Radiation Protection Assistant Sonja Töyrylä's summer
Sonja Töyrylä, a student of energy technology, told us about her summer in Olkiluoto. Sonja is a fourth-year student at LUT University in Lappeenranta.
What kind of duties did your summer trainee position include?
- I worked in Olkiluoto as a Radiation Protection Assistant in the KTS Unit (Radiation Protection). During the annual outage, my primary duties included establishing, maintaining and dismantling controlled area boundaries. Taking swipe samples as well as assisting in the installation and removal of lead shields were part of my duties, as well. I also monitored items at controlled area boundaries for potential contamination. As the outage came to an end, we got to perform final monitoring on items that were removed from the plant. After the completion of the annual outages my duties included, for example, final monitoring of scaffolding and other equipment used during the outage, and issuing permits for their removal. We also carried out preparatory tasks for next year's annual outages. I was allowed to take part in the classification of rooms based on their radiation levels, as well.
What was the best thing about your summer in Olkiluoto?
- The best thing were my co-workers, not a day went by at work without laughter. The most extraordinary thing about my summer job was working at the actual nuclear power plant. During the annual outages, I had the opportunity to visit areas of the plant that are inaccessible in normal conditions, that is, during power operation. I also got to work on the condenser and the turbine.
- Witnessing refuelling during the outage was a great experience. I also had a chance to stand on the roof of the plant, admiring sun rise and sun set, and climb to the stack located on the roof.
What will you take with you from this summer to your next term at the university?
- The greatest learning experience was to physically see the different components and equipment at the plant. The lessons taught at school become concrete when you get to walk down the plant. I believe this summer job at the plant will prove beneficial to my studies in nuclear energy. As an Eurajoki resident, it was great to get to experience working in Olkiluoto and during the annual outages.
(Text: Natalie Kylliäinen, Image: Tapani Karjanlahti)
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