Safety Culture: The Impact of National Context on the Culture of Change

The Impact of National Context on Safety Culture

The development of international projects inevitably confronts companies with differences in mentality and approaches to safety. In this webinar, speaker Evgeny Parygin examines how national characteristics affect the implementation of large industrial projects, using experience in the nuclear industry as an example.

Differences in the Perception of Safety Requirements

Using the example of interaction with partners from different countries, the speaker shows that safety requirements can be perceived differently. In Asian countries, such as Japan and Korea, the national context strongly influences safety, and requirements are often expressed implicitly. In Russia, the influence of national characteristics is also significant, which requires adapting approaches when working in international markets.

Causes of Accidents and the Role of Leadership

Using the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster as an example, the presentation details the consequences of a large power distance and insufficient leadership development. Managers waited for instructions from above instead of taking proactive measures. This emphasizes the importance of developing a safety culture where the priority is not avoiding mistakes in front of superiors, but actually preventing incidents.

Characteristics of the Russian Mentality

A study conducted among managers and employees of Russian enterprises revealed both strengths and weaknesses of the national approach to work. Strengths include diligence, collectivism, and creativity. However, conservatism, a large power distance, and reliance on "avos" (blind hope) create barriers to effective safety management. The speaker analyzes how these characteristics affect project implementation and what compensatory actions need to be taken.

Clash of Cultures: The Finnish Project Example

The experience of implementing a nuclear power plant project in Finland showed that the Russian approach, focused on meeting schedules at any cost, often conflicts with European requirements for consistent quality and safety assurance. Finnish partners noted that prioritizing schedules over safety, misunderstanding the role of the management system, and a lack of nuclear safety competencies are serious problems. This experience became an important lesson for adapting processes and changing attitudes towards safety culture.

Ways to Overcome Cultural Barriers

For the successful implementation of international projects, it is necessary not just to evaluate national characteristics as positive or negative, but to understand their impact on safety. The speaker emphasizes the importance of forming working groups, conducting joint training, and developing emotional intelligence. Safety culture must become a priority at all levels of management, and safety managers must have sufficient authority to influence processes.

What you will learn from this webinar:

• How does national mentality affect the perception and fulfillment of safety requirements?
• What lessons can be learned from the Fukushima Daiichi accident in the context of leadership and power distance?
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Russian approach to industrial safety?
• How to overcome cultural barriers when implementing international projects?
• What safety culture tools help adapt to the requirements of foreign partners?