Developing a Nuclear Culture with the First Generation of Nuclear Workers

When the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan decided to pursue the development of its nuclear energy programs in 2007, stakeholders recognized the need to not only develop a strong culture of safety and security but also to cultivate its first new generation of nuclear workers. The Kingdom has been devoted to infrastructure building with the Jordan Research and Training Reactor (JRTR), which has been in operation since late 2017. Over the past 5 years, JRTR management has focused not only on the trustworthiness and reliability of staff but on building a good nuclear culture—embodying safety, security, organizational priorities, and overall good operating principles embedded with the values and norms of the Middle Eastern culture. As JRTR started increasing its production of various medical and industrial radioisotopes, including 131I, 166Ho, 99Mo, and 192Ir, outgoing shipments have also increased and continue to do so in frequency and total activity. JRTR plans to add more isotopes including 60Co and 177Lu to its portfolio of radioisotopes. Hence, JRTR continues to seek effective operations within its facilities and processes will encompass establishment of a robust, reliable, and sustainable transportation security posture, considering the highest standards of safety and security of its products during transit and delivery to their final destination. This paper will address the processes being sought and unceasingly assessed at JRTR in seeking effective operations through the continuous development of Jordan’s first generation of nuclear workers. It will also address steps taken to empower staff with a nuclear culture capable of sustaining the operation of JRTR and incorporating lessons learned from the past 5 years of operations into the safe and secure transport of its products.