Nuclear energy and the Carolinas: safety comes first in operating power plants.

• Position: Interview

With more than a half-century of operating experience, nuclear power plants are regarded as one of the safest and most secure industrial facilities in the United States.

But safety means more than protecting plant workers, industry officials say. It's also about protecting the public and the environment.

Safety is a culture reinforced by the adoption of the following eight key industry principles offered by the Institute for Nuclear Power Operations.

* Everyone is personally responsible for nuclear safety.

* Leaders demonstrate commitment to safety.

* Trust permeates the organization.

* Decision-making reflects safety first.

* Nuclear technology is recognized as special and unique.

* A questioning attitude is cultivated.

* Organizational learning is embraced.

* Nuclear safety undergoes constant examination.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

To get a better appreciation of the safety culture, the chief nuclear officers of the three utilities that operate commercial reactors in the Carolinas offered their insight into how safety governs their operations. They also commented on the importance of transparency and the impact of the March 2011 earthquake in Japan that damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Commenting for their companies were Jeff Archie, South Carolina Electric & Gas; Jim Scarola, Progress Energy; and Dhiaa Jamil, Duke Energy.

What is key to the safety culture at your company?

Archie: We want to make sure that our workforce has the right values and behaviors and that they demonstrate those values and behaviors on a continual basis to ensure that nuclear Safety is always our overriding priority.

The safety culture should drive everything we do. It ensures our industry and our plant are doing those things day in and day out that are necessary to ensure safety of the public and ensure safety of the environment.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Scarola: At Progress Energy, we are committed to operating our nuclear fleet safely. We take this commitment very seriously, and have multiple programs in place to assure that we train our personnel. maintain our equipment and set the highest standards to operate our plants in a manner that protects public health and safety.

Jamil: The nuclear safety culture at Duke Energy focuses on each individual employee faithfully conducting work and managing processes with the highest levels of quality. Examples include effective corrective action programs. work management processes and training...