A Study on the Method for Diagnosing the Safety Culture Level of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO)

The electric power industry, as a High-Reliability Organization (HRO), demands a mature safety culture. However, existing diagnostic tools often lack industry specificity. This study addresses this gap by developing and validating a specialized safety culture diagnostic tool for the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). A mixed-methodology was employed, resulting in a 50-item questionnaire tailored to the power industry’s unique risks. The tool assesses four domains: ‘Hierarchical Safety Leadership’, ‘Safety and Health Management System’, ‘Worker Participation’, and ‘Accident and Risk Management’. The survey was administered to 680 personnel (426 KEPCO internal; 254 contractors). The tool’s reliability was validated using Cronbach’s alpha (internal $\alpha$ = 0.991; contractor $\alpha$ = 0.989), and its structural validity was confirmed through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The overall safety culture score was favorable, with a mean of 4.25 (out of 5.0). However, the analysis revealed significant perception gaps between organizational groups. Contractors reported the highest score (4.46), whereas the headquarters (HQ) scored the lowest (4.00). Notably, the HQ showed weaknesses in ‘Worker Participation’ (3.93) and ‘Accident and Risk Management’ (3.98). These results suggest that KEPCO’s culture is currently in the ‘Calculative’ stage. It also demonstrates a significant gap between the HQ’s administrative management and the contractors’ on-site execution. This study expanded the scope of safety research by including contractors, who are often overlooked. This validated tool enables KEPCO to quantitatively diagnose these perception gaps. This supports data-driven interventions and the transition toward a ‘Proactive’ safety culture.