Systems thinking applied to safety culture approach in Finland

This chapter describes how systems thinking is applied to safety culture approach by the Finnish nuclear safety research and in regulatory practice. Systemic approach to safety implies considering the system as a whole, as well as the interactions and interconnections between its various elements-human, technology, organization, and context-rather than considering single elements in isolation. Previous research indicated that systems thinking is important for ensuring nuclear safety. We specify the approach to safety culture assessment and development, as developed by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland over the last decades, shown in the methodology for Contextual Assessment of Organizational Culture and Design for Integrated Safety Culture framework. The chapter also describes basic premises of the safety culture oversight conducted by the Finnish regulatory body. We conclude by discussing some future research directions regarding a systemic approach to safety in complex safety-critical systems.