The objective of the LearnSafe project was to create methods and tools for supporting processes of organisational learning at the nuclear power plants (NPP). Organisational learning is  important for the nuclear industry in its adaptation to changes in political and economic environments, changing regulatory requirements, a changing work force, changing technology in the plants, and the changing organisation of NPPs and power utilities. The danger during a rapid process of change is that minor problems may trigger a chain of events leading to actual degrading of safety and/or diminishing political and public trust in the safety standards of the particular NPP, utility or corporation.

The focus of the project was senior managers at NPPs and power utilities who are responsible for strategic choice and resource allocation. This focus was selected with the understanding that their decisions, approaches and attitudes have an important influence both on safety and economy of the NPPs. The LearnSafe project developed methods and tools, which can be used in the management of change, and in ensuring an efficient organisational learning. Project results include recommendations and inventories of good practices. The project was built on results of an earlier EU-project "Organisational factors; their definition and influence on nuclear safety" (ORFA).

The project was set up in two major phases, which covered both theoretical considerations and empirical investigations. The first phase placed an emphasis on management of change and the second on components of organisational learning. Both phases started with the creation of data collection instruments, which were used in the empirical part of the work. The second theoretical and empirical phase took a major step towards developing methods and tools, which can be applied by the NPPs themselves in creating maintaining efficient processes of organisational learning.

One important feature of the project was a continuous interaction between the researchers and managers at the NPPs in addressing issues connected to organisation and management. Preliminary results of the project were presented and discussed in small workshops at the NPPs during the project. Several small spin-off projects were carried out together with the participating NPPs.