Safety and Security Concept of Similar ASEAN Working Culture in Experimental Facility of Nuclear Research Reactors

Abstracts According to previous Thailand's case study on the cultural impact of operators and users in the same working environment of a Nuclear Research Reactor (NRR), the working culture of operators (insiders) was recognized to influence users (outsiders) who work in an NRR experimental facility. Considering user thought thus becomes a significant approach for minimizing human error in working. In 2017, ASEAN Large Nuclear and Synchrotron Facilities Network (ASEAN LNSN) was organized to share large nuclear and synchrotron facilities among ASEAN countries including NRR experimental facilities. Due to human factor impact, it is important to understand whether or not the NRR facility sharing influenced various working cultures on safety and security issues. Thus, this study intends to show how to apply the homogenous working culture concept as evidence to compromise unnecessary concerns and minimize stress among ASEAN users in terms of safety and security in facility sharing through Hofstede's cultural indices: (1) power distance index (PDI), (2) individualism index (IDV), (3) masculinity index (MAS), (4) uncertainty avoidance index (UAI), and (5) long-term orientation index (LTO). A homogenous working culture survey is expected to help provide a foundation for improving safety standards and operational performance across ASEAN's NRR experimental facilities, facilitating cross-border knowledge sharing and collaborative safety and security practices.

Keywords: Hofstede's model, Cultural study, Human factor, Research reactor, ASEAN LNSN.