AMBS and Thomas Ashton Institute completes major study of nuclear industry regulator
18 December 2023
A research team from Alliance Manchester Business School and the Thomas Ashton Institute at The University of Manchester has completed a major study assessing the culture at the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR), the UK’s nuclear industry regulator.
As project lead and report co-author, Sharon Clarke, Professor in Organisational Psychology at AMBS, said: “Incidents such as the nuclear power plant disaster at Fukushima in 2011 in the wake of a major earthquake off Japan, and the more recent fatal crashes of two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, have highlighted the important role of the regulator and the need for periodic assessment of cultures within regulators."
"ONR commissioned us to carry out its first ever independent assessment of its internal culture. Being seen as an effective regulator is key to its ability to influence nuclear licensees and subsequent achievement of its mission, namely to protect society by securing safe nuclear operations. We were pleased with the openness with which we were met by ONR staff throughout the assessment."