The combination of values, attitudes and habits that makes safety the first consideration in every decision. Traits include a questioning attitude, conservative decision-making, rigorous procedure use, prompt reporting of problems without fear of blame, and leaders who visibly put safety ahead of schedule. Regulators and industry peer groups assess it through interviews, surveys and the quality of an organisation's corrective action programme.
Stopping the evolution to ask about that reading was good safety culture, nobody's in trouble for it.
Insiders judge safety culture by what happens after someone raises a concern, not by the posters on the wall.
Also heard as
- nuclear safety culture
Related terms
Defence in depth
The safety strategy of stacking independent layers of protection so no single failure can lead to harm.
ALARA
As low as reasonably achievable: the principle of keeping doses as low as practical, not just below limits.
RWP
Radiation work permit: the document that sets radiological conditions, controls and dose limits for a specific job.
LCO
Limiting condition for operation: a technical specification requirement for equipment or conditions needed to run the plant.