NRC’s Safety Culture Initiativ

Jose G. Ibarra

SiP MSenior 

Program 

Manage

r

Office of Enforcement

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Health Physics Society 55th Annual 

Meeting 

June 30, 2010
Objective

• The objective of this presentation is to:

- Provide information on NRC’s safety culture (SC) effort and why - Provide examples of events where there is a nexus between the 

weak SC.

- Present NRC’s draft policy statement and the products develope

February 2-4, 2010, NRC sponsored workshop on SC. 

- Obtain feedback on workshop products.- Provide NRC’s schedule/next steps involved with the SC effort. 
Who We Are and What Our Mission 

• The NRC is a federal government agency 

oversees reactor safety and security, reactlicensing and renewal, radioactive materia

security and licensing and spent fuel manasecurity and licensing, and spent fuel mana

(storage, security, recycling, and disposal)

• The NRC's mission is to regulate the natio

civilian use of byproduct, source, and specnuclear materials to ensure adequate protepublic health and safety, to promote the codefense and security, and to protect the environment.
Why Safety Culture is Important to the 

- Operating experience has demonstrate

there is a nexus between SC and even

C

f

at NR -regulated acilities.

- SC contributes to the safe and secure 

radioactive materials.

- Because of this connection, NRC reco

the importance of considering safety cin its oversight programs. 
Historical Events

• Events Attributed to Weaknesses in S

- 2002: Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Statio

involving a degraded pressure vessel hea

gg 

caused by years of undetected boric acid corrosion. 

- 2007: Peach Bottom Atomic Power Statio

involving multiple security officers who wedeliberately inattentive on multiple occasideliberately failed to report observations inattentiveness to their supervisors. 
Historical Events (cont’d)

– 2002 through 2008: Philadelphia Vetera

Medical Center, involving 97 radioactive 

t t t i hi h I di 125 trea

tmen

t errors in whi

c

h Iodine-125 see

incorrectly placed in the treatment of procancer. 
NRC Safety Culture Policy Statements 

• Previous SC policy statements (SCPS): 

– 1989 Conduct of Operations –

1996 Sa

fety Co

nscious W

ork Envir

onm

e

n

t

996 Sa ety Co sc ous o o e t

• In February 2008 (COMGBJ-08-001), the Commission directe

“to expand the Commission’s policy on safety culture to addreunique aspects of security and to ensure that the resulting poapplicable to all licenses and certificate holders.”
Key Messages of the 2009 Policy State

- Applies to anyone performing or oversee

regulated activities.

- Proposes a definition and characteristics 

positive SC.

- Safety and security are equally important 

positive SC.

- Licensees and certificate holders are resp

for developing and maintaining a positive 

- The NRC has an inde

pendent oversi

ght r
Commission Direction

- Publish the SCPS in the Federal Regis

(> 90-day comment period).

C id i ti li d 

-

Consider incorporating suppliers an

d ve

- Continue to engage broad range of

stakeholders.

- Seek opportunities to comport terminolo

with existing standards and references
Safety Culture Workshop

– Large variety of stakeholders attended (e.g., reactors, m

facilities, fuel cycle & gage manufactures, universities, O

of Agreement States).

– Workshop was structured so that a panel of 16 stakehol

various affiliations, with frequent attendee input, reached 

on a SC definition and traitson

a SC definition and traits.

– Workshop defined: Nuclear Safety Culture as “the core 

behaviors resulting from a collective commitment by leadindividuals to emphasize safety over competing goals to protection of people and the environment.”

– NRC draft definition of Safety Culture is “that assembly 

characteristics, attitudes and behaviors in organizations individuals, which establishes that as an overriding priorsafety and security issues receive the attention warrantesignificance.”
NRC (Draft) SC Characteristics February 2-4, 2010, SC Wo

Problem Identification and EvaluationThe organization ensures that issues potentially impacting safety or security are promptly identified, fully evaluated, and promptly addressed and corrected commensurate with their significance.

Problem Resolution and MetricsThe organization ensures that issues potentiaare promptly identified, fully evaluated, and pcorrected commensurate with their significanc

Work PracticesPersonnel demonstrate ownership for nuclear safety and security in their day-to-day activities.

Personal Responsibilities and AttitudesEveryone is personally responsible for nuclea

Work Planning and ControlProcess for planning and controlling work activities are implemented such that safety and security are maintained.

Processes and ProceduresProcesses for planning and controlling work athat safety is maintained.

Continuous Learning EnvironmentThe organization maintains a continuous learning environment in which opportunities to improve safety and security are sought out and implemented.

Continuous LearningOrganizational learning is embraced.

Licensee Decision MakingThe organization’s decisions ensure that safety and security are maintained. 

Leadership Safety BehaviorsLeaders demonstrate commitment to safety.

Safety Conscious Work EnvironmentThe organization maintains a safety conscious work environment in which personnel feel free to raise safety and security concerns without fear of retaliation.

Encouraging Report of ProblemsThe organization maintains a safety conscioupersonnel feel free to raise concerns without Effective Safety CommunicationEffective communication is essential to maintRespectful Work EnvironmentTrust and respect permeate the organization.

AccountabilityRoles, responsibilities, and authorities for safety and security are clearly defined and reinforced.ResourcesThe organization ensures that the personnel, equipment, tools, procedures, and other resources needed to ensure safety and security are available. 
Comments

• NRC is interested in your views:

– If you would like to submit comments on the SC definitio

please submit comments at the following website by Fal

http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/regulatory/enforcement/cooe.html.

– Please indicate which SC definition and traits you prefer 

include potential comments to improve the SC definition 
Schedule and Next Steps

• Consider the public comments on the draft 

statement, results of the February 2-4, 201workshop, and any comments received throwebsite.

• Revise SC draft policy statement.• Increase the attention given to SC• Complete staff recommendations for final S

statement (by early 2011).

• Evaluate oversight programs for SC consid
Q ti ?

Questions

?