Events notified in 2024 In 2024, in the field of radioactive substances transport, ASN was notified of 100 events rated level 0 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES) and 3 events rated level 1. A rise in the number of level 0 events is observed by comparison with 2023, whereas the number of level 1 events remains stable. This rise reflects the growing awareness among the licensees of the need to notify a significant event. Graph 4 shows the variations in the number of significant events notified since 2007. ASN was also notified of 50 Events of Interest for the safety of Transports (EITs), a figure which is 18% down on 2023. Because they have no actual or potential consequences, these events are not rated on the INES scale. There is thus no obligation to notify ASN, but the latter does encourage periodic information so that it has an overview of the EITs and can detect any recurrence or trends which could be indicative of a problem. Finally, for on-site transport operations, only one event – rated level 0 on the INES scale – was notified in 2024, as against 4 in 2023 (including one rated INES 1). Sectors concerned by these events As in the previous years, most of the significant events notified concern the road transport of radiopharmaceutical products (23%). This figure has been constantly dropping for several years, owing to improved monitoring of carriers by the carriage commission agents. However, the number of significant events notified regarding the transport of gamma radiography devices was up 7% on 2023, with the recipients of these devices being particularly vigilant regarding compliance with the transport regulations. As for the events rated level 1 on the INES scale: ∙non-compliance with the transport conditions for a gamma ray projector coming from Chad was rated INES level 1 owing to the lack of identification of the radioactive nature of the load, and additionaly the fact that this was not the first occurrence; ∙loss of a package containing a flask of fluorine-18 was rated INES level 1, on the grounds of a lack of radiation protection culture; ∙the last event rated level 1 on the INES scale concerns the repetition of radiopharmaceutical package delivery errors by a carrier. None of these three level 1 events on the INES scale had any consequences for the workers, population, or environment. GRAPH 4 Trend in the number of significant events affecting the transport of radioactive substances notified 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 52 6 1 56 9 1 52 10 65 3 76 7 53 9 40 3 50 1 5 64 2 3 85 4 71 4 80 4 76 12 84 2 100 3 63 3 Level 0 Level 1 Level 2 87 58 Inspection of the shipment of the CASTOR HAW28M package to the Valognes rail terminal (Manche département) On 18 November 2024, ASN inspectors went to the Orano Recyclage site at La Hague. Under a Franco-German intergovernmental agreement, four CASTOR HAW28M packages were transported between the Orano Recyclage plant on the La Hague (50) site and the Phillipsburg site (Germany). Until 9 February 2028, these packagings, loaded with standard vitrified waste containers (CSD-V), will be covered by French certificate F/667/B(U)F-96 (e) validating the initial approval issued by the competent German Authority. During this inspection, the ASN inspectors were accompanied by four radiological measurement experts from IRSN, along with two German experts from the Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), with the German federal institute notably contributing expertise in the safety cases of class 7 package models (radioactive materials). The inspectors checked the preparation and handling of the packages before road shipment to the Valognes rail terminal. Before the trucks left and in addition to the measurements taken by Orano Recyclage, the IRSN experts took independent measurements of equivalent dose rate on contact and at 2 metres from the package and road rigs, as well as independent measurements of non-fixed surface contamination, in order to check compliance with the regulation radiation protection criteria. Based on the results of their examination of the requirements of the approval validation certificate, and of the reports confirming the tightness of the closure of the containments, and those confirming the various radiological measurements, the inspectors considered that shipment of the CASTOR HAW28M packages complied with the requirements of the regulations. Inspection on the Orano Recyclage site at La Hague 290 ASN Report on the state of nuclear safety and radiation protection in France in 2024 Transport of radioactive substances
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