14 years of controlling radiation protection

Since 2002 the ASN (French Nuclear Safety Authority) has been in charge of controlling radiation protection in all sectors. In the years 2007-2009 a series of incidents linked to the medical use of radiations has opened the way to a growing awareness of risks and the necessity of transparency in the medical sector. A situational analysis was made and a national plan was launched to get a better managing and control of the dose delivered to the patient and a reinforced sanitary follow-up of the staff. It is highlighted that radiation protection should evolve and be able to adapt to the new techniques used in radiotherapy or radio-diagnostic and that nuclear medicine uses generally low doses of radiation and radiation protection must reflect that. In the industrial sector some advances have been made concerning radiation protection: -) a reinforced control of mobile radiation sources, -) a more detailed list of radiation sources at the scale of the country, -) the implementation of more consistent regulations and work has begun to transpose into French law the European directive called Basic Safety Standards, -) a better assessment of the risks taken by operators, -) the managing of the end of life of radiation sources, and -) the protection against malevolent acts. (A.C.)