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Energy
Nuclear Monitoring Technician
What They Do
About This Career
Collects and tests samples to monitor results of nuclear experiments and contamination of humans, facilities, and environment.
This career is part of the Energy cluster.
A person in this career:
- Briefs workers on radiation levels in work areas.
- Calculates safe radiation exposure times for personnel using plant contamination readings and prescribed safe levels of radiation.
- Monitors personnel to determine the amounts and intensities of radiation exposure.
- Informs supervisors when individual exposures or area radiation levels approach maximum permissible limits.
- Provides initial response to abnormal events or to alarms from radiation monitoring equipment.
- Determines intensities and types of radiation in work areas, equipment, or materials, using radiation detectors or other instruments.
- Instructs personnel in radiation safety procedures and demonstrates use of protective clothing and equipment.
- Collects samples of air, water, gases, or solids to determine radioactivity levels of contamination.
- Analyzes samples, such as air or water samples, for contaminants or other elements.
- Determines or recommends radioactive decontamination procedures, according to the size and nature of equipment and the degree of contamination.
Working Conditions and Physical Demands
People who do this job report that:
- You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
- Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
- Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
- Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
- Exposed to radiation more than once a month
- Work in this occupation involves use of special protective items such as a breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suit, or radiation protection
Working in this career involves (physical activities):
- Identifying color and seeing differences in color, including shades and brightness
- Seeing clearly at a distance
- Seeing clearly up close
- Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
- Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
Work Hours and Travel
- Regular working hours and limited travel
Specialty and Similar Careers
Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:
- Nuclear Chemistry Technician
- Radiation Control Technician (Radcon Technician)
- Radiation Protection Specialist (RP Specialist)
- Radiation Technician — Operates the equipment used to perform treatments for patients suffering from cancer and other medical conditions.
- Radiochemical Technician
- Health Physics Technician (HP Tech)
- Radiation Protection Technician (RPT)
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts national surveys of wage data by occupation in every state and in all industry divisions. These surveys are conducted through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program.
The statistics collected for one year are published the next fall. For example, 2013 wage information was published in the fall of 2014.
There are over 800 occupations in the surveys, and these occupations cover the entire U.S. labor market. The surveys ask for reports in a scale of ranges for both hourly wages and annual wages.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics for a broad category, be aware that the salary data for a specific career may differ.
For more details about how wage information is collected and calculated by the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://www.bls.gov/bls/blswage.htm.
Every year the U.S. Department of Labor conducts a national survey of over 400,000
employers in every state and in all industry divisions. This survey is conducted
through the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) program. Every other year the
department publishes outlook information based on these surveys.
Each outlook period covers 10 years. For example, in 2003 the outlook information
was published for 2004-2014. Employers are asked to report the number of employees
in about 770 different occupations that cover the entire U.S. labor market.
From this information, staffing patterns for different industries are established.
Industry growth is projected into the future based on past trends and current economic
conditions. Industry staffing patterns are then applied to the industry projections
to obtain occupational projections.
In many cases, these occupations are broad enough to cover many more detailed specialties
of an occupation. A specific occupation may be included in a broader occupational
category for which labor market data is available. When you look at the statistics
for a broad category, be aware that the employment data for a specific field may
differ.
For more details about how employment information is collected and calculated by
the U.S. Department of Labor, visit their website at http://stats.bls.gov/news.release/ocwage.tn.htm.
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