Nuclear Power Reactor Operators
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.
- Tasks
- 19 tasks13 core, 6 supplemental
- Family
- ProductionOne of its 114 occupations
- Code
- 51-8011.00SOC 2018: 51-8011
What the work is made of
13 core tasks and 6 supplemental, each quoted as published, with the survey it came from.
Core: central to the jobSupplemental: done by some, not all
- Task 1. Operate nuclear power reactors in accordance with policies and procedures to protect workers from radiation and to ensure environmental safety.Core taskTask 19911Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 2. Adjust controls to position rod and to regulate flux level, reactor period, coolant temperature, or rate of power flow, following standard procedures.Core taskTask 8506Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 3. Develop or implement actions such as lockouts, tagouts, or clearances to allow equipment to be safely repaired.Core taskTask 20680Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 4. Respond to system or unit abnormalities, diagnosing the cause, and recommending or taking corrective action.Core taskTask 8507Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 5. 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.Core taskTask 8508Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 6. Monitor or operate boilers, turbines, wells, or auxiliary power plant equipment.Core taskTask 8511Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 7. Record operating data, such as the results of surveillance tests.Core taskTask 8513Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 8. Implement operational procedures, such as those controlling start-up or shut-down activities.Core taskTask 8509Rated by 115 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 9. Note malfunctions of equipment, instruments, or controls and report these conditions to supervisors.Core taskTask 8510Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 10. Participate in nuclear fuel element handling activities, such as preparation, transfer, loading, or unloading.Core taskTask 8514Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 11. Dispatch orders or instructions to personnel through radiotelephone or intercommunication systems to coordinate auxiliary equipment operation.Core taskTask 8512Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 12. Review and edit standard operating procedures.Core taskTask 20681Rated by 115 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 13. Conduct inspections or operations outside of control rooms as necessary.Core taskTask 8515Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 14. Direct reactor operators in emergency situations, in accordance with emergency operating procedures.Supplemental taskTask 8516Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 15. Authorize maintenance activities on units or changes in equipment or system operational status.Supplemental taskTask 8517Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 16. 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.Supplemental taskTask 19912Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 17. Authorize actions to correct identified operational inefficiencies or hazards so that operating efficiency is maximized and potential environmental issues are minimized.Supplemental taskTask 19907Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 18. Direct the collection and testing of air, water, gas, or solid samples to determine radioactivity levels or to ensure appropriate radioactive containment.Supplemental taskTask 19909Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
- Task 19. Direct measurement of the intensity or types of radiation in work areas, equipment, or materials.Supplemental taskTask 19908Rated by 116 people who do the job, July 2014
Where this comes from
Quoted from the U.S. Department of Labor, and credited. Nothing on this page is written by us.
How we copy and credit sources- Published byO*NET 29.0, U.S. Department of LaborEmployment and Training Administration
- ClassificationStandard Occupational Classification 2018, 51-8011
- LicenseCC BY 4.0Free to copy and reuse, with credit
- Changed by usNothing.
More in Production
113 other occupations in this family, each with its own page.
- Adhesive Bonding Machine Operators and Tenders16 tasks
- Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers27 tasks
- Assemblers and Fabricators, All OtherNo tasks listed
- Bakers18 tasks
- Biofuels Processing Technicians19 tasks
- Biomass Plant Technicians18 tasks
- Butchers and Meat Cutters11 tasks
- Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters20 tasks
- Chemical Equipment Operators and Tenders23 tasks
- Chemical Plant and System Operators19 tasks
- Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders11 tasks
- Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders29 tasks
- Coil Winders, Tapers, and Finishers11 tasks
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators27 tasks
- Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers15 tasks
- Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders18 tasks
- Crushing, Grinding, and Polishing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders21 tasks
- Cutters and Trimmers, Hand18 tasks
- Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders25 tasks
- Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic32 tasks
- Dental Laboratory Technicians17 tasks
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic17 tasks
- Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers16 tasks
- Electromechanical Equipment Assemblers14 tasks
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers12 tasks
- Etchers and Engravers26 tasks
- Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic16 tasks
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers17 tasks
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders26 tasks
- Fabric and Apparel Patternmakers16 tasks
- Fiberglass Laminators and Fabricators16 tasks
- First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Workers20 tasks
- Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying Machine Operators and Tenders19 tasks
- Food Batchmakers25 tasks
- Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders17 tasks
- Food Processing Workers, All OtherNo tasks listed
- Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic13 tasks
- Foundry Mold and Coremakers13 tasks
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders17 tasks
- Furniture Finishers22 tasks
- Gas Plant Operators19 tasks
- Gem and Diamond Workers14 tasks
- Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers16 tasks
- Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand17 tasks
- Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic18 tasks
- Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic23 tasks
- Helpers--Production Workers30 tasks
- Hydroelectric Plant Technicians21 tasks
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers31 tasks
- Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers29 tasks
- Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic18 tasks
- Laundry and Dry-Cleaning Workers23 tasks
- Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic14 tasks
- Machinists29 tasks
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers12 tasks
- Medical Appliance Technicians15 tasks
- Metal Workers and Plastic Workers, All OtherNo tasks listed
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders15 tasks
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic15 tasks
- Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders20 tasks
- Model Makers, Metal and Plastic16 tasks
- Model Makers, Wood14 tasks
- Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic24 tasks
- Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic29 tasks
- Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic21 tasks
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians18 tasks
- Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders20 tasks
- Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers9 tasks
- Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders14 tasks
- Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic15 tasks
- Patternmakers, Wood20 tasks
- Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers24 tasks
- Photographic Process Workers and Processing Machine Operators27 tasks
- Plant and System Operators, All OtherNo tasks listed
- Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic33 tasks
- Potters, Manufacturing23 tasks
- Pourers and Casters, Metal16 tasks
- Power Distributors and Dispatchers14 tasks
- Power Plant Operators30 tasks
- Prepress Technicians and Workers15 tasks
- Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials28 tasks
- Print Binding and Finishing Workers25 tasks
- Printing Press Operators23 tasks
- Production Workers, All OtherNo tasks listed
- Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic19 tasks
- Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood22 tasks
- Semiconductor Processing Technicians20 tasks
- Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders20 tasks
- Sewers, Hand11 tasks
- Sewing Machine Operators26 tasks
- Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers26 tasks
- Shoe Machine Operators and Tenders19 tasks
- Slaughterers and Meat Packers14 tasks
- Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators25 tasks
- Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing16 tasks
- Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters23 tasks
- Tailors, Dressmakers, and Custom Sewers22 tasks
- Team Assemblers11 tasks
- Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders23 tasks
- Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders18 tasks
- Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders19 tasks
- Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders23 tasks
- Textile, Apparel, and Furnishings Workers, All OtherNo tasks listed
- Timing Device Assemblers and Adjusters17 tasks
- Tire Builders20 tasks
- Tool and Die Makers17 tasks
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners18 tasks
- Upholsterers22 tasks
- Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators8 tasks
- Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers30 tasks
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders29 tasks
- Woodworkers, All OtherNo tasks listed
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing25 tasks
Use this record
Every task on this page is free to reuse, with credit to O*NET. The code and data behind the record are public.
Partner with us
Fund the next pass, contribute data, or build on the record. Tell us what you have in mind.
Partner with us