1. Initiative on RP culture EC report
B. Le Guen
International Radiation Protection Association

2. The Initial Proposal
At the IRPA12 Congress in Buenos Aires in October 2008, the French Society for Radiation Protection (SFRP) proposed to launch an IRPA initiative for enhancing Radiation Protection (RP) culture among the RP professionals worldwide.

3. WHY RP CULTURE?
To give visibility to the fundamentals of RP (science and values)
To promote radiation risk awareness
To promote shared responsibility among practitioners, operators, management and regulators
To maintain the RP heritage
To facilitate its transmission
To improve the quality and effectiveness of RP
To contribute to the general safety

4. First Actions
The Austrian (OVS), French (SFRP), German (FS) and Swiss (ARRAD) Societies met in Strasbourg, France, in May 2009 to discuss RP culture and identify preliminary relevant topics.
The Spanish Society SERP) organized a meeting in Madrid in June 2009 to discuss organizational RP culture.

5. 1st IRPA Workshop in Paris
25 participants
Representatives of 9 IRPA European Societies :
Austria
Belgium
France
Germany
Italy
Poland
Spain
Switzerland
United Kingdom,
Representatives from WHO and EAN

6. Nov 2010 Asian and oceanic workshop
24 November 2010, Workshop on RP Culture in Korea. Sponsored by Korean Association of Radiation Protection
65 participants (11 non-Koreans)
Representatives of 4 Asian RP Societies:
China (CSRP)
Japan (JHPS)
Korea (KARP)
Malaysia (MARPA)
But also from 4 other Asian Countries
Bangladesh
India
Pakistan
Thailand

7. In 2010-2011 : 2 workshops Image gently Image wisely HPS IRPA NRC IRPA
FDA
IRPA
IRPA
Image gently
AAPM
Image wisely
NCI
HPS
HPS
NRC
Peruvian AS
Italian AS
Italian AS
Uruguayan AS)
Argentinian AS
Mexican AS
Japanese (AS)
Korean (AS)

8. Questions for Paris and Charleston meetings
What are the elements of the RP culture and how could we define it?
Is it possible to assess the RP culture and what could be the criteria?
How to engage the stakeholders (regulators, operators, professional organizations…) in the process of developing RP culture.
What is the role of RP professionals and IRPA AS with regard to RP culture?
How is regional culture included?
What are the criteria for success?

9. 2009-2011 Workshop Results I-I- Elements or traits:
Science, values, experience
No basic differences between sectors
A pattern of knowledge and behaviours
A narrative in common language
RP Principles : Justification, Optimization, Dose Limits

10. Proposed NRC Safety Culture Traits (+ IRPA WG proposals) Key personal and organizational traits
Leadership Safety Values
and Actions
Problem Identification and Resolution
Personal Accountability
Leaders demonstrate a commitment to safety in their decisions and behaviors
(ethics)
Issues potentially impacting safety are promptly identified, fully evaluated, and promptly addressed and corrected commensurate with their significance (QA, QI program, audits)
All individuals take personal responsibility for safety (means to yourself and others that you interact with
Work Processes
Continuous Learning (includes imparting knowledge; assessing competence; education & training; sharing information & history)
Environment for Raising Concerns
The process of planning and controlling work activities is implemented so that safety is maintained
Opportunities to learn about ways to ensure safety are sought out and implemented ( not only for you as an individual but that it is your responsibility to impart that knowledge learned in a 360 degree manner)
A safety conscious work environment is maintained where personnel feel free to raise safety concerns without fear of retaliation, intimidation, harassment or discrimination
Effective Safety Communications
Respectful Work Environment
Questioning Attitude
Communications maintain a focus on safety ( is the need to establish a common language for the industrial setting where you practice and the geographic area you are located)
Trust and respect permeate the organization
(collaboration, teamwork)
Individuals avoid complacency and continually challenge existing conditions and activities in order to identify discrepancies that might result in error or inappropriate action
Experience has shown that certain are present in a positive safety culture. A trait, in this case, is a pattern of thinking, feeling, and behaving that emphasizes safety, particularly in goal conflict situations, e.g., production vs. safety, schedule vs. safety, and cost of the effort vs. safety.
Stipulation on Traits (from the Statement of Policy”
“There may be traits not included in this Statement of Policy that are also important in a positive safety culture.”
“It should also be noted that these traits are not necessarily inspectable and were not developed for that purpose.” 10 10

11. Organizational Culture
Organizational structure institutionalizes
how people interact with each other,
how communication flows
and how power relationships are defined.
It also reflects the value-based choices made by the company
In a total safety culture, employees not only feel responsible for their own safety, they feel responsible for their peers’ safety, and the organizational culture supports them acting on that responsibility.
(Adapted from Mayo Clinic paper on safety culture, Classic)

12. II- Criteria of success
General improvement of classical RP indicators
Implementation of ALARA in all domains
Increase of voluntary public commitment as an indicator of rising awareness
Increase of public awareness
Documentation
Non-punitive reporting system
Measurement of understanding of the equipment needed
Culture and metrics
Policy, Process?
Updated regularly?
Accessible? (Transparency)

13. III- Assessment tools
Programme for identifying and resolving problems (Corrective action programme)
Questionnaire
Self assessment
Independent external audit
Checklist

14. IV- Engage Stakeholders
Give visibility to the IRPA initiative (meetings, media, web site,…)
Follow the NRC approach to develop the Policy Statement on Safety Culture
Question to be debated in IRPA 13: “How to engage SH in the IRPA initiative”
Strong leadership
Motivation
Inclusive collaboration
Use of risk managers

15. V- Role of RP professionals and IRPA AS
Develop a narrative on radiation protection in all exposure situations
IRPA Guidance
o       Include examples by application
o       Use commonly understood terminology
Building consensus
Provide and environment that promotes dialogue, and disseminates information among its members – companies (private and public) and society as a whole.
The societies must participate in all events related with the use of ionizing radiation.

16. V- Role of RP professionals and IRPA AS (2)
Education and advocacy
Promote the understanding of radiation protection in all levels of education
Assist with educating the layperson (public) in the uses of radiation and radiation protection.
Embrace RP Culture
Seek out the latest information relevant to radiation protection
Lead by example
Disseminate information to colleagues
Keep it Simple and Remember the Past
Be embraced by the leadership of the member societies

17. VI- Elements for a definition of RP culture
Radiation Protection Culture is a pattern of knowledge and behaviors
o       Acting “like a good parent” (personalization)
o       Considering risk and the characteristics associated with the exposure situation at stake (commensurate, proportionate to risk)
o       Keeping everything simple and practical
o       Working together with modesty
o       Acting naturally and banally (second nature)
o       Acting consistently
o       Self policing and self propagating

18. Road Map
Further to the decision taken on the occasion of our seminar in Charleston, Ken, Jacques and myself had a meeting in order to determine the modus operandi of the working group on radiation protection culture.
The aim of this working group is to produce a first draft of IRPA Guiding Principles on RP Culture .
One of the milestones of this project, which will take us beyond year 2012, is the IRPA 13 congress in Glasgow, which will be an opportunity for all AS representatives to discuss the initial version of this document.

19. First Step: May 2011 – October 2011
This initial period will be devoted to the drafting of a document including material written by 4 Working Groups on the 6 Points resulting from the three IRPA Workshops organized in Paris (France), Jeju (Korea) and Charleston (USA)
5 chairpersons have been appointed:
WG1: Elements of traits (Point I) and Elements for a definition of RP culture (Point VI) – Chair : Lynne Fairobent (AAPM)
WG2 : Criteria of success (Point II) – Chair : Steven King (HPS)
WG3 : Engage stakeholders (Point IV) and Role of RP professionals and IRPA Associate Societies (Point V) – Chair : Bernd Lorenz (FS)
WG4: Assessment tools (Point III) – Co-chaired by Marie-Claire Cantone (AIRP) and Miguel Perez (IOMP)

20. First Step: May 2011 – October 2011 (2)
Each volunteer may take part in one or more of these groups, by conveying their intentions to each of the leaders and by sending their written contributions to the leaders of each group.
Exchanges will take place via .
The objective of this initial phase is not to produce a final document, but rather to create a working document (“preliminary draft document”) in which each section will set out the discussions and ideas we have shared on the occasion of our workshops.
All these documents will be posted on the IRPA website, Radiation Protection Culture

21. Second step: November 2011 – January 2012
A period for consultation of the Associate Societies of IRPA and IOMP will run from November until the end of January 2012, in order to get feedback on the “preliminary draft document”.

22. Third step: February 2012 – May 2012
On the basis of the A S’ comments, a new version of the draft document will be produced in conjunction with each WG leader for discussion at the Special Working Session on the IRPA Initiative on Radiation Protection Culture during the IRPA 13 Congress in Glasgow.
The objective of this Working Session will be to decide about the structure and content of future IRPA Guiding Principles on RP culture to be prepared following the Glasgow Congress.

23. Fourth step: June 2012 – December 2012
This final step will take us up to the Fourth IRPA workshop on Radiation Protection Culture,
the objective of which will be to present and discuss the draft of the IRPA Guiding Principles on RP culture
And why not propose a Motto for IRPA 14 (May 2016): “Enhancing RP Culture Worldwide”
May –July 2011:
Production of material (WG)
Oct 2011: Preliminary draft sent to AS and post on IRPA website
Oct –Jan 2012 : Period of AS consultation
Preliminary Draft V2.0
May 2012 IRPA Glasgow
AS working session on RPC

24. International Radiation Protection Association 24

25. NRC Safety Culture Definition
Nuclear Safety Culture is the core values and behaviors resulting from a collective commitment by leaders and individuals to emphasize safety over competing goals (e.g., production vs. safety, schedule vs. safety, and cost of the effort vs. safety ) to ensure protection of people and the environment. 25 25