Two sides of the same coin? Exploring safety and security interactions

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Two sides of the same coin? Exploring safety and security interactions

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What are safety and security? Dominant discourses on safety and security interplay Methodology: a qualitative research within a Nuclear Research Center Practicing safety and security Dealing with tensions: about tension venues

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1. What are safety and security?

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1. What are safety and security?

• _{No consensual definitions of both concepts} Safety

• Risks

• _{Non-intentional & non-malevolent} hazards

Security

• Threats

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2. Dominant discourses on safety and

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2. Dominant discourses on safety and security interplay

• _{Developed from the 50’s (Briggs, 1953;} MacFarland, 1953; IAEA, 1957)

Safety in

organizational studies

• Only emerged in the aftermath of 9/11

Security in

organizational studies

 Until 9/11 safety and security were developed in separated

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From 9/11, safety and security have increasingly been thought together

• _{Same overarching goal: protecting the population and the environment} • _{Promote an integrated approach}

• _{Focus on synergies} • _{Tensions marginalized}

• _{(Kim & Kang, 2012; Hessami, 2004; IAEA, 2004; 2010; Flory, 2010)}

From terrorist threats in European countries

• _{Realize tensions are present} • _{Plead for further investigations}

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Research question:

“How are field actors managing safety and security within

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3. A qualitative

research within a Nuclear Research Center

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3. Methodology: a qualitative research within a Nuclear Research Center

• Nuclear Research Center:

• “Develops safe and peaceful innovative

applications of nuclear technologies”

• Faces major safety risks and security threats • Developed over time a great variety of

measures to prevent terrorist attacks (security) and accidents (safety)

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ISSP W Nuclear safety Integrated manageme nt Nuclear Installation safety Security and guarding Industrial safety

Safety & security management in the nuclear research center

Safety & security control in the national nuclear regulator

Federal agency for nuclear control Securit y dep. Safety dep. Employees working

on safety and Total = 19

2 5 2 2 1 1 1 1

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• Semi-structured interviews

• Thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2019) • 3-step coding • Using Nvivo 12 Discuss respondent Characterizatio n of safety and security Management of safety and security within

the NRC Safety and _security

interaction within the NRC

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4. Practicing safety and

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4. Practicing safety and security

• _{“You can always find synergies between}

safety and security, but overall, there are

more tensions than synergies in the [NRC]”

1st finding:

Tensions more prominent than

synergies

• _{1: Tensions rooted on organizational}

structures

• 2: Interpersonal tensions

• _{3: Safety and security paradoxes}

2nd finding:

three

redundant types of tensions

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1.Tensions based on organizational structures

• _{Integrated service but safety and security units are isolated}

ISSP W

Nuclear

safety managemenIntegrated t Nuclear Installation safety Security and guarding Industrial safety

‘We work in a separated manner in

ISPPW. The service only gathers once

a year. Otherwise, there is no

systematic meetings […] We do not know each other. I personally try to

lunch with other units but few employees do alike.’

Building A

Building B

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2. Interpersonal tensions

“Their views [security unit] are blocked. They think they are the king

of the world. […] It is difficult to collaborate under these conditions. They have already been clashes!”

“It is true that relationships have been strained in the past. Now

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3. Safety and security paradoxes:

Paradoxes: “contradictory yet interrelated elements that exist simultaneously and persist

over time. They seem logical when considered in isolation, but inconsistent when

juxtaposed”

(Smith & Lewis, 2011)

Security Safety

Confidentiality Transparency

Movement

Restriction FacilitationMovement

Distrust Trust

When safety wants people to go out, security wants to freeze the situation.

You want to work in confidence and never hide things but it is not always wise to display

[Security] does not communicate unless

necessary. From the safety point of view, you communicate unless not necessary.

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• _{These three types of tensions are intertwined and feed each}

other

• _{Paradoxes are the roots of safety and security tensions}

• _{organizational and interpersonal tensions exacerbate them}

How to deal with them?

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5. Dealing with tensions: about tension venues

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5. Dealing with tensions: about tension venues

• _{Tensions are productive:}

not only inevitable but also desirable as drivers of cognitive

organisational reorientation, creativity and learning” (Hahn,

2011)

“an organization is in motion because of the tensions it comprises” (Michaud, 2011)

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5. Dealing with tensions: about tension venues

Tensio

n

venue

s

spaces, artefacts, procedures or meetings intended to put tensions at the fore,

reflect upon them,

analyze their temporality

and the roots on which they arise.

In order to develop innovative solutions to

articulate them

Tensions should be at the core of safety and security reflexions

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Colin Glesner:

colin.glesner@sckcen.be

Thank you for your attention!