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As noted by the IAEA, ‘Security depends on the vigilance and observational skills of staff [as…] Prompt identification of potential vulnerabilities permits proactive corrective action.’
Ideally, organisations should seek to minimise the reluctance to report safety or security issues by fostering a workplace culture that openly permits questioning attitudes and encourages the reporting of safety and security incidents as a matter of course. Reporting procedures should also be convenient and allow for the possibility of anonymous reporting.
Managers can encourage personnel to report any event that could affect nuclear security and liaise with security staff. Indeed, if staff do not report concerns, management will find it more difficult to fix any potential issues and these might escalate. To maintain motivation, positive behaviours should also be rewarded and results fed back to employees so they know their vigilance is valued.
According to the IAEA, vigilance-related security culture indicators include:
• Staff members notice and question unusual indications and occurrences, and report them to management, as soon as possible, using the established processes;
• Staff members are attentive to detail;
• Staff members seek guidance when unsure of the security significance of unusual events, observations or occurrences.
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