Leadership and management for safety. Q&A with Operations Director at the Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG) in the Netherlands (Russian Edition)

Safety is paramount in all nuclear installations, research reactors included. Cultivating a culture of understanding among staff of the importance of safety and the measures required to sustain it — a safety culture — is important. A weak safety culture can lead to weak safety measures, which can ultimately affect the well-being of people and the environment. But how do we ensure safety? What are some of the major safety issues in research reactors, and why are leadership and management essential to addressing them? To find out, we interviewed Jelmer Offerein, Operations Director and one of NRG's five leaders. He has decades of experience in management and leadership for safety. NRG is a research company of 650 employees that operates the European Commission's High Flux Reactor, a multipurpose research reactor located in the Netherlands. NRG produces isotopes, conducts nuclear technological research, advises industry on the safety and reliability of nuclear installations and provides services related to radiation protection.