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Nuclear operative

Nuclear operative

Engineering and manufacturing

Level 2 - Technical Occupation

Responsible for the operation of plant systems and equipment on nuclear facilities.

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Reference: OCC0291

Status: assignment_turned_inApproved occupation

Average (median) salary: £36,760 per year

SOC 2020 code: 8133 Energy plant operatives

SOC 2020 sub unit groups:

  • 8133/99 Energy plant operatives n.e.c.
  • 8133/03 Nuclear decommissioning operatives

Technical Education Products

ST0291:

Nuclear operative

(Level 2)

Approved for delivery

Employers involved in creating the standard:

AWE, Cavendish Nuclear, Cogent, EDF Energy, Gen2, LLWR, Magnox Ltd, NNL, NSAN, Nuclear Institute, Sellafield, Westinghouse, Wood plc

Summary

Nuclear operatives are found in the nuclear sector, which includes power generation, fuel manufacture and storage, reprocessing of nuclear fuel, decommissioning of facilities and equipment, nuclear waste processing and storage. Nuclear operatives carry out safe operations of nuclear plants or facilities. They are also involved in the removal and disposal of nuclear waste materials for decommissioning of nuclear plants or facilities. Nuclear operatives work with cutting-edge technology and make a positive impact on the environment supporting the production of clean energy. 

The broad purpose of nuclear operatives is to conduct surveillance and decommissioning of plant, including operations, monitoring and adjusting of controls, recording data and performance, taking operational samples. Some facilities are in decommissioning phases where nuclear operatives dismantle, remove and dispose of plant and equipment, using state-of-the-art techniques and equipment. Nuclear operatives will perform size reduction, segregation, and packaging of different categorisations of waste in challenging environments, often in full personal and respiratory protective equipment. They will undertake appropriate disposal procedures, ensuring their safe containment, and minimising any potential harm to the environment. Nuclear operatives necessitate the use of innovative methods and equipment where required, with associated practical skills. The working conditions are varied, working on sites running 365-day operations. Nuclear operatives will be required to work individually and as part of a team. Nuclear facilities are highly regulated providing high levels of security for entry of facilities. 

In their daily work, nuclear operatives interact with colleagues and managers, and a premium is placed on demonstrating an understanding of nuclear, radiological and conventional safety, together with the appropriate attitudes and behaviours to ensure apprentices comply with organisational safety and regulatory requirements at all times. They work to national and industry standards conducting best practice modelling the highest standards of professional conduct, ethics and integrity.  They have a strong commitment to personal safety, set out in nuclear industry requirements, and collaborative team working.

Nuclear operatives are responsible for contributing to the safety of the facility, personnel, public and the environment in energy production and decommissioning. This is achieved through disciplined operations, efficient team working, and contributions to problem solving in the deployment of bespoke equipment. 

 

 

Employers involved in creating the standard:

AWE, Cavendish Nuclear, Cogent, EDF Energy, Gen2, LLWR, Magnox Ltd, NNL, NSAN, Nuclear Institute, Sellafield, Westinghouse, Wood plc

Typical job titles include:

Waste technician
Nuclear decommissioning operativeeco
Nuclear operativeeco
Nuclear process operativeeco

Keywords:

Nuclear
Nuclear Environment
Nuclear Facilities
Nuclear Operative
Operative

Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)

K1: The nuclear industry function and role of nuclear operatives. Limits of autonomy and reporting channels.
K2: Security clearances and levels of personnel on nuclear licensed sites: basic clearance (BC), security clearance (SC) and developed vetting (DV) enhanced clearance.
K3: Regulatory and legislative guidance: Nuclear Installations Act (NIA); Ionising Radiation Regulations (IRR); Radiation (Emergency Preparedness and Public Information) Regulations (REPPIR); International Commission of Radiological Protection (ICRP); Approved Code of Practice (ACOP).
K4: Health and safety of those working on nuclear licensed sites: nuclear safety, radiological safety, radiation and contamination, confined spaces, Health and safety at work act. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH). Manual handling. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Pressurised suits. Respiratory Protection Equipment (RPE). Situational awareness. Slips, trips and falls. Safety equipment: guards, signage, fire extinguishers. Safe systems of working. Working at height.
K5: Awareness of safety management systems: standard operating procedures (SOPs) and risk assessments. Principles of As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). Best Available Technique (BAT).
K6: Environment and sustainability regulations and guidance. Types of pollution and control measures in the nuclear sector, including spills and waste. Waste reduction and waste streams. Recycling and reuse. Sustainable use of equipment and materials.
K7: Awareness of how human performance and human factors affect nuclear safety culture.
K8: Radiation types: non-ionising and ionising radiation, alpha, beta, gamma, x-ray, and neutron. Atomic structure, criticality, fusion, and fission.
K9: Nuclear plant operations: nuclear fuel manufacture and storage, reprocessing of nuclear fuel, waste processing and storage, plant life cycles, commissioning, operations and decommissioning of plant.
K10: Radiological measurement and protection monitoring instruments, for plant equipment.
K11: Emergency response radiological incident contingency plans: emergency environmental radiological releases; critical incident monitoring; forward control points (FCP) and access control points (ACP).
K12: Methods of interpreting and extracting information from technical drawings, data, and documentation.
K13: Minor maintenance activities for plant equipment: radioactive discharges, waste management, environmental control.
K14: Plant equipment configuration, isolation, and reinstatement techniques.
K15: Start up and shutdown procedures of plant equipment. Sequencing of operations.
K16: Common abnormalities in plant equipment operations and corrective action techniques.
K17: Capturing and recording of data techniques, indicating plant equipment performance.
K18: Sampling processes, analysis and technical logs for nuclear systems.
K19: Methods of minimisation, packaging, removal, and transfer of hazardous materials.
K20: Nuclear waste classification and categorisation techniques.
K21: Operating methods for standard or purpose-built equipment relevant to the nuclear operative's role and responsibilities.
K22: Methods of decontaminating plant equipment.
K23: Methods of dismantling plant equipment.
K24: Nuclear waste management solutions and safe disposal in line with types of radioactive waste.
K25: Problem solving techniques for common role related problems.
K26: Lifting and movement of loads: mechanical lifting equipment.
K27: Procedural documentation and reporting requirements of work in progress.
K28: Information technology and digital systems: cyber security, email, management information systems, word processing, work sharing platforms. General data protection regulation (GDPR).
K29: Principles of team working.
K30: Principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and the impact on their work.
K31: Verbal communication techniques.
K32: Written communication techniques.

S1: Comply with health and safety and industry regulations and procedures.
S2: Select and use personal protective equipment (PPE) for nuclear operations. For example, use of respiratory protection equipment (RPE) and pressurised suits.
S3: Respond to changes in radiological conditions.
S4: Sets up and maintains work areas including alpha, beta, or gamma.
S5: Follow safety management systems. For example, standard operating procedures (SOPs), safe systems of working, risk assessments, best available technique (BAT) and, As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP).
S6: Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations and procedures. For example, identify and segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
S7: Apply human performance and human factors nuclear culture.
S8: Select and use radiological measurement and protection monitoring instruments: for example, smear paper, handheld radiation, and contamination rate meters, installed and portable air samplers.
S9: Comply with emergency response plans; carry out critical incident monitoring; use forward control points (FCP) and access control points (ACP) to respond and recover from nuclear incidents.
S10: Interpret and use technical documentation. For example, drawings and data.
S11: Conduct minor maintenance activities on plant equipment. For example, safe removal of radioactive discharge, waste management, and spillages.
S12: Configure, isolate, and reinstate plant equipment.
S13: Conduct sequential start up and shutdown of plant equipment.
S14: Monitor and record data for plant indications or conditions of plant equipment.
S15: Carry out surveillance of plant to ensure safety critical operations.
S16: Identify abnormalities in plant equipment operations and conduct corrective actions.
S17: Carry out sampling operations.
S18: Decontaminate radioactive plant or materials in readiness for storage and disposal.
S19: Dismantle plant equipment.
S20: Remove and transfer hazardous materials to designated waste classification and storage locations.
S21: Operate standard, or purpose-built equipment relevant to the nuclear operative's role and responsibilities.
S22: Apply problem-solving techniques to common role related problems.
S23: Operate mechanical lifting equipment for moving loads.
S24: Use information technology and digital systems prioritising cyber security. Comply with GDPR, for example, digital communication.
S25: Apply team working principles.
S26: Follow equity, diversity, and inclusion rules.
S27: Record and document daily operations and work progress. For example, radiological protection monitoring data, isolation and reinstating of plant equipment.
S28: Communicate verbally with colleagues and managers using industry terminology.
S29: Communicate in writing with colleagues and managers.
S30: Carry out and record learning and development activities.

B1: Put health and safety first.
B2: Take ownership of own work and responsibilities.
B3: Respond and adapt to changing work requests.
B4: Demonstrate team focus to meet team goals.
B5: Consider human performance and human factors principles in the workplace.
B6: Support an inclusive workplace, being respectful of different views.
B7: Seek learning and development opportunities, continual professional development (CPD).

Duties

Duty D1

Work to nuclear legislative and regulatory procedures in the nuclear environment.

Duty D2

Apply radiological and contamination control measures prior to, during and after commencing work.

Duty D3

Support facility and site contingency plans in the case of incidents or events.

Duty D4

Complete safe systems of working on plant equipment in a nuclear environment.

Duty D5

Undertake radiological protection monitoring duties, monitoring plant equipment.

Duty D6

Review technical data and documentation. For example, plant operations drawings, decommissioning phases.

Duty D7

Carry out the safe operations of identified minor maintenance activities.

Duty D8

Conduct surveillance activities on plant equipment. For example, take and record samples of processes or equipment.

Duty D9

Respond in the event of abnormalities of plant operations.

Duty D10

Operate equipment to move and lift loads.

Duty D11

Undertake isolation and reinstatement of plant equipment.

Duty D12

Deploy bespoke equipment for nuclear operations. For example, decommissioning project.

Duty D13

Prepare nuclear waste for disposal.

Duty D14

Handle, dispose and store radiological and hazardous materials following legislative and regulatory guidance.

Duty D15

Conduct waste categorisation in a nuclear environment.

Duty D16

Resolve and report nuclear facilities and equipment issues in line with operational parameters.

Duty D17

Report and support the progress of work.

Duty D18

Participate in continuous improvement activities.