Safety Culture in a Technical Environment, France
On Thursday 22nd March 2012 the ICE French Local Association welcomed Manfred Haferburg, a Project Manager at the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO), to Carr’s Bar, Paris, to present a lecture entitled Safety Culture in a Technical Environment.
The event, organised by the Joint Graduate & Student Representatives, marked the first in what promises to be an on-going series of lectures providing CPD opportunities for the increasing number of British graduates working in France.
Manfred has over 25 years of experience in the nuclear industry working at power plants and in his current role at WANO. He has a mechanical engineering and nuclear physics degree and in rare complement to that he also has a psychology qualification. The topic of the lecture was relevant to all who work in a technical environment and therefore attracted an audience of diverse backgrounds and various engineering disciplines.
Carr’s Bar and Restaurant has long been the venue of the monthly social evenings, but this was the first time that the basement meeting room had been used by the ICE for an evening lecture. Although perhaps a little small and narrow, once suitably equipped it provided a more than adequate venue, and the relaxed atmosphere will hopefully encourage volunteers for future events.
The lecture challenged our ideas and preconceptions of safety culture: what it is, who is responsible for it, and what it means to an organisation. Manfred highlighted academic studies, day to day occurrences and his personal experiences to demonstrate the somewhat intangible concept that is safety culture.
The presentation was both dynamic and engaging using examples from the military, the nuclear industry and even the Titanic to demonstrate the leadership, management and questioning attitude required to create and maintain a safety culture within an organisation. Sparking lively debate at times, the lecture and ensuing discussion could have lasted much longer than the 90 minutes available.
A total of 22 attended the event, including 8 graduates and members of the ICE, IMechE and IET. The event was considered a success by all and further lectures will no doubt be planned. As is the tradition at the social evenings a number of the attendees dined in the restaurant afterwards, inviting Manfred to join them by way of thanks.
Martin Dixon, ICE Graduate Member in France