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Event Report Forms (ERFs) are filed to the IAEA. Sometimes there are multiple event reports, updating the rating, the event description. Here you only see the latest event report

ERF send date: Thu, 15-06-1995
ERF description: On Friday 9 June 1995, failure of the access control system allowed access for a period of 20 minutes to the bunker housing one of the GANIL particle accelerators (CSSI Cyclotron) while it was running.
The Ganil is used to accelerate heavy ions, from carbon to uranium, for the purpose of scientific research.
The main risk from a working particle accelerator is the risk of exposure to ionising radiation. The safety of this installation is ensured primarily by the design of its biological shielding (thickness and integrity of the walls of concrete bunker) and by checking access to areas where there is a risk of irradiation (inside bunker).
The operating organisation shut down the installation when the incident was discovered by chance. The Nuclar Installations Safety Directorate has to give its approval before the installation can be returned to service.
Thus far, the inquiry carried out by the operating organisatioln, has not indicated that any of the scientists performing the experiments entered the bunker while the accelerator was running.
According to the operating organistion, the incident could have been caused by a modification to the program operating the computerised access control system.
The Regional Directorate for Industry, Research and Environment (DRIRE) for the Lower-Normandy region carried out an inspection of the installation on 13 June 1995.
By virtue of the significant failure in the lines of defence, the incident was classified at level 2 on the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES).
ERF rating date: 14-06-1995
ERF contact person: MS. D. GERSTER-MARIN
ERF address: 99 RUE DE GRENELLE, France
ERF affiliation: MINISTERE DE l INDUSTRIE, MINISTERE DE L ENVIRONNEMENT, DSIN

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