safety culture
Safety is the backbone of the global nuclear sector and is enshrined in all actions of each and every member of the nuclear environment. This extends beyond the call for safety in design and operation to the fundamental requirement for each individual to practise safety within the work environment.
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VALUES BASED STRATEGY For this reason, PBMR has established a safety culture enhancement programme and plan. The main goal of the programme is to develop a fully functional and effective integrated safety management system within the company. An important element of this is to maintain and enhance the safety culture within the organisation to be in line with the best international practice. The objective of the implementation of the programme is the sustainable continuous improvement of the organisation’s safety culture and the nuclear safety characteristics of PBMR’s products. |
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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Secretariat is headquartered at the Vienna International Centre in Austria. |
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The safety culture assessment review team found the following signs of a strong
safety culture:
“The managers and employees at PBMR are committed to improving the safety culture of their nuclear design organisation. Both management and employees are open and eager to learn from international experience. A positive attitude has been observed among the host peers from PBMR, who appeared to be extremely frank, sincere and honest, and always jointly looking for deficiencies. Safety in design is a priority topic in meetings, at senior management as well as group level: each section or group conducts a regular meeting on safety incorporated in the design using experience gained at PBMR and other nuclear design organisations throughout the world. Management, from CEO to line managers, has a clear understanding of nuclear safety, and especially safety in design, and the importance of communicating a nuclear safety message. Everywhere in working areas, posters address safety culture and stress the commitment of management to safety in design. Management shows a long-term and proactive approach to safety in design.” |
IMPLEMENTATION OF VALUES BASED STRATEGY
A questioning attitude is nurtured by regular interventions with employees to discuss their values and beliefs, driving their behaviour in support of PBMR’s safety culture. Our induction also includes training on the PBMR safety culture and safety management system.
The training departments of the various business units evaluate general training needs within PBMR, and safety culture is included as a topic. Specific safety culture training courses have been developed and are arranged whenever any monitoring and/or management oversight indicates a need for it.
Individual awareness in terms of our safety culture is maintained through monthly presentations and feedback sessions to our employees. During these sessions attributes of our safety culture and expected behaviour are emphasised.
The safety culture process owner also continuously monitor international developments for safety enhancement opportunities.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT
PBMR hosted a multinational safety culture team under the leadership of the International Atomic Energy Agency following the company’s request in 2006 for an independent review of its safety culture. The essence of this independent review was to benchmark PBMR against world best practice in safety culture.
The safety culture assessment review team concluded that the safety culture at PBMR is generally strong, and that throughout the organisation, the overwhelming majority of employees are committed to safety in design.
Continual improvement is encouraged within PBMR and is also reflected in the company’s Safety, Health and Environment Policy. The creation and maintenance of the company’s safety culture enhancement programme will facilitate continuous improvement of the safety culture within PBMR.
