Will “Reactor Operator (RO)” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
95% Chance of Automation
“Reactor Operator (RO)” will almost certainly be replaced by robots.
This job is ranked #614 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.
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Job Description
Operate or control nuclear reactors. Move control rods, start and stop equipment, monitor and adjust controls, and record data in logs. Implement emergency procedures when needed. May respond to abnormalities, determine cause, and recommend corrective action.
Job Details
- The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 51-8011.00
- The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 91,370.00
- The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 43.00
- Currently, there are 7,170 people on this job
☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Nuclear Power Reactor Operators”.
Also Known As…
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
- Reactor Operator (RO)
- Nuclear Unit Operator
- Nuclear Supervising Operator (NSO)
- Nuclear Station Operator (NSO)
- Nuclear Reactor Operator
- Nuclear Power Reactor Operator
- Nuclear Plant Operator (NPO)
- Nuclear Control Room Operator
- Nuclear Control Operator
- Licensed Reactor Operator
- Unit Reactor Operator
- Senior Reactor Operator
- Power Reactor Operator
- Nuclear Power Plant Process Control Worker
- Nuclear Operator
- Nuclear Control Room Non-Licensed Operator
- Licensed Nuclear Control Room Operator
- Equipment Operator
- Control Room Supervisor
- Control Room Operator
- Control Room Agent
Tasks for “Reactor Operator (RO)”
- Supervise technicians' work activities to ensure that equipment is operated in accordance with policies and procedures that protect workers from radiation and ensure environmental safety.
- Authorize maintenance activities on units or changes in equipment or system operational status.
- Adjust controls to position rod and to regulate flux level, reactor period, coolant temperature, or rate of power flow, following standard procedures.
- Identify or direct implementation of appropriate decontamination procedures, based on equipment and the size, nature, and type of contamination.
- Conduct inspections or operations outside of control rooms as necessary.
- Implement operational procedures, such as those controlling start-up or shut-down activities.
- Participate in nuclear fuel element handling activities, such as preparation, transfer, loading, or unloading.
- Direct measurement of the intensity or types of radiation in work areas, equipment, or materials.
- Develop or implement actions such as lockouts, tagouts, or clearances to allow equipment to be safely repaired.
- Direct the collection and testing of air, water, gas, or solid samples to determine radioactivity levels or to ensure appropriate radioactive containment.
- Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental safety.
- Record operating data, such as the results of surveillance tests.
- Note malfunctions of equipment, instruments, or controls and report these conditions to supervisors.
- Respond to system or unit abnormalities, diagnosing the cause, and recommending or taking corrective action.
- Authorize actions to correct identified operational inefficiencies or hazards so that operating efficiency is maximized and potential environmental issues are minimized.
- Monitor or operate boilers, turbines, wells, or auxiliary power plant equipment.
- Review and edit standard operating procedures.
- Monitor all systems for normal running conditions, performing activities such as checking gauges to assess output or the effects of generator loading on other equipment.
- Direct reactor operators in emergency situations, in accordance with emergency operating procedures.
- Dispatch orders or instructions to personnel through radiotelephone or intercommunication systems to coordinate auxiliary equipment operation.
Related Technology & Tools
- Video borescopes
- Cooling towers
- Ventilation systems
- Pipe camera inspection systems
- Personal computers
- Water recirculation pumps
- Automatic control systems
- Generator control panels
- Power plant turbine control panels
- Radiation survey meters
- Leak detection equipment
- Pocket dosimeters
- Nuclear plant hazard alarm systems
- Water samplers
- Desktop computers
- Master-slave manipulators
- Portal monitors
- Water deionization equipment
- pH testers
- Safety coveralls
- Air compressors
- Nuclear reactor control rod operation systems
- Protective shoe covers
- Seismic monitoring instruments
- Air purifying respirators
- Water softeners
- Portable two way radios
- Air monitoring equipment
- Water conductivity testers
- Safety gloves
- Fuel handling systems
- Air sample collection equipment
- Spent fuel handling machines
- Level transmitters
- Area gamma monitors
- Radiation monitoring instruments
- Control rod drives
- Data logging software
- Microsoft Access
- Plant information data entry software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office