An employee of the Hospices Civils was contaminated by a radioactive substance during an incident in Lyon

An employee of the Hospices Civils was contaminated by a radioactive substance during an incident in Lyon.

An incident at the Hospices Civils de Lyon resulted in the contamination of an employee by a radioactive substance. The Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASN) has classified this event as level 2 on the INES scale, indicating shortcomings in protective measures.

An employee of the Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL) was contaminated by a radioactive substance following an incident on May 13 at the Bron East hospitals, the Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR) announced. The event occurred when a lead-lined bottle containing lutetium-177, a radioactive isotope used in some cancer treatments, accidentally broke. A drop of the product reached a staff member, resulting in contamination.

The hospital immediately activated its radiation protection procedures. The employee received prompt medical attention and underwent decontamination, while the affected areas were also secured and cleaned. According to the ASNR (French National Radiation Protection Agency), the exposure resulted in a temporary exceedance of the annual regulatory limit set for workers exposed to ionizing radiation.

An incident classified at level 2 on the INES scale

Following its analysis, the French Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR) classified this event at level 2 on the international INES scale, which has seven levels. This classification, uncommon in the medical sector, indicates a significant failure of radiation protection measures, but does not constitute a major accident. The ASNR specifies that it is not commenting on any potential medical consequences for the employee involved.

The Hospices Civils de Lyon have launched a thorough analysis of the circumstances of the incident and implemented several corrective measures to prevent a similar situation from recurring. The ASNR (French National Agency for Radiological Protection) announced that an inspection will be carried out soon to verify the effective implementation of these measures. In its latest annual report, the authority noted that radiation protection in the medical field remains generally satisfactory, while highlighting the persistent weaknesses related to adherence to procedures and the safety culture within certain facilities.