Radiological hazard in post-accident situations - Guide to good practices for radioactivity measurement laboratories

This guide takes up most of the "Guide de bonnes pratiques des laboratoires de mesure de radioactivité en situation post-accidentelle", drawn up by the Institut de radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire (IRSN) as part of the Comité directeur pour la gestion de la phase post-accidentelle d'un accident nucléaire ou d'une situation d'urgence radiologique (CODIRPA) set up by the Autorité de sûreté nucléaire (ASN). Activity reports on the work of CODIRPA are available on the ASN website . The Guide de bonnes pratiques des laboratoires de mesure de radioactivité en situation post-accidentelle (Guide to good practice for radioactivity measurement laboratories in post-accident situations), which details all the recommendations in this article, is available on the IRSN website .

It is primarily intended for radioactivity measurement laboratories likely to be called upon at the time of or following a nuclear or radiological accident in France or abroad. It is also partly aimed at analysis prescribers and sampling teams. Although it does not deal with sampling strategy or techniques, it does cover certain aspects of sampling operations that have a direct impact on metrology.

Its aim is to ensure the production of metrologically reliable analytical results that can be used by the client, within a timeframe appropriate to the situation. It takes into account the various measurement objectives: crisis expertise (assessment of radiological and dosimetric consequences), regulatory controls, radiation protection, and the particularities linked to the radionuclides and activity levels potentially present in the samples to be processed during the emergency and short-term post-accident transition phases (a few months after an event). The longer-term post-accident phase is considered to be part of standard laboratory practice.

The various points covered relate to laboratory organization and metrology. They are dealt with in chronological order of the actions to be taken to analyze a sample, from sampling to transmission of the measurement result to the client.

The examples and recommendations given in this guide are for guidance only. They are intended to help laboratories think ahead and prepare their resources and teams to deal with a post-accident situation....