LES ACTIVITÉS NUCLÉAIRES : RAYONNEMENTS IONISANTS ET RISQUES POUR LA SANTÉ ET L’ENVIRONNEMENT Industrial X-ray radiography Industrial X-ray radiography devices are very varied, ranging from fixed devices (integrated in a facility of very variable size) to mobile devices which can be used equally well in worksite conditions as in a facility. In application of the principle of optimisation, they must be used instead of gamma radiography devices when the conditions so permit because they do not make use of a radioactive source. Apart from non-destructive inspection, these devices can also be used for more specific and therefore rarer purposes, such as radiography for the restoration of musical instruments or paintings, archaeological study of mummies or the analysis of fossils. 3.1.2 – Evaluation of the radiation protection situation Industrial radiography activities are high-risk activities which have been an inspection priority for ASNR for several years now. In 2025, ASNR carried out 128 inspections on this subject, a slight decrease compared with 2024 (149 inspections). Among these inspections, 51 were unannounced inspections on night-time worksites, where applicable. The on-line notification of worksite schedules for industrial radiography companies put in place by ASN in 2014 facilitates the planning of these inspections. ASNR notes that virtually all the companies concerned routinely use this system for giving notification of their worksites. The reliability of the information transmitted however, is still very varied. The points to improve include: ∙the updating of schedules when they are changed or cancelled; ∙the accuracy of the worksite location information (not to be confused with the address of the ordering company); ∙the completeness of the worksite notification; ∙the identification of the device used on the worksite (gamma radiography or X-ray device). Requirements mostly met ASNR observes that the large majority of companies maintained the necessary rigour to meet the regulatory requirements concerning the appointing of a Radiation Protection Expert (RPE – less than 1% of the inspected companies failed to meet the requirements), worker dose monitoring (4% deviations identified) and radiological zoning of their facilities (around 20% deviations identified, slightly increased compared with 2024 for this latter point). Furthermore, the inspectors noted that the frequency of maintenance of gamma radiography devices on the whole complies with regulations (3% noncompliance found for projectors, 6% for accessories). Similarly, all the operators inspected by ASNR, with one exception, held, when it was necessary, the certificate of competence in the use of industrial radiology devices (CAMARI) required by Article R. 4451-61 of the Labour Code (only one deviation noted, concerning use in an installation). ASNR points out that from 1 July 2027, in accordance with the new articles R. 4451-62 and R. 4451-63 of the Labour Code, the utilisation of an industrial radiology device containing one or more high-activity sealed sources in a work zone will require at least two of the owner company’s employees to hold the CAMARI certificate (see point 5). Schematic diagram of the functioning of a gamma ray projector Safe position Open position Shielding Plug in safe position Direction of source projection Plug in open position Guide tube Source HIGHLIGHT No. 6 Selenium-75 gamma radiography The use of selenium-75 in gamma radiography has been authorised in France since 2006. Implemented in the same devices as those functioning with iridium-192, selenium-75 offers significant radiation protection advantages. This is because the dose equivalent rates are about 55 millisieverts per hour and per terabecquerel (mSv/h/TBq) one metre from the selenium-75 source, as opposed to 130 mSv/h/TBq for iridium-192. Yet it can be used in place of iridium-192 in numerous industrial fields, especially the petrochemical or boilermaking industry, and it enables the cordoned-off safety perimeter to be significantly reduced and facilitates intervention in the event of an incident. In France, about 13% of the devices are equipped with selenium-75 sources. The use of selenium-75 has stagnated over the last few years and has even been decreasing since 2023 (20% in 2022 and 15% in 2023). However, it appears to be on the rise (11% in 2024) following the geopolitical context of recent years (sanctions against Russia because of the war in Ukraine), which is resulting in a restructuring of the global supply chain for gamma radiography sources, accompanied in particular by delays in delivery. New supply routes have therefore been put in place in recent years by the supplier of these sources, enabling the situation to be stabilised or even improved. ASNR therefore still encourages the use of selenium-75 whenever possible. ASNR Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2025 247 01 05 02 06 03 04 09 10 07 11 13 08 12 A / Z
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