the overseas communities and ASN. With regard to French Polynesia, ASN provided its support in the examination of the license application files for nuclear activities submitted by French Polynesia in 2017. ASN also assisted in the handling of a significant radiation protection event that occurred in the nuclear medicine department concerning the overflow of a tank of contaminated effluents in the radioactive iodine therapy department. In 2017, ASN carried out another mission in New Caledonia. Five inspections were carried out with the local authorities in the medical and industrial sectors on the basis of the regulatory baseline requirements applicable in metropolitan France. The training actions for the local authorities were continued. The problem of emergency situation management and the medical projects envisaged in the Caledonian territory, including a project for a nuclear medicine centre, were addressed more specifically in 2017. ASN also contributed its expertise in the ongoing reflection in New Caledonia concerning the creation of a unit dedicated to radiation protection and ultimately tasked, among other things, with examining license applications, oversight of inspections and management of emergency situations.