Questioning attitude

Safety experts in aviation often refer to the notion of a Just Culture - a way of safety thinking that promotes a questioning attitude, is resistant to complacency, is committed to excellence, and fosters both personal accountability and corporate... 

Unhealthy work atmospheres with respect to safety and communication are not limited to NASA. Carroll documents a similarly dysfunctional safety culture at the Millstone nuclear power plant [33]. An NRC review in 1996 concluded the safety culture at the plant was dangerously flawed it did not tolerate dissenting views and stifled questioning attitudes among employees. 

These fundamentals, coupled with a questioning attitude and what those in SUBSAFE term a chronic uneasiness, are credited for SUBSAFE success. The fundamentals are taught and embraced throughout the submarine community. The members of this community believe that it is absolutely critical that they do not allow themselves to drift away from the fundamentals. 

The net effect of this questionable attitude thrust upon FDA was that sucrose esters went into commercial production in Japan rather than in the land of their discovery. In Japan they go into cake mixes as emulsifying agents, and so far they have hurt no one. The process of digestion splits the sucrose ester into fatty acid and invert sugar, compounds that are normally present in the body. More recently I have seen reports that the French are using sucrose esters in animal feeds. The results of experiments synthesizing sucrose esters from acid anhydrides, to be reported later in this symposium, are, naturally, of great interest to me. 

The NRC is concerned with such characteristics as professional responsibility/accountability, personal dedication/performance, safety conscious environment, questioning attitude, commitment to excellence, sound procedures and effective communication. In September 1992, the Commission issued a "Policy Statement on the Conduct of Nuclear Power Plant Operations. This policy statement provides the Commission s expectations in the following areas ... 

You may have to work at the direction of agendas that are not your own. In this case, ask questions about what you have been assigned to do. Use a questioning attitude. It will be necessary to understand the internal and possible external political and... 

Effective Safety Communication—communications maintain a focus on safety Respectful Work Environment— trust and respect permeate the organization and Questioning Attitude—individuals avoid complacency and continuously challenge existing conditions and activities in order to identify discrepancies that might result in error or inappropriate action. ... 

The test application of the screening method demonstrated that the approach is based on sound concepts and can be effectively used in plants. It can be considered a good method for the periodic safety review. It can also be used in a limited scope for review of the plant quality assurance programme, evaluation of plant modifications and evaluation of events or precursors. Because of the wide scope of the aspects reviewed, the approach can effectively support the questioning attitude as part of the plant safety culture. 

Nuclear safety awareness and understanding is a long-term process. Appropriate knowledge, an open mind and a careful questioning attitude are and will continue to be crucial to the proper application of nuclear safety. 

Questioning attitude toward nuclear safety and safety culture... 

Respect the protocols and procedures, but keep a questioning attitude... 

Safety culture in maintenance has to address an intrinsic dilemma, namely maintaining a creative, open minded and questioning attitude, while at all times sustaining conservatism in relation to reactor safety, accurate documentation and design conformity. It is important that plant personnel have up to date knowledge of plant configuration and equipment at all times, and that they are aware of the implications of their actions. 

This policy should give plant safety the utmost priority, overriding, if necessary, the demands of production and project schedules. It should require a commitment to excellent performance in all plant activities important to safety and should encourage a questioning attitude and a rigorous and prudent approach to all safety related activities. The formal statement of safety policy should be documented and submitted or made available to the regulatory body and the public. 

STOP - THINK - AND ASK Questions When they do not understand the haiardHuse a questioning attitude to determine the likelihood of an injury... 

Be capable of questioning yourself and questioning attitudes, including those of your superiors... 

Respectful Work Environment Trust and respect are reflected throughout the organization. Questioning Attitude Individuals avoid complacency and continuously question existing environments and activities to identify concerns that may result in an unsafe condition. A subordinate does not hesitate to question a supervisor, and a contractor employee does not hesitate to question an employee of an operating company. 

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