“Physical protection professionals need to feel encouraged and be made aware of how important they are in the company.”
Lourena Correa, Nuclear Protected Area Security Specialist at Eletrobras Eletronuclear, discusses how she has used WINS materials to enhance the security training at her company and the importance of integrating the Security Department with the company as a whole.
Tell us about your physical protection training programme and how you developed it with information from the WINS Academy and BPGs.
Presently, our physical protection training programme involves lectures to the whole security team with instructions on access control, emergency procedures and case studies of real events. We are also introducing tabletop exercises simulating several situations. In order to develop these trainings, we apply concepts and scenario planning from exercises in WINS modules, including the WINS Security Incident Scale of Assessment.
What advice do you have for promoting nuclear security culture?
In first place, physical protection professionals need to feel encouraged and be made aware of how important they are in the company. The security staff need to be integrated with other the stakeholders at the facility to promote their understanding and adherence to the physical protection procedures. Nuclear security needs to be implemented in a clear and objective way with all employees, respecting information confidentiality when applicable.
What was your WINS Academy elective? Why did you choose it?
I selected Nuclear Security Incident Management. This topic is extremely relevant to the creation of trainings and revising physical protection procedures performed by the team I am part of within the organisation.
“Being a WINS certified professional makes me feel even more motivated and sure that this is the right path to follow.”
What inspired you to become a WINS Academy Ambassador?
I was inspired by the learning process that WINS offers to its members. I saw the opportunity to use this knowledge in the physical protection activities at our nuclear plants and also to encourage the security workers to learn about WINS, strengthening the security culture at the facility.
What advice do you have for current WINS Academy learners or those considering enrolling?
I would advise them to use the WINS materials available online and pursue certification. I recommend WINS to professionals that intend to pursue certification, since it is committed to the development of nuclear security professionals. Being a WINS certified professional makes me feel even more motivated and sure that this is the right path to follow.
From Eletrobrás Eletronuclear:
How has your organisation benefitted from Lourena achieving Certified Nuclear Security Professional status?
Having certified professionals in an area with so many peculiarities as nuclear physical protection is surely an asset to any company, and Eletronuclear has profited a lot from this certification. It is one of a few in Latin America that has this advantage.
