Ionizing Radiation: Transposition of the Euratom Directive of 5 December 2013

In 2018, France updated its radiation protection regulations for workers, lowering the radon dose limit and strengthening monitoring measures.

Marie Faucon
Consultante HSE
Publication : 
08.02.2019
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Please note: This article concerns French legislation. The requirements described may not apply in other countries.

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Two decrees were published in June 2018, notably to transpose the Euratom directive of December 5, 2013. The objectives of this regulatory change are to update radiation protection classifications and simplify the process for monitoring exposure to ionizing radiation workers. And a focus on radon-related risks.

The Public Health Code (public health, sanitation, and safety protection) and the Labor Code (protection of workers' health and safety) have thus been amended. Additional implementing decrees are expected.

Exposure to ionizing radiation, among the main changes:

  • The introduction of a new registration regime, positioned between the declaration and authorization regimes, for the operation of nuclear activities;
  • The classification of radioactive sources based on their potential effects in the context of malicious use (Categories A to D) and the strengthening of safety obligations for nuclear activity managers (including informing authorities in case of malicious acts, loss/theft concerning sources classified A to D);
  • The maintenance of a source inventory by the operator to continuously justify their origin and location, with annual transmission to IRSN for activities subject to authorization and every 3 years for other administrative regimes;
  • The lowering of the dose limit for the lens of the eye, which decreases from 150 mSv to 20 mSv over 12 consecutive months;
  • The alignment of the ionizing radiation risk assessment and management approach with principles already applied to conventional risks;
  • The employer's definition of relevant individual dose constraints (replacing job analysis and exposure records) prior to any activity carried out in a controlled or operational zone;
  • The appointment of a radiation protection advisor, who can be either an internal "PCR" (competent person in radiation protection) or a certified external "OCR" (competent organization in radiation protection);
  • The strengthening of protection against exposure to ionizing radiation of natural origin, namely radon.

Regarding radon-related risks in particular

A decree now lists municipalities located in radon potential zones (zone 1 to 3), allowing employers to more easily identify the risk ofradon exposure.

Since July1st 2018, the reference level for radon in the workplace has been lowered to 300 Bq/m3 (instead of 400 Bq/m3) as an annual average, and radon exposure monitoring has been extended to all workplaces located in basements and on ground floors, whereas previously only underground environments were subject to mandatory monitoring.

If a company is located in zone 3:

  • Measurement campaigns (using passive integrated radon measurement devices) must be carried out when risk assessment results indicate that exposure is likely to reach or exceed the reference level.
  • Analyses must be carried out by accredited bodies COFRAC.
  • In the event of exposure exceeding 6 mSv/year, the employer must notably implement "radon" zoning, individual dosimetric monitoring of workers, and "enhanced" follow-up by an occupational physician.

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