BWR or PWR...?

[a|F]

Helpers,

My friend must choose between an interview for EO at a bwr or pwr.  I'm not sure which one to tell him.  The only major difference besides the obvious pwr/bwr rad/ops stuff is schedule.  The pwr is on 12s, while the bwr is on hybrid 8s (12s on the weekend).  Both plants are inpo 1/2 and had decent performance the last few years.  Should he base it solely on the amount of OT he wants to work (outages every 18 or 24 months)? 

Thoughts from anyone who's worked at both?

Thank you kindly.

[jams723]

Both have their own advantages and disadvantages.  They really are about equal.... Make the decision based on where he wants to live and quality of life.  I highly recommend a 24 month fuel cycle and a single unit for quality of life.

Also look at the management team if you can... What kind of relationship the union has with management.

[HydroDave63]

Helpers,

My friend must choose between an interview for EO at a bwr or pwr.  I'm not sure which one to tell him.  The only major difference besides the obvious pwr/bwr rad/ops stuff is schedule.  The pwr is on 12s, while the bwr is on hybrid 8s (12s on the weekend).  Both plants are inpo 1/2 and had decent performance the last few years.  Should he base it solely on the amount of OT he wants to work (outages every 18 or 24 months)?  

Thoughts from anyone who's worked at both?

Thank you kindly.

Any place that is on 8s can reduce staff by about 5-10% when they go to 12s. Seen it happen.

[Fermi2]

I've yet to see an Operational staff get reduced when going to 12s.

On the other hand. 24 Month Single Unit is ideal.

If he wants money a Dual Unit 18 month.

If he is insane a 3 Unit plant.

From an EO perspective. No difference at all. If the BWR has a Mark I containment it will suck because they are to say the least compact.

[jams723]

I've yet to see an Operational staff get reduced when going to 12s.

On the other hand. 24 Month Single Unit is ideal.

If he wants money a Dual Unit 18 month.

If he is insane a 3 Unit plant.

From an EO perspective. No difference at all. If the BWR has a Mark I containment it will suck because they are to say the least compact.

Unlike the spacious room in a ice condenser plant containment?

[Fermi2]

Having been in both the Ice Plant is quite a bit more spacious than a Mark 1. Put it this way, the upper containment at my plant is twice as big as an entire Mark 1 containment and the lower is about 3.5 to 4 times bigger.

[RDTroja]

As much as I disliked the Ice Condenser containment I worked in I would take it over a Mark 1 any day.

[nsz8]

I used to think I liked PWRs more. Now I think I like BWRs more. I think I like whatever of the type of plant I am currently working in...



Lots of help there I know. Pick the place that offers the best living arrangements for him and his fam.

[Fermi2]

I just like reactors. From a Licensed standpoint both have their upsides and downsides.

On the other hand MOST of the time I like PWR EOPs better because you are only in one at a time and it tells you which one to be in.

THEN I'll remember how much I miss the Wild West and Gunslinger aspect of BWR EOPs. Having had the lead examiner of Region 3 call me the bigest gunslinger in the region and telling my Ops manager at the time he swore I fire through the holster was a highlight of my SRO career

[IPREGEN]

Tell him to do both interviews and make his own decision. It's the people that will make one station better than the other.

[Higgs]

I just like reactors. From a Licensed standpoint both have their upsides and downsides.

On the other hand MOST of the time I like PWR EOPs better because you are only in one at a time and it tells you which one to be in.

THEN I'll remember how much I miss the Wild West and Gunslinger aspect of BWR EOPs. Having had the lead examiner of Region 3 call me the bigest gunslinger in the region and telling my Ops manager at the time he swore I fire through the holster was a highlight of my SRO career

That is what my perspective is turning into. Just had my first PWR EOP eval, and I'm not trying to sound like an a$$hole, but I found myself largely bored as compared to BWR. Definitely seems to be more out of the box thinking in BWR EOPs, not to say there isn't any of that at a PWR..., its just more scripted.

Justin

[HydroDave63]

THEN I'll remember how much I miss the Wild West and Gunslinger aspect of BWR EOPs. Having had the lead examiner of Region 3 call me the bigest gunslinger in the region and telling my Ops manager at the time he swore I fire through the holster was a highlight of my SRO career

I'm old. Woke up every 2 hours to pee!

After all those years sitting on hard chairs, could be a urological problem... just sayin' 

[milo124]

From an old HP perspective, they're both contaminated - so it didn't matter (some more so than others but that goes with the job).  From a dose perspective - same as above, although I will admit the daily walk down with ops at Hatch was not fun (my only operating BWR experience and I picked up some dose doing those - ).  Things have changed a lot with all the mergers but I would have to agree that the area the plant is located in will make a big difference as will the management.  Interview with both, and while you're there check out the area and the people (unless it's a phone interview).  And even if it's by phone, there's a lot of good information here.  BTW, good luck.

[Fermi2]

From a dose perspective NLOs get a much higher dose at the PWR where I work than the BWR where I used to work.