Ten Traits of a World-Class Safety Culture – #7 Continuous Learning

1. Opportunities to learn about ways to ensure safety are sought out and implemented.
2. Operating experience is highly valued, and the capacity to learn from experience is well developed.
3. Training, self-assessments, and benchmarking are used to stimulate learning and improve performance. 
4. Safety is constantly scrutinized through various monitoring techniques, some of which provide an independent “fresh look.”

Attributes:

Operating Experience: The organization systematically and effectively collects, evaluates, and implements relevant internal and external operating experience promptly.

Behavior Examples:

1. A process is in place to thoroughly review the operating experience provided by internal and external sources.
2. Operating experience is implemented and institutionalized effectively through changes to processes, procedures, equipment, and training programs.
3. Operating experience is used to understand equipment, operational, and industry challenges and to adopt new ideas to improve performance.
4. Operating experience supports daily work functions, emphasizing the possibility that “it could happen here.”
5. Operating experience(s) is shared promptly.

Self-Assessment:  The organization routinely conducts self-critical and objective assessments of its programs and practices.

Behavior Examples:

1. Independent and self-assessments, including safety culture assessments, are thorough and effective and are used as a basis for improvements.
2. The organization values the insights and perspectives assessments provide.
3. Self-assessments are performed on various topics, including the self-assessment process itself.
4. Self-assessments are performed at a regular frequency and provide objective, comprehensive, and self-critical information that drives corrective actions.
5. Targeted self-assessments are performed when a more thorough understanding of an issue is required.
6. A balanced self-assessment and independent oversight approach is used and periodically adjusted based on changing needs.
7. Self-assessment teams include individual contributors and leaders from the organization and external organizations when appropriate.

Benchmarking: The organization learns from other organizations to continuously improve knowledge, skills, and safety performance.

Behavior Examples:

1. The organization uses benchmarking to acquire innovative ideas to improve safety.
2. The organization participates in benchmarking activities with other railroads.
3. The organization seeks out best practices by benchmarking to understand how others perform the same functions.
4. The organization uses benchmarking to compare operating and safety standards to the industry and to make adjustments to improve performance.
5. Individual contributors are actively involved in benchmarking.

Training: The organization provides training and ensures knowledge transfer to maintain a knowledgeable, technically competent workforce and instill safety values.

Behavior Examples:

1. The organization fosters an environment where individuals value and seek continuous learning opportunities.
2. Individuals, including contractors, are adequately trained to ensure technical competency and an understanding of standards and safe work requirements.
3. Individuals’ job fundamentals to establish a solid foundation for sound decisions and behaviors.
4. The organization develops and effectively implements knowledge transfer and knowledge retention strategies.
5. Knowledge transfer and knowledge retention strategies are applied to capture the knowledge and skill of experienced individuals to advance the knowledge and skill of less experienced individuals.
6. Leadership and management skills are systematically developed.
7. Training is developed and continuously improved using input and feedback from individual contributors and subject-matter experts.
8. Executives and senior managers obtain the training necessary to understand basic safety skills, operational knowledge, and relationships between major functions and organizations.

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