RE: Safety Culture

[vchase@bi-pharm.com]

J. J. Rozental wrote:

 "that an incident/accident can be happen unexpectedly"

The fact that an incident is unexpected is the reason it is called an
"ACCIDENT"
Otherwise,  it would be called "ON PURPOSE".

To think that accidents can be reduced to zero is unrealistic and 
idealistic.
We as safety professionals do the best we can to anticipate the outcome
of a procedure or protocol based on past experience.  However, since we
cannot be in all places at all times,  we must place trust and control in 
the
people in the front line,  the ones who are performing the radiological 
tasks.

Industrial safety culture is directly related to corporate culture.  The 
body
only does what the head tells it to do.  As the needs of a company get 
larger
in proportion to the head, as is the case with most small entities such as
radiography, irradiation  and one-physician operations,  safety's priority
to a company takes a back seat to other needs the body is feeling, such
as cash flow,  task overload or just plain egotism of the company owner.

This is not to say the "safeness" of a company is directly related to its 
size.
Sometimes the egotism of the head makes the body seem larger than it
actually is.   It is just that larger companies have the resources necessary
to insure that safety is a priority.

J.J. asks several questions:
 "With out good inspection in hospital how one
 can guarantee protection for patient?"

"How it is possible to improve the mentality of Safety Culture?"

"In case of accident with fatality who is  responsible (individual):
Radiation Safety Officer? Physician?"

These questions all point to whomever controls the priorities of the entity
involved,  be it a company,  hospital or govenment agency,  as being
ultimately responsible.  It is the head that is responsible for the actions
of the individual.  To chop off a unclad foot because it picked up a thorn
is a ridiculous concept.  The decision to walk the fields unprotected was
not made with the foot but with the head.  This is not to say that 
amputations
are not necessary.  Sometimes they are,  for the good of the body.  It only
means that safety professionals have an important but limited role in the
decision making of any corporate entity.

So,   it is not the mentality of Safety Culture that has to be improved but
that of Corporate Culture.  Ways to accomplish this should be in the
forefront in the minds of those of us who are issued broad scope
licenses by agencies like the U.S.N.R.C.   The privileges and
freedoms that radioactive material users are given while enjoying
limited regulatory scrutiny are jeapordized every time a company,
institution or agency has a serious incident,  be it real or preceptual,
due to arrogance,  indifference or complacency by decision makers.

Regards,
Vince Chase
vchase@bi-pharm.com
Radiation Safety Officer
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals
The opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not represent
the opinions policies or practices of Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals.