ML18137A389

NUREG/BR-0500, Rev. 4, Safety Culture Policy Statement.

ML18137A389
Person / Time
Issue date:	05/31/2018
From:	Catherine Thompson NRC/OE
To:
Meyd, Donald
References
NUREG/BR-0500 R4
Download: ML18137A389 (2)

Text

OUTREACH AND EDUCATION Interactions between NRC staff and stakeholders about safety culture are an important part of the success of the The NRC staff continues to provide outreach and policy statement. These interactions increase awareness of education on the importance of a positive safety the importance of safety culture and help individuals and culture through presentations at various conferences, organizations develop an understanding of how they can SAFETY participation in foster and maintain a positive safety culture in their work workshops, and environments.

discussions with stakeholders during CULTURE inspections and public meetings. In addition, NRC MISSION the NRC has developed various educational tools The NRC licenses and regulates the Nations civilian use of radioactive materials to to aid in understanding the Safety Culture provide reasonable assurance of adequate Policy Statement Policy Statement and protection of public health and safety and to the importance of a promote the common defense and security positive safety culture. and to protect the environment.

These tools include case studies highlighting how the safety culture traits apply to real events and documenting the journey that organizations have taken to improve their safety culture.

This brochure was adapted from the NRCs Final Safety Culture Policy Statement, published in the Federal Register The NRC also has a on June 14, 2011 (76 FR 34773).

publication called An Educational Resource FOR MORE INFORMATION, GO TO:

about the NRCs Safety http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/safety-culture.html Culture Policy Statement, which was developed FOR FEEDBACK AND QUESTIONS, SEND E-MAIL TO:

as a training tool for external_safety_culture.resource@nrc.gov licensees, vendors, and Agreement States. This resource includes the nine Trait Talks, the Metro Case Study and the Metro Journey (all previously published individually on the Safety Culture Web page), along with study questions and the Federal Register notice NUREG/BR-0500, Rev. 4 concerning Safety Culture Policy Statement. This May 2018 resource provides the licensees with a comprehensive understanding of the policy statement and how they can put its principles into action in their daily activities. This resource and other educational tools are available for download from the NRCs Safety Culture Web page (http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/

safety-culture.html).

SAFETY CULTURE POLICY STATEMENT DEFINITION OF NUCLEAR BACKGROUND The Safety Culture Policy Statement sets forth the SAFETY CULTURE The 1986 nuclear accident at the Chernobyl nuclear U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commissions (NRCs) power plant in Ukraine revealed the impact that Nuclear safety culture is the core values and behaviors expectation that individuals and organizations weaknesses in safety culture can have on safety.

resulting from a collective commitment by leaders and performing regulated activities establish and maintain Since then, a number of significant events in the individuals to emphasize safety over competing goals to a positive safety culture commensurate with the safety United States and internationally have further ensure protection of people and the environment.

and security significance of their activities and the demonstrated the nature and complexity of influence of safety culture.

their organizations and Assessments of these functions. TRAITS OF A POSITIVE NUCLEAR events revealed that safety This policy statement SAFETY CULTURE culture weaknesses were an underlying cause or applies to all licensees, Experience has shown that certain personal and increased the severity organizational traits are present in a positive safety culture:

certificate holders, permit of problems.

The following are traits of a positive safety culture:

holders, authorization holders, holders of quality assurance program approvals, Leadership Safety Values and Actions The NRC addressed aspects of safety culture in two vendors and suppliers of safety-related components, and Leaders demonstrate a commitment to safety in their previously issued policy statements. The Policy applicants for a license, certificate, permit, authorization, decisions and behaviors. Statement on the Conduct of Nuclear Power Plant or quality assurance program approval subject to NRC Problem Identification and Resolution Operations (published in 1989) states the NRCs authority. In addition, the Commission encourages Issues potentially impacting safety are promptly identified, expectations that licensed operators and managers the Agreement States (States that assume regulatory fully evaluated, and promptly addressed and corrected of nuclear power plants conduct themselves authority over their own use of certain nuclear commensurate with their significance. professionally to ensure safety. In 1996, the NRC materials), their licensees, and other organizations Personal Accountability published Freedom of Employees in the Nuclear interested in nuclear safety to support the development All individuals take personal responsibility for safety. Industry To Raise Safety Concerns without Fear of and maintenance of a positive safety culture within their Retaliation, a policy regulated communities. Work Processes statement that applies to The process of planning and controlling work activities is the regulated activities implemented so that safety is maintained.

CONSIDERATION OF SAFETY Continuous Learning of all NRC licensees and their contractors. It AND SECURITY Opportunities to learn about ways to ensure safety are provides the expectation sought out and implemented. that licensees and Because safety and security are the primary pillars of the NRCs regulatory mission, consideration of both is an Environment for Raising Concerns employers subject to underlying principle A safety conscious work environment is maintained where NRC authority establish of the Safety Culture personnel feel free to raise safety concerns without fear of and maintain work environments where employees Policy Statement. retaliation, intimidation, harassment, or discrimination. feel free to raise safety concerns without fear of Organizations Effective Safety Communication retaliation (referred to as a safety conscious work should ensure that Communications maintain a focus on safety. environment).

personnel in the Respectful Work Environment safety and security Trust and respect permeate the organization. IMPORTANCE FOR sectors appreciate the importance of each, Questioning Attitude REGULATED ENTITIES Individuals avoid complacency and continuously emphasizing the Industry experience has shown the value of challenge existing conditions and activities in order establishing and maintaining a positive safety to identify discrepancies that might result in error or need for integration culture. It is important to remember that individuals inappropriate action.

and balance to and organizations performing regulated activities achieve both Additional traits not included here may also be important in a bear the primary responsibility for safety and safety and security positive safety culture. For example, decision-making is included as a security. The Safety Culture Policy Statement is not in their activities. trait in the safety culture common language for the nuclear power industry (NUREG-2165, Safety Culture a regulation; therefore, it is the regulated entities Common Language, issued March 2014). responsibility to consider how to apply this policy statement to its regulated activities.