How WANO can help new
entrants developing a strong
nuclear safety culture
IAEA Vienna TM/WS on Nuclear
Infrastructure on 2010 Feb 9-12
Jan Bens,
Deputy Director, WANO Paris Centre
WANO
World Association of Nuclear Operators
Why WANO exists?
After the accident at the Chernobyl NPP in 1986,
nuclear operators world-wide realised that the
consequences had an effect on every NPP and
international cooperation was needed to ensure
that such an accident can never happen again.
WANO was formed in May 1989 and all nuclear
operators world-wide are members of WANO.
Mission
The mission of WANO is to maximise
the safety and reliability of nuclear
power plants worldwide by working
together to assess, benchmark and
improve performance through mutual
support, exchange of information, and
emulation of best practices.
Objectives
• Support each WANO member in improving the
safety and reliability of the member’s nuclear
facilities.
• Support the WANO membership in meeting its
collective responsibility to work to improve
performance and continually upgrade the
safety of all operating nuclear plants worldwide.
• Maintain WANO’s organisational structure,
staffing, resources, and membership such that
WANO can work effectively in a changing
environment in a sustainable manner.
We are WANO
WANO is us
• WANO members
• WANO staff
WANO Interface officers (WIO’s), and
Country liaison officers (CLO’s), play a key
role.
WANO Paris Centre
The programmes work together
OPERATING
EXPERIENCE
PERFORMANCE
INDICATORS
PEER REVIEW
TECHNICAL
SUPPORT
MISSIONS
PROFESSIONAL
& TECHNICAL
DEVELOPMENT
ACTION PLAN
TECHNICAL
SUPPORT
MISSIONS
ACTION PLAN
FOLLOW UP
PROFESSIONAL
& TECHNICAL
DEVELOPMENT
What is nuclear safety?
• INSAG 4 (1991 - 31 pages):
“Safety Culture”
• INSAG 15 (2002 – 25 pages):
“Key practical issues in
strengthening Safety Culture”)
• WANO GL 2006-02 (2004/2006
– 9 pages): “Principles for a
strong nuclear safety culture”
Do the right thing, even when nobody is looking
Different cultures…
Organisational culture
• The shared basic assumptions that are
developed in an organisation as it
learns and copes with problems
Culture
• Culture is the total of a group’s
learning.
…Different cultures
Safety culture
• An organisation’s values and behaviours –
modelled by its leaders and internalised by
its members – that serve to make nuclear
safety the overriding priority.
Safety Culture principles
1.
Everyone is personally responsible for nuclear safety.
2.
Leaders demonstrate commitment to safety.
3.
Trust permeates the organisation.
4.
Decision-making reflects safety first.
5.
Nuclear technology is recognized as special and unique.
6.
A questioning attitude is cultivated.
7.
Organisational learning is embraced.
8.
Nuclear Safety undergoes constant examination.
1. Personally responsible for nuclear safety
Responsibility and authority for nuclear safety
are well defined and clearly understood.
2. Leaders demonstrate commitment to safety
Executive and senior managers are the leading
advocates of nuclear safety and demonstrate
their commitment both in word and action.
3. Trust permeates the organisation
A high level of trust is established in the
organisation, fostered, in part, through timely
and accurate communication.
4. Decision-making reflects safety first
Personnel are systematic and rigorous in
making decisions that support safe, reliable
plant operation.
Conservative
Strategic
Operational
5. Nuclear technology as special and unique
The special characteristics of nuclear
technology are taken into account in all
decisions and actions.
6. A questioning attitude is cultivated
Individuals demonstrate a questioning attitude
by challenging assumptions, investigating
anomalies, and considering potential adverse
consequences of planned actions.
Titanic Management
7. Organisational learning is embraced
Operating experience is highly valued, and the
capacity to learn from experience is well
developed.
Number of events
Continuous improvement
Rules &
procedures
Quality Control
Quality Assurance
Quality Management
Human Factors
Error Prevention - Human Performance
1960’s
1980’s
1990’s
8. Nuclear Safety undergoes constant examination
Oversight is used to strengthen safety and
improve.
To paraphrase Albert Einstein
Nuclear safety
is like riding a
bicycle:
if you stand
still, you will
fall over
To quote “Sully” Sullenberger
All my life, I have made
small deposits into the
account of safety.
And on this day, I was
able to make one large
withdrawal.
WANO can help new members with
startup plants…
• By providing training
– Behavioural aspects
– “train the trainers”
• By performing support missions
• By integrating your staff in our missions
– Especially in peer reviews
– As secondees
• By performing a pre-startup peer review
• By answering your questions