European Strategic 

Safety Initiative

UK Health and Safety 

Executive (1993)

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory 

Commission (NRC) 

(Draft-2009)

Institute of Nuclear 

Power Operations 

(INPO)

International Atomic 

Energy Agency 

(IAEA)/International 

Nuclear Safety Group 

(INSAG-4; 1993)

Member of the 

Public Mr. 

David Collins

Guldenmun

(2000)

Safety Culture is the set of enduring values and attitudes regarding safety issues, shared by every member of every level of an organization. Safety Culture refers to the extent to which every individual and every group of the organization is aware of the risks and unknown hazards induced by its activities; is continuously behaving so as to preserve and enhance safety; is willing and able to adapt itself when facing safety issues; is willing to communicate safety issues; and consistently evaluates safety related behavior.

The product of individual and group values, attitudes, perceptions, competencies, and patterns of behavior that determine the commitment to, and the style and proficiency of, an organization’s health and safety management.

That assembly of characteristics, attitudes, and behaviors in organizations and individuals which establishes that as an overriding priority, nuclear safety and security issues receive the attention warranted by their significance.

An organization’s values and behaviors— modeled by its leaders and internalized by its members—that serve to make nuclear safety the overriding priority.

That assembly of characteristics and attitudes in organizations and individuals which establishes that as an overriding priority, nuclear plant safety issues receive the attention warranted by their significance.

Professional leadership attitudes in a High Reliability Organization that ensure potentially hazardous activities are managed to maintain risk to people and the environment as low as reasonably achievable thereby maintaining stakeholder trust.

Those aspectof the organizationaculture which impact on attitudes and behavior relatto increasing decreasing ris

Safety Culture Definitions
European Strategic NRC (Draft) INPO IAEA/INSAG-4 Member of the Public Christian, et al

 Safety Initiative Mr. Dave Collins

Commitment Personnel demonstrate 

ownership for nuclear safety 

and security in their day-to-day 

activities.

Everyone is personally 

responsible for nuclear 

safety.

Safety is a clearly 

recognized value.

Excellence Behaviors:(1) 

Communicates and models 

values; (2) Clearly communicates 

expectations; (3) Focus is on 

value not cost; (4) Ensures 

training, resources; (5) Good 

problem-solver and coach; and 

(6) Promotes open, deep 

organization learning.

Management 

commitment to 

safety.

Behavior Process for planning and 

controlling work activities are 

implemented such that safety 

and security are maintained.

Leaders demonstrate 

commitment to safety.

Leadership for 

safety is clear.

Integrity Behaviors:(1) Does the 

right thing (behaves ethically); (2) 

Communicates openly and 

honestly; (3) Makes conservative 

decisions; (4) Addresses issues 

promptly, properly; (5) Uses 

failures to learn, not punish; and 

(6) Ensures appropriate 

accountability.

Human resources 

practices.

Awareness The organization maintains a 

safety conscious work 

environment in which personnel 

feel free to raise safety and 

security concerns without fear 

of retaliation.

Trust permeates the 

organization.

Accountability for 

safety is clear.

Relationship Behaviors:(1) 

Listens carefully to suggestions; 

(2) Welcoming and respectful; (3) 

Promotes diversity, development; 

(4) Compliments more than 

criticizes; and (5) Promotes 

work/life balance.

Quality of safety 

systems.

Adaptability The organization ensures that 

issues potentially impacting 

safety or security are promptly 

identified, fully evaluated, and 

promptly addressed and 

corrected commensurate with 

their significance.

Decision-making 

reflects safety first.

Safety is 

integrated into all 

activities.

Supervisor support 

for safety.

Information The organization ensures that 

the personnel, equipment, 

tools, procedures, and other 

resources needed to ensure 

safety and security are 

available.

Nuclear technology is 

recognized as special 

and unique.

Safety is learning 

driven.

Internal group 

processes.

Justness The organization’s decisions 

ensure that safety and security 

are maintained.

A questioning attitude is 

cultivated.

Group boundary 

management

Roles, responsibilities, and 

authorities for safety and 

security are clearly defined and 

reinforced.

Organizational learning 

is embraced.

Risk associated 

with activities/ 

environment

The organization maintains a 

continuous learning 

environment in which 

opportunities to improve safety 

and security are sought out and 

implemented.

Nuclear safety 

undergoes constant 

examination.

Work pressure

Leadership

Safety Culture Traits