The French Labor Code requires the appointment of a Radiation Protection Competent Person (PCR ). This person is now known as a professional radiation protection advisor (CRP). This obligation is an integral part of the provisions of article R4451-123 of the French Labor Code. Every establishment using ionizing radiation must comply with this rule. The sectors concerned include medical, research and all nuclear facilities.
The role of the Adviser in Radiation Protection is to provide information and training:
It assesses risks and develops measures to prevent them from occurring.
It prepares and controls the implementation of strict health monitoring programs in compliance with standards.
Using their expertise, they trains workers in safe working practices regarding the ionisation source.
The Radiation Protection Advisers (RPA ) must have sufficient knowledge and skills to perform their duties properly.
Organisations that hold, use or handle ionising radiation sources have a legal obligation to appoint a RPA, who can be consulted on all questions relating to their use.
The provision of an electronic personal dosimeter (EPD ) is an essential requirement for these establishments.
They must also ensure that their workers have access to appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The Radiation Protection Adviser appointed by the employer is involved in the plant's ionising radiation activities.
Their tasks include :
The mission of the Adviser in Radiation Protection is to ensure compliance with the Labour Code in order to guarantee the safety of workers in exposed areas.
To be a Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA), you must have a certificate obtained after a training programme provided by accredited organisations.
The person must complete a training course provided by a competent body. This training will lead to a certification valid for a period of 5 years.
The decree of December 18, 2019 repeals the former decree of December 6, 2013 and defines the new procedures applicable in force on January 1ᵉʳ, 2020, pursuant toarticle R4451-123 of the French Labor Code and its revision(decree no. 2018-437 of June 4, 2018 on the protection of workers against the risks due to ionizing radiation).
The Radiation Protection Adviser must ensure that their establishment has a programme in place which includes:
The level of competence in radiation protection must be appropriate to the tasks and responsibilities assigned. In addition, they must be able to perform their duties professionally.
The PCR must have knowledge and experience in the field:
The Radiation Protection Advisers (RPA) are in charge, under the responsibility of the CEO, of the safety of the group of workers and the public exposed to ionising radiation.
They must implement a risk prevention policy on the site. They monitor the doses of workers exposed to radiation and transmit the data to the Ionising Radiation Exposure Monitoring Information System. A report must be submitted to the Social and Economic Committee (SSC) or, in its absence, to the staff representatives each year. If the exposure limit values are exceeded, the RPA must carry out all the necessary investigations on the sites and take all the necessary measures in conjunction with occupational medicine to bring the sites back into compliance.
The RPA has a key protective role in ensuring that organisations using ionising radiation fulfil their obligations under the regulations and are aware of the risk associated with working with radiation. They are responsible for liaising with the authorities involved in enforcement.
You are now familiar with the role of a RPA. This is an important step in ensuring that all organisations comply with radiation protection provisions, as well as reducing the risk of ionising radiation and its effects on the health of professionals and the environment.
