LES ACTIVITÉS NUCLÉAIRES : RAYONNEMENTS IONISANTS ET RISQUES POUR LA SANTÉ ET L’ENVIRONNEMENT 2.7 Radiation protection of workers 2.7.1 – Exposure of workers to ionising radiation Exposure to ionising radiation in a nuclear power reactor comes primarily from the activation of corrosion products in the primary system and fission products in the fuel. All types of radiation are present (neutrons, α, β and γ), with a risk of internal and external exposure. Most of the doses received come from external exposure to β and γ radiation and are primarily linked to maintenance operations during reactor outages. In 2025, the average collective dosimetry per reactor (see Graph 5), and the average dose received by the workers for one hour of work in a controlled area (see Graph 6) are lower than the values recorded for 2024. Graph 7 shows the breakdown of the workers according to whole body external dosimetry. In 2025, the share of workers exposed to a dose of less than one millisievert (mSv), is higher than previous years (about 76% in 2024 compared to about 78% in 2025). The annual regulation limit for whole body external dosimetry (20 mSv) was exceeded on no occasion in 2025. Graph 8 shows the trend in whole body average individual dosimetry according to the categories of disciplines of the workers in the NPPs. As in previous years, those workers most exposed are the personnel in charge of heat insulation. Average individual dosimetry has fallen for this category of jobs in 2025 (-22% compared with 2024). The other most-exposed job categories remain unchanged: welders, non-destructive testing personnel, mechanics and service personnel. For all categories, the average individual dose fell in 2025 by comparison with 2024. Significant contamination events In 2025, EDF declared seven events of significant contamination of workers in NPPs, a figure similar to 2024. Five of these events (rated level 1 on the INES scale) entailed an exposure of the workers concerned of more than one quarter the annual regulation limit for the skin and two of them (rated level 2 on the INES scale) entailed exposure greater than the annual regulation limit for the skin (see Highlight No.10). Although the workers concerned by these events were treated, with removal of the radioactive particles responsible for their contamination, ASNR considers that the rise in the number of events reported over several years, which occurred in a variety of working situations, should lead EDF to take a closer look at how the contamination risk is addressed when preparing worksites and to implement appropriate actions to prevent this risk. 2.7.2 – Assessment of worker radiation protection ASNR monitors compliance with the regulations relative to the protection of workers liable to be exposed to ionising radiation in NPPs. In this respect, ASNR is attentive to all the workers on the sites, both EDF personnel and those of contractors. This monitoring is performed on each NPP during inspections, either on the specific topic of radiation protection, or on activities performed during reactor outages, or as a result of specific events. This monitoring is also carried out during examination of the worker radiation protection files (significant event reports, design, maintenance or modification files, documents implementing the regulations produced by EDF, etc.). During the inspections carried out in 2025, the inspectors noted, as in 2024, a proactive approach on the part of EDF to controlling sources of exposure of workers to ionising radiation, in particular via programmes for monitoring and eliminating so-called “hot spots”. The inspectors also noted progress in the introduction of training for personnel responsible for controlling access to reactor buildings, as well as a drop in the number of significant events concerning industrial radiography work. On the other hand, ASNR once again noted difficulties in several NPPs with the supervision of contractors on worksites, but also with the attitude of workers to their own protection and radiological monitoring, with deviations in the use of dosimeters. Lastly, ASNR considers that improvements are still needed in controlling the risk of contamination spreading within the facilities. ASNR is still observing worksites where there is a risk of contamination dispersal and where the containment measures are not up to standard. It considers that EDF should reduce the number of contamination points detected on site roads. These findings have been observed by the inspectors for several years now and should lead EDF to take a close look at the steps taken on this subject, so that they now result in effective improvements in the field for all the NPPs. 2.8 Labour Law in the Nuclear Power Plants 2.8.1 – Labour inspection in the Nuclear Power Plants ASNR is responsible for labour inspectorate duties in the installations of the 57 electricity generating reactors, and 11 other installations, most of which are reactors undergoing decommissioning. 800 to 2,000 people work in each NPP, depending on the number of reactors. About 22,000 EDF employees and 14,000 employees from outside contractors are thus assigned to these nuclear sites. The role of the labour inspectorate is to ensure that the Labour Code as a whole is applied by the employers, whether EDF or its contractors. The labour inspectorate, which takes part in the integrated vision of oversight sought by ASNR, carries out its monitoring work in conjunction with the other activities to monitor and oversee the safety of facilities and radiation protection. HIGHLIGHT No. 10 External contamination of two workers at the Gravelines and Cattenom NPPs In 2025, two significant worker contamination situations, each detected during the radiological checks performed on exiting the reactor building, led to the notification of two Significant Radiation Protection Events (ESRs) rated level 2 on the INES scale(*). The first event occurred on 10 June 2025 in the Tricastin NPP. It involved contamination of a worker’s face following an operation to install lead mats. The second event occurred on 24 July 2025 at the Gravelines NPP. It concerned contamination at the nape of the neck of a worker who had carried out industrial radiography work. In both cases, the workers were treated in order to remove the radioactive particle responsible for the contamination. Despite investigations into the routes taken by each of these workers, the areas responsible for their contamination could not be identified. Under these circumstances, the doses likely to have been received by these workers were estimated on the basis of conservative assumptions regarding exposure duration, and this estimate led, for each of them, to an exceedance of the annual regulatory limit for the equivalent dose to the skin, set at 500 millisieverts for a skin area of 1 cm². EDF notified an ESR for each of these two situations. Owing to the regulatory occupational exposure limit being exceeded, these events were rated 2 on the INES scale. Following notification of these events, ASNR carried out an inspection in the NPPs concerned in order to check that EDF had taken all necessary steps for adequate management of these events and analysis of their causes. * International scale of nuclear and radiological events, graded from 0 to 7 in increasing order of severity. ASNR Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2025 303 01 05 02 06 03 07 04 08 09 10 11 13 12 A / Z
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