“Summer practice is a brilliant opportunity to learn new things about nuclear industry”
Samuel Kilby, 22, and Aapo Korkeala, 26, started their “summer jobs” in good time, as their employment in TVO’s radiation protection team began already on 12 February, appropriately just before the start of the annual outage at OL3.
For Aapo Korkeala, no complex arrangements were necessary to allow the work practice to start in the middle of the winter, as he is already wrapping up his studies in Maritime Engineering at the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences and has completed more or less all the courses. His thesis is also well under work.
- I worked in radiation protection for the first time last spring. Then my job was that of an assistant, this year I work as a fully competent member of the radiation protection staff. My experience last year was so great I knew already then that I would be back again, says Korkeala who comes from Mänttä-Vilppula.
Korkeala’s days follow a certain routine. The workday starts at the office with the planning of work for the day.
- After that, we go to the plant and start our duties related to radiation protection. These include e.g., monitoring radiation levels in the various rooms. During annual outages, an inspection of the areas is always carried out before maintenance activities are started. This year my goal is to enhance my own knowledge about radiation safety and to learn how to follow routine procedures at the OL3 plant unit.
Although he is about to graduate as a Maritime Engineer, the nuclear industry fascinates Korkeala.
- I have always been interested in nuclear power. I consider it to be a sustainable energy production form in terms of the environment. Summer practice is a brilliant opportunity to learn new things about nuclear industry, he ponders.
Korkeala was hired until the end of May, but there has been talk about a continuation to his employment.
- At present, I plan to have a summer break for the first time since senior secondary school, but who knows where I’ll end up in the summer.
“Interested in first annual outage of Olkiluoto 3”
Samuel Kilby, who is a third-year student of energy technology in Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) will be working, as far as current plans go, as an assistant in the radiation protection team during the annual outages of all the plant units. Kilby first became acquainted with working in a nuclear power plant environment in the summer of 2023, when he had a job in Loviisa, also then as a radiation protection assistant.
- This year I applied for a work practice job with TVO, because I want to develop my skills in radiation protection and increase my knowledge about the nuclear industry. In radiation protection, work duties are versatile and the job provides a good opportunity to study the processes of a nuclear power plant as well as the annual outages. Naturally the chance to take part in the first ever annual outage of OL3 also interested me, says Kilby whose home is originally in Jokioinen in Tavastia Proper.
At the start of their employment, the new trainees have an induction period of about three weeks to become familiar with the work environment and the work duties during annual outages.
- Routine duties characterise the working days during the outages, including monitoring and supplementing the availability of equipment in work areas. Contamination monitoring as well as setting up and removing boundaries of temporary controlled areas are also part of our duties, Kilby specifies.
Kilby has almost completed his Master’s thesis and next autumn will start to study for the Degree of a Master of Science in Engineering with Nuclear Engineering as his specialisation option. His minor subject is Computational Engineering.
- I completed my study courses at quite a rapid pace during the second study year so this spring my study load is fairly light. In the nuclear sector, my particular areas of interest include reactor physics and reactor modelling and I wish to focus my studies on them. At this point, I cannot yet say whether I will work in the future in an energy company, research institute, or a university research team. On the other hand, working abroad is also an attractive idea.
Kilby lives in a little studio in the Olkiluoto Accommodation Village during his work practice period.
- Luckily I enquired about the availability of the units in the accommodation village in good time and had no trouble with my living arrangements. In the spring and early summer, I plan to widen my knowledge of Olkiluoto and the versatile nature of the island.
Text: Timo Sillanpää
Photos: Tapani Karjanlahti
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