Ten Traits of a World-Class Safety Culture – #1 Personal Accountability

1. All individuals take personal responsibility for safety.
2. Responsibility and authority for safety are well defined and clearly understood.
3. Reporting relationships, positional authority, and team responsibilities emphasize the overriding importance of safety.

Attributes:

Individuals understand the importance of adherence to operating and safety standards.

All levels of the organization exercise accountability for shortfalls in meeting standards.

Behavior Examples:

1. Individuals encourage each other to adhere to high standards.
2. Individuals demonstrate a proper focus on safety and reinforce this focus through peer coaching and discussions.
3. Individuals hold themselves personally accountable for modeling safety behaviors.
4. Individuals across the organization apply safety standards consistently.
5. Individuals actively solicit and are open to feedback.
6. Individuals help supplemental personnel understand and practice expected behaviors and actions.

Job Ownership:

• Individuals understand and demonstrate personal responsibility for the behaviors and work practices that support working safely.

Behavior Examples:

1. Individuals understand their personal responsibility to foster a professional environment, encourage teamwork, and identify challenges to working safely.
2. Individuals understand their personal responsibility to raise safety issues, including those identified by others.
3. Individuals take ownership for the preparation and execution of assigned work activities.
4. Individuals actively participate in pre-job briefings, understanding their responsibility to raise safety concerns before work begins.
5. Individuals ensure that they are trained and qualified to perform assigned work.
6. Individuals understand the objective of the work activity, their role in the activity, and their personal responsibility for safely accomplishing the overall objective.

Teamwork:

• Individuals and work groups communicate and coordinate their activities within and across organizational boundaries to ensure safety is maintained.

Behavior Examples:

1. Individuals demonstrate strong collaboration and cooperation in connection with projects and operational activities.
2. Individuals work as a team to provide peer-checks, verify certifications and training, ensure detailed safety practices, actively peer coach new personnel, and share tools and publications.
3. Individuals strive to meet commitments.

Adapted from:  INPO Pocket Guide to INPO 12-012: Traits of a Healthy Nuclear Safety Culture