How to...entry level RP or decon

[grae]

I've been working for a support company for primary/secondary S/G for 12 years.  Since they aren't keeping me busy, I need to seek another direction.  What i feel i know best besides steam generators would be decon or RP duties.  How do i get in to, I would assume, entry level RP or decon.  Yeah... I know, contact Bartlett, contact DZ.  That's easier said than done.

[UncaBuffalo]

I've been working for a support company for primary/secondary S/G for 12 years.  Since they aren't keeping me busy, I need to seek another direction.  What i feel i know best besides steam generators would be decon or RP duties.  How do i get in to, I would assume, entry level RP or decon.  Yeah... I know, contact Bartlett, contact DZ.  That's easier said than done.

The problem I see is that your 'in' is on the commercial side, so any work that you have experience with is mostly applicable to outages.  That leaves you not being busy 6 months a year - the same problem you have now.  Eventually, if you came to the RP/decon side, you might slide into a house job or DOE work, but there would be a few lean years while you got your experience.

If RP and/or decon is something you think you'd love doing, go for it.  If you are just hoping to work more often, I would be looking to expand out of nuclear, not just to a different part of it.

Good luck! 

[grae]

I'd be happy to just get longer outage jobs.  Just 2 -3 weeks work in an outage period just doesn't get the job done.  I need outage jobs that last the length of the outage.  My problem is i got alot of nuclear experience but i'm to specialized.  I need to get some more general nuclear jobs like deconers or jr HPs.  their jobs pay a lot less than what i get now but they lastmuch longer thereby also building up claim weeks for the lean months.  $150 per hour is great...if you work more than 1 hour.  Not that i make that much...just making a point.

[GLW]

I'd be happy to just get longer outage jobs.  Just 2 -3 weeks work in an outage period just doesn't get the job done.  I need outage jobs that last the length of the outage.  My problem is i got alot of nuclear experience but i'm to specialized.  I need to get some more general nuclear jobs like deconers or jr HPs.  their jobs pay a lot less than what i get now but they lastmuch longer thereby also building up claim weeks for the lean months.  $150 per hour is great...if you work more than 1 hour.  Not that i make that much...just making a point.

Zion, long term decommissioning, lots of major component removal to still be done, might be a good fit,...

[SloGlo]

I've been working for a support company for primary/secondary S/G for 12 years.  Since they aren't keeping me busy, I need to seek another direction. 

i'm wondering what support company your working for, that you want to jump to another discipline.  in 12 years i'd sort of figure you haven't seen outages get longer.  the engineers at your company ought to be able to forecast future outage length; my instincts tell me that they will get shorter and/or spaced further apart.  if you want to work more time per year to generate good unemployment compensation, i'd suggest a construction trade to supplement your nuclear work.  that way, you'd be able to fill in a couple of lean nuclear months 'n qualify nicely for the max u.c.

[milo124]

The two companies you mentioned are a good start but like someone else mentioned don't limit yourself to just the commercial side.  Also, this is the worse time of the year to find outage work - let alone expand into another area.  And unfortunately, with the good ol boy and who you know network it's tuff to get in.  All of which you've most likely already found out.  My best advice would be to contact someone you know well that's a senior HP (or Senior deconer) and have them put in a word for you at the next outage they're going to.  Also, I know HPs never do anything (just kidding), but make sure you can pass the HP exams (there's some great training information here for that).  Good luck.

[grae]

Well SloJo,  I'll tell ya.  My company supports Westinghouse on primary and secondary S/G.  Westinghouse is trying to keep everything in-house and eliminate needing contractor support or at least keep it to a minimum.  Last fall i had 2 1/2 weeks work.  This past spring i had 3 weeks work and i scheduled for 3 weeks work in this upcoming fall outage.  When i'm working they pay good.  But i would rather get less pay and work more hours and get more weeks toward unemployment than work for $50 an hour for 2 weeks.  I don't think i would have to come in as entry level decon.  I think my 12 years experience dealing with HPs should count for something  and i've done alot of decon because you have to decon to get the equipment off the platform.  Then you got to decon it to get it into the seavan and then we used to decon it once it got back home (thats done in-house now) because HP/Site wouldn't allow it on site unless it's squeaky clean.  So i've done more decon than a lot of so-called deconners.