Who we are

We are a scientific-technical Superior Federal Authority in the portfolio of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. The BfS was founded in 1989. The objective was to concentrate authorities working in the fields of

• radiation protection,
• nuclear safety and
• radioactive waste management.

For this, mainly existing institutions at various sites have been incorporated into the new authority.

How we work professionally

To fulfil our tasks in the best possible way and to flexibly meet new challenges, we work interdisciplinarily, assure the quality of our work and document our professional decision-making processes. Our organisation is geared to the respective tasks. We use resources and materials efficiently. We support team work and work in project groups. The work performed by the scientific departments is supported by the Central Department.

Modern communication and data processing technology as well as management instruments serve to optimise our work. As an authority working in the environmental field we serve as an example and, therefore, work with an awareness of the environment, in an energy-saving way and efficiently using natural resources.

We comply with our sociopolitical responsibility by

• Making the fundamental principles of practised radiation protection transparent,
• Pursuing the objectives of the population,
• Supporting the dialogue between specialists and socially relevant groups,
• Contributing to the forming of opinions and consents in society through carrying out interdisciplinary discussion forums,
• Pointing out opportunities and limits of science,
• Proactively identifying problems and need for action,
• Making people aware of the responsibility for health and the protection of the environment,
• Giving practical conduct recommendations.

Our competence and the quality of our work is maintained by our co-operation with other scientific areas and active collaboration within national and international, in particular European bodies, evaluating and considering their results as well as bringing our own findings up for discussion. Apart from our technicoscientific competence we also have sociological and socio-scientific competence.

We are convinced that basic research and applied research will remain indispensable, also in the future, for the fulfilling of our tasks. Only in that way can safety in the fields of radiation protection for man and the environment, nuclear technology and nuclear waste management develop further. We carry out and initiate research.

How we work together

To maintain and further develop our competence we systematically support the training and higher qualification of the staff members as well as their specialist and personal development possibilities. The basis for this is an HR development concept.

• We implement occupational equality of men and women.
• As far as possible we introduce family-friendly working conditions such as flexible working hours, part-time jobs and telework.
• We integrate people with disabilities in our office.
• We train and employ trainees, research scholarship holders and guest scientists.
• We act in social responsibility.

The contact with each other is characterised by mutual respect and by high regard of the work of the other colleagues. Loyalty is the basis of our co-operation. We communicate openly with each other. Informing, involving and feedback are essential elements of communication. The flow of information over all sites is guaranteed.

The co-operative management style and the delegation of responsibility play an important role in our house. In all areas where this is possible persons in management positions make decisions in close collaboration with staff members. Within a framework of clear competencies and directives,

• short-term,
• comprehensible,
• proper and
• reliable

decisions are made and justified. We are ready to question our work results and the contact with each other. We solve conflicts instead of ignoring them.

Through specialist knowledge and creativity in combination with a motivating work atmosphere as well as reliability and commitment we achieve our work results.

We are aware that we all together shape the image of BfS.

The objectives of this Guiding Principle are verifiably implemented through concrete measures. It represents a mandatory work basis for everyone. We are aware that the Guiding Principle is alive. It is not static but develops further dynamically.