Typical Swiss characteristics and their influence on safety and oversight culture

The Country-Specific Safety Culture Forum (CSSCF) Switzerland took place in Bern on 19 and 20 November 2024. Representatives from ENSI, other federal authorities and nuclear facilities examined Swiss national culture and investigated its influence on the safety culture of nuclear facilities and, by extension, on ENSI's oversight culture. The findings of this event and of interviews conducted beforehand were recorded in a report by the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), an institution of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and published on 15 April 2026.

«The Swiss nuclear industry attaches great importance to nuclear safety and therefore already exhibits many characteristics conducive to a sound safety culture. In particular, the Swiss nuclear industry benefits from a high degree of professionalism and precision», the NEA summarises.

Rather than providing an complete description or assessment of Swiss culture or its nuclear safety culture, this report is intended to contribute to and support the continuous improvement of safety culture in nuclear facilities and the oversight culture of the supervisory authorities, write the authors of the NEA/OECD.

The impact of national cultural characteristics depends on the context

The report emphasises that national cultural characteristics are neither positive nor negative in themselves - their impact depends rather on the specific context. In certain situations, they can foster a strong safety culture and support constructive organisational behaviour. However, if they are not consciously reflected upon and appropriately taken into account, they can also present challenges for the safety culture.

According to the NEA, the results of the CSSCF Switzerland identified eight key characteristics that are typical of Swiss culture: consensus-building, pragmatism, a solution-oriented mindset, a strong sense of responsibility, a commitment to accuracy, modesty combined with polite reserve, a tendency to avoid conflict, and pride coupled with a degree of self-criticism. These national characteristics have an impact on various aspects of safety culture.

At the same time, further opportunities for improvement were identified - for example, in the dialogue between the regulatory authority and operators, in dealing with gender issues, and with regard to certain cultural differences between Swiss and German experts. In addition, the report identified a series of follow-up questions to encourage the participating organisations to further reflect on and strengthen their own safety culture.

«The forum has provided us with important impetus for self-reflection and the continuous development of our safety culture. We will now engage with these findings - and we also encourage the other participants to continue this process of reflection and improvement within their organisations,» says ENSI Director General Marc Kenzelmann.

More Information

• Report by NEA
• Oversight authority and operators of Swiss nuclear facilities continue to develop safety culture
• Oversight of Safety Culture in Nuclear Installations