Effects Of The Implicit Safety Culture (ISC) On Safety Behaviors Of The Staff In Nuclear Power Plants

Safety behaviors of the staff in nuclear power plants have always been the hot topic of the nuclear industry,and they keep playing a critical role in the safety management and running of the nuclear power plants.By analyzing the report of the 3 nuclear accidents in human history,it could be concluded that the accidents were originated from the lack of the nuclear safety culture.The nuclear safety culture could improve,and even enhance,the safety behaviors of the staff.And the Implicit Safety Culture(ISC)is an important half of the nuclear safety culture.It is a safety value and attitude that is difficult to explain with languages,words or symbols.And it is important for the maintenance and improvements of the safety behaviors of the staff in nuclear power plants.However,the studies on the relationship between the ISC and the safety behaviors were scarcely reported.Consequently,the studies on the effects of the ISC on safety behaviors of the staff in nuclear power plants is necessary for both the theory development of the safety culture and the implications in engineering applications.In order to scrutinize the effects of the ISC on safety behaviors of the staff,the filed study was conducted in a coastal nuclear power of China.The fundaments of the ISC and safety behaviors were explored,and the possible influences of the ISC on safety behaviors of the staff in nuclear power plants were analyzed.Based on that,mathematical approaches were used to establish the game model of different departments of the nuclear power plants,in terms of the ‘evolutionary game theory’.In addition,the differential dynamic model of the ISC dissemination in nuclear power plants was established based on the‘systemic dynamic theory’.Finally,the Structural Equation Model(SEM)was established based on the Planned Behavior Theory(PBT)and the accident causation “2-4” model(24Model),to describe the effects of the ISC on safety behaviors of the staff in nuclear power plants.And the SEM was also verified in this costal nuclear power plant.The findings of this study were given as follows.Firstly,by analyzing the influences of the ISC on the safety behaviors of the staff in nuclear power plants,the factors that affect the safety behaviors of the staff in nuclear power plants were acquired,as well as the components and theoretical structure of the ISC.In addition,the components of the ISC and their relations with the safety behaviors of the staff were also obtained.Moreover,the theory model that could explain the development of the safety behaviors of the staff was also established based on the hypothesis of this study.In addition,by analyzing the multi-party game process among the departments of the nuclear power plants,(e.g.,the operational department,the emergency department and the management department),the game model of the safety behaviors of these departments was established.Based on the game model,the strategic choices and the insights of the management of the safety behaviors of these departments were acquired.Consequently,the effects of the ISC on the safety behaviors of the departments of the nuclear power plants were scrutinized.Furthermore,the differential dynamic model of the ISC dissemination was established.By analyzing the 3 balance points of this model,the strategic choices and the insights of the management of the ISC dissemination were acquired.As a result,the effects of the ISC dissemination on the safety behaviors of the staff of the nuclear power plants were scrutinized.Finally,by establishing and analyzing the Structural Equation Model(SEM)that describes the relation between the ISC and the safety behaviors of the staff in nuclear power plants,positive effects of the ISC were observed.Specifically,the 3 components of the ISC(the safety value,the safety awareness and the safety attitude),could improve the behavioral attitude,safety awareness and subjective safety principles of the staff in nuclear power plants.Meanwhile,it was also found that the behavioral attitude,safety awareness and subjective safety principles of the staff were also responded positively to their safety behaviors.It could be concluded from the study that the effects and characteristics of the ISC on both the departments of the nuclear power plants and the staff were obtained.And positive effects of the ISC on the behavioral attitude,safety awareness and subjective safety principles of the staff in nuclear power plants were observed.Findings of this study are of great significance to the improvements of the safety awareness and the safety behaviors of the staff,as well as the management of the nuclear power plants.