The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) is a regulatory authority, research centre and expert organisation whose mission is to protect people, society, the environment and future generations from the harmful effects of radiation.

This quality policy statement sets forth the fundamental principles STUK’s management considers important and pledges to follow, expecting everyone at STUK to do the same. As a means of achieving quality objectives, the management emphasises good co-operation with the personnel.

The prerequisites for high quality operation include the professional competence, work motivation and service mindedness of the personnel. Everyone is expected to assume responsibility for the quality of his/her own work.

CHALLENGED BY VISION, OBLIGED BY VALUES

Vision

The level of radiation and nuclear safety is high in Finland, providing an outstanding standard for international benchmarking.

STUK is well-known and respected as an expert organisation and research centre, as an independent regulator dedicated to safety, and as an influential national and international actor.

Values

The basic values which guide all operations are competence, openness, co-operation and courage.

Decisions, positions and other measures are based on professional knowledge and competence.

Actions are open and honest towards both stakeholders and citizens as well as in internal communication.

Co-operation within STUK is based on good working relationships, empowerment and mutual respect. Stakeholders are included in the preparation of actions. 

Identified problems and personal views are rigorously brought up. Responsibility for decisions is acknowledged, and errors are corrected. 

SAFETY AND QUALITY ARE EMPHASISED IN OPERATION

STUK develops and maintains a high quality safety culture in its operations. STUK contributes to the licensees and partners understanding the importance of safety culture, and the licensees placing safety first in their operations.

STUK works to maintain the radiation exposure of Finns as low as reasonably achievable and to prevent radiation and nuclear accidents.

STUK is a service minded organisation. Good service entails STUK promptly fulfilling its obligations and engagements as well as paying attention to the needs of its clients and stakeholders. 

REGULATORY OVERSIGHT ENSURES SAFETY

Users are responsible for the safe use of radiation and nuclear energy. STUK oversees that radiation and nuclear energy are safe to use. Special emphasis is on management of safety and quality as well as comprehensive risk assessment and appropriate actions to minimise risks.

STUK sets detailed safety requirements for the use of radiation and nuclear energy. The safety regulations are up-to-date and match with best international practices. In preparing the regulations, STUK consults the users of radiation and nuclear energy as well as external experts, and communicates safety requirements to the users of radiation and nuclear energy in a timely manner. 

Relevant information is gathered in preparing a decision. Adequate communication among those contributing to the process of preparation is essential. The principal reviewer is familiar with the relevant regulations, STUK’s general policies and previous decisions in similar cases. Where necessary, analyses or advisory opinions are obtained from external experts to support decision-making, and the licensee/licence applicant is heard.

In decision-making, the substance of matters and the consistency in realising STUK’s mission are emphasised. Essential grounds for decisions are presented in writing. The requirements contained in the decisions are proportional to the matter’s safety significance and increase actual quality and safety. A decision can be changed if new facts emerge after decision-making giving cause for this. Regulatory actions are documented in such a manner that procedures and grounds for decisions are traceable afterwards. 

During inspections and in other communication, STUK representatives behave in a manner that promotes the development of a good safety culture in the use of radiation and nuclear safety. 

RESEARCH PRODUCES NEW INFORMATION

Research provides new information, methods and techniques that enhance expertise as well as support regulatory activities and the maintenance of emergency preparedness.  

Research is planned, carried out and reported following good scientific practice. The objectives of research projects are clearly defined and modern, reliable methods and equipment used. The results are published and communicated in a way most accessible to those interested. 

STUK is committed to observing the ethical principles agreed upon by the Finnish scientific community. Openness and crediting the work and achievements of other scientists are part of good scientific practice.  

Surveillance of environmental radiation covers external radiation as well as radioactivity in air, water, food and humans. Reliable real-time information on the levels of environmental radiation in the whole of Finland is continuously available. 

EXPERT SERVICES ENHANCE SAFETY

Expert services promote STUK’s mission and are profitable. Contracted services are carried out as agreed, with expertise, in good quality and cost-efficiently.

The results of measurement services are accurate and reliable. The measurement methods are accredited to the necessary extent, or have international mutual recognition. The national metrological standards that are under STUK’s responsibility are reliable and equal good international level in accuracy.

STUK provides high quality training in line with the needs of trainees. Training is based on the latest domestic and international knowledge. 

COMMUNICATION IS ACTIVE AND OPEN 

STUK communicates openly, promptly and proactively. Where necessary, STUK experts can be contacted outside office hours. STUK employees contribute to communication within the field of their own expertise. Even sensitive matters are openly communicated.

In communication, good co-operation with the media is emphasised with the objective of reaching all citizens. Successful communication requires that STUK is well-known and that the media and citizens consider the information it provides reliable.

The STUK website provides easy access to uncomplicated, real-time information on STUK’s field of activities, and to extensive documentation on radiation and nuclear safety. 

Internal communication is multidirectional interaction between the STUK management, organisational units and the personnel. It supports the reaching of STUK’s objectives, promotes co-operation and ensures that the personnel have a clear understanding of STUK’s duties and objectives. 

PROVISION IS MADE FOR EMERGENCIES

STUK is prepared to handle, in co-operation with domestic and foreign authorities, exceptional events that may pose a radiation hazard. The objective is to minimise any harmful effects on people, society and the environment.

STUK’s emergency response organisation has been provided with instructions for radiation and nuclear emergencies and is trained to operate during these events. Planned mitigating actions are in place.

Information on exceptional events that may pose a radiation hazard is obtained quickly and reliably in Finland and, by international arrangements, from other countries as well. Alarm arrangements and the quick launching of emergency response are ascertained.

SOUND PREREQUISITES FOR OPERATION ARE PROVIDED

Quality management creates prerequisites for efficient high quality operation and a good reputation. The management system consists of well-tried structures and operational processes described in quality manuals. 

The prioritisation of activities and the most important objectives are set out in the strategy and related action programmes. They are taken into account in annual target plans. Performance reviews between superiors and employees are an essential part of the planning.

STUK continuously develops its activities, giving particular emphasis to effectiveness and efficiency. Activities focus on matters essential for radiation and nuclear safety.

The quality of STUK activities is evaluated by self-assessments and external assessments. The functionality of processes is ensured by internal audits. External assessments provide an independent view of, and a reference point for, operations.

Activities and their results are systematically measured. An important criterion of quality is how the users of radiation and nuclear energy see the activities STUK takes to promote safety; and so is society’s trust in STUK’s ability to attend to the task entrusted to it. 

All directors are responsible for the work conducted under their domain in accordance with target plans agreed upon with the director general. Quality manuals determine decision-making responsibilities at the various organisational levels.

Underlined in the management process are an active interaction between the management and personnel as well as every employee’s right and responsibility to actively develop their own task. The personnel are adequately informed about matters relating to their duties as well as planned changes, and can openly bring forth their own views to the management.

Co-operation between management and personnel

The purpose of co-operation between STUK and its personnel is to give the personnel a chance to influence their work and working conditions as well as the decision-making affecting STUK’s operations. Co-operation is both direct and representative. Direct co-operation is based on discussions between superiors and employees as well as discussions among, and interaction between, employees. First and foremost it is about an individual’s chance to affect their own work and work community. Representative co-operation is co-operation carried out through representatives.

Internal control and risk management are appropriately arranged. Related external and internal risks are identified and actions taken to manage them.

The basis of STUK’s personnel policy is the equal and fair treatment of every employee. Everyone’s work contribution is needed and valued to achieve common objectives. 

The personnel’s competence is systematically developed taking into account the needs of the organisation and the wishes of the individuals. Everyone’s obliged to maintain professional skills as presupposed by their duties. Those aiming at an expert’s career are valued as highly as those interested in managerial duties.

The personnel’s well-being is looked after by available means. Meaningful duties and the chance to develop one’s own work and STUK’s operational processes helps maintain work motivation. Everyone is given a safe work environment and the support of the work community. 

STUK follows the principles of early support to incipient problems in wellbeing.  It is considered intolerable that anyone should be treated inappropriately and in a discriminatory manner. Workload and the exactingness of duties are kept at a level that facilitates management of own work.

Flexitime enhances co-ordination between work and personal needs as well as efficiency at work; and so does the possibility of carrying out, independently outside STUK, tasks requiring special concentration. 

Financial administration uses appropriate systems and guides. STUK promptly attends to income and expenditure as well as bookkeeping. 

Management accounting produces reliable, real-time information on STUK’s operations and their costs. Operations subject to a charge are priced based on exact cost calculations. The reporting system provides each organisational unit with real-time information on the resources available to it.

Information technology enhances the efficiency of STUK’s operations. Information systems are user-friendly, reliable and mutually compatible. Data security is well organised. 

The entire personnel are adequately computer literate to efficiently use basic software. 

Special software for scientific and technical purposes is validated and the capability of its users assured.

Internal services support the effective conducting of STUK’s core activites.