Apprenticeship training course

Nuclear operative (level 2)

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Information about Nuclear operative (level 2)

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

• Knowledge, skills and behaviours:
  View knowledge, skills and behaviours

  Knowledge

  • The nuclear industry function and role of nuclear operatives. Limits of autonomy and reporting channels.
  • Security clearances and levels of personnel on nuclear licensed sites: basic clearance (BC), security clearance (SC) and developed vetting (DV) enhanced clearance.
  • 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).
  • 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.
  • Awareness of safety management systems: standard operating procedures (SOPs) and risk assessments. Principles of As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP). Best Available Technique (BAT).
  • 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.
  • Awareness of how human performance and human factors affect nuclear safety culture.
  • Radiation types: non-ionising and ionising radiation, alpha, beta, gamma, x-ray, and neutron. Atomic structure, criticality, fusion, and fission.
  • 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.
  • Radiological measurement and protection monitoring instruments, for plant equipment.
  • Emergency response radiological incident contingency plans: emergency environmental radiological releases; critical incident monitoring; forward control points (FCP) and access control points (ACP).
  • Methods of interpreting and extracting information from technical drawings, data, and documentation.
  • Minor maintenance activities for plant equipment: radioactive discharges, waste management, environmental control.
  • Plant equipment configuration, isolation, and reinstatement techniques.
  • Start up and shutdown procedures of plant equipment. Sequencing of operations.
  • Common abnormalities in plant equipment operations and corrective action techniques.
  • Capturing and recording of data techniques, indicating plant equipment performance.
  • Sampling processes, analysis and technical logs for nuclear systems.
  • Methods of minimisation, packaging, removal, and transfer of hazardous materials.
  • Nuclear waste classification and categorisation techniques.
  • Operating methods for standard or purpose-built equipment relevant to the nuclear operative's role and responsibilities.
  • Methods of decontaminating plant equipment.
  • Methods of dismantling plant equipment.
  • Nuclear waste management solutions and safe disposal in line with types of radioactive waste.
  • Problem solving techniques for common role related problems.
  • Lifting and movement of loads: mechanical lifting equipment.
  • Procedural documentation and reporting requirements of work in progress.
  • Information technology and digital systems: cyber security, email, management information systems, word processing, work sharing platforms. General data protection regulation (GDPR).
  • Principles of team working.
  • Principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace and the impact on their work.
  • Verbal communication techniques.
  • Written communication techniques.

  Skills

  • Comply with health and safety and industry regulations and procedures.
  • Select and use personal protective equipment (PPE) for nuclear operations. For example, use of respiratory protection equipment (RPE) and pressurised suits.
  • Respond to changes in radiological conditions.
  • Sets up and maintains work areas including alpha, beta, or gamma.
  • 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).
  • Comply with environmental and sustainability regulations and procedures. For example, identify and segregate resources for reuse, recycling, and disposal.
  • Apply human performance and human factors nuclear culture.
  • Select and use radiological measurement and protection monitoring instruments: for example, smear paper, handheld radiation, and contamination rate meters, installed and portable air samplers.
  • 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.
  • Interpret and use technical documentation. For example, drawings and data.
  • Conduct minor maintenance activities on plant equipment. For example, safe removal of radioactive discharge, waste management, and spillages.
  • Configure, isolate, and reinstate plant equipment.
  • Conduct sequential start up and shutdown of plant equipment.
  • Monitor and record data for plant indications or conditions of plant equipment.
  • Carry out surveillance of plant to ensure safety critical operations.
  • Identify abnormalities in plant equipment operations and conduct corrective actions.
  • Carry out sampling operations.
  • Decontaminate radioactive plant or materials in readiness for storage and disposal.
  • Dismantle plant equipment.
  • Remove and transfer hazardous materials to designated waste classification and storage locations.
  • Operate standard, or purpose-built equipment relevant to the nuclear operative's role and responsibilities.
  • Apply problem-solving techniques to common role related problems.
  • Operate mechanical lifting equipment for moving loads.
  • Use information technology and digital systems prioritising cyber security. Comply with GDPR, for example, digital communication.
  • Apply team working principles.
  • Follow equity, diversity, and inclusion rules.
  • Record and document daily operations and work progress. For example, radiological protection monitoring data, isolation and reinstating of plant equipment.
  • Communicate verbally with colleagues and managers using industry terminology.
  • Communicate in writing with colleagues and managers.
  • Carry out and record learning and development activities.

  Behaviours

  • Put health and safety first.
  • Take ownership of own work and responsibilities.
  • Respond and adapt to changing work requests.
  • Demonstrate team focus to meet team goals.
  • Consider human performance and human factors principles in the workplace.
  • Support an inclusive workplace, being respectful of different views.
  • Seek learning and development opportunities, continual professional development (CPD).
• Apprenticeship category (sector): Engineering and manufacturing
• Qualification level: 2; Equal to GCSE
• Course duration: 24 months
• Funding: £15,000 ; Maximum government funding for ; apprenticeship training and assessment costs.
• Job titles include:
  • Waste technician
  • Nuclear decommissioning operative
  • Nuclear operative
  • Nuclear process operative

View more information about Nuclear operative (level 2) from the Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education.