I'm considering RCT at commercial power plant, how large a staff of house techs

[wp_913]

Hello all,

I'm currently working DOE-RCT, with an NRRPT, not a bad place to be. However, my wife and I are now empty nesters with the kids off on their own and we are considering moving to an area with a lower cost of living. My thought is to maybe settle somewhere near a nuclear power plant and get a job as an RCT there.

I have never worked nuclear power, and I know that is a disadvantage. I also don't think I would want to consider road-tech lifestyle. So my question is, how hard is to get a house-tech job.

How many rad safety people typically work at a plant and what are the turnover rates, how often do they hire full time positions, I'm over 50, but have a "few" good years left.

[Shawnee Man]

I suggest you try outages first. The pace, skeleton crews at power plants, and the different style of radiation protection will definitely be different. You need to get a taste before making that move.  

[indoprime]

Im thinking of doing the same as well.....considering being a house tech at a commercial plant.  Ive done the outage thing for a while, so i know the rigors and pressures of being an RCT in an outage situation.  But I'd like to know who's hiring, who's looking, that sorta thing.

[rumrunner]

I can only address things from the perspective of my retiring from TVA as an RP supervisor a couple years ago.  Turnover is quite low.  Non-outage shift staffing is bare bones.  Look at Browns Ferry with three operating units - the technician staffing is 35 or so and that includes dosimetry, radwaste, and instrumentation.  I spent many long nights, and holidays and weekends on both shifts, with just me and 2 or 3 techs to handle everything.  I don't know about other plants but we worked rotating 12 hour shifts which seems fairly common.  Frankly, someone with no commercial experience would not be at the top of the list of prospects unless they offered a compelling reason such as having a BS degree or being eligible for veterans preference.  Again just speaking from my experience we looked first at known commodities - those being contract techs who had a good track record with us and met the education and experience standards.  NRRPT helped but it wasn't enough by itself. 

[m62/m76]

Columbia Station in Washington is a single unit plant.
Staffing is 27 HP techs.
Will be hiring 5 techs soon.

[retired nuke]

VY is hiring... but license extension isn't done yet.

Single unit, ~ 22 techs. 6 rotate on shift, the rest are straight days, except for outages and OT.

Not a cheap place to live, and most hiring comes from experienced contractors.....

Good luck - Having worked DOE, I think you may want to think about jumping.... it's a different world out in commercial power land.

[UncaBuffalo]

VY is hiring... but license extension isn't done yet.

Single unit, ~ 22 techs. 6 rotate on shift, the rest are straight days, except for outages and OT.

Not a cheap place to live, and most hiring comes from experienced contractors.....

Good luck - Having worked DOE, I think you may want to think about jumping.... it's a different world out in commercial power land.

JMO...commercial is a MUCH better world than DOE.  (Less boring, less money wasted, less bureaucracy,...)

[hamsamich]

you will probably work harder at most commercial nuclear power plants.  but some days will be eazy.  unless your name is bruce.  the outages will be hectic, and you may be shipped off to work a "sister" plant's outage.  I like commercial power because of that.  way more interesting. depends on what you want!  too bad the pay is so much better for contractors at DOE.  but it aint bad here in the DOE world.

[jkj]

  12 coordinators, 11 facilitators, 10 system specialists, 9 rad planners, 8 supervisors, 7 RWP writers, 6 rad engineers,
          5 ALARA TECHs,
  4 technical experts, 3 industrial hygienists, 2 lab techs and
       1 HP busting his hump.

[RDTroja]

  12 coordinators, 11 facilitators, 10 system specialists, 9 rad planners, 8 supervisors, 7 RWP writers, 6 rad engineers,
          5 ALARA TECHs,
  4 technical experts, 3 industrial hygienists, 2 lab techs and
       1 HP busting his hump.

Hmmm... someone ought to come up with a catchy tune to put that to... 

[sscone]

Hmmm... someone ought to come up with a catchy tune to put that to... 

12 days of RP

[mars88]

Consider other options such as pharm comps and universities--they hire regularly (UNLV and MIZZOU are currently looking for techs).  Pay is lower and no OT, but good benefits and retirement.  Plus, work is MUCH easier. 

Inbox me for more info.