Leevi Ranne is quite the experienced summer worker – Annual outages offer a nice change of rhythm

-‍ That adds up to more than 30 years, he says.

Mr Ranne’s overalls now carry the Caverion logo, but he also used to represent PPTH and YIT in his time. He can no longer recall the exact years for each – seeing as there have been quite a few. After all, he is already 69 years old. In his age group, this means that he has been officially retired for six years already.

- It’s a summer job for me, Leevi Ranne says with a smile on his face.

Despite this, he has been coming back to the annual outages at Olkiluoto for a longer time. Even the distance is convenient: about 50 kilometres from his home in Kiukainen.

Familiar jobs

Leevi is a valve technician by trade, and this is naturally the work he has been assigned to during the annual outages. For several decades, he has been working on the main steam valves of the OL1 and OL2 plant units. In fluent Olkiluoto jargon, Leevi refers to them as 311 and 314 blowdowns, but he can also explain his job to us in plain language.

- In practice, I disassemble them, service them and put them back together, he explains. This is what he has been doing this year, as well.

According to Mr Ranne, this year’s annual outages have gone well in every respect. He was already involved in OL2’s refuelling outage and is now working on servicing OL1. Both plants have stayed on schedule, he explains.

Working alongside familiar colleagues from past years is helpful.

- We are a team of three people who have been working together for a long time. Naturally, it helps with everything that you do, Mr Ranne says.

What has changed since the 1980s?

What has changed since Mr Ranne first walked in through the plant gate in 1988?

- Stricter access control is probably the largest change. Back in the day, access and training were a far cry from the present day. However, it probably has more to do with the way of the world in general. Radiation protection, for example, has always been very comprehensive. That is perhaps the major difference between this and all the other assignments, says the seasoned contractor.

Leevi’s summer job will continue even once work at Olkiluoto wraps up. He will then head to Caverion's offices in Rauma.
- I have my nephews working there, and I have tried to act as a mentor of sorts for them. We started last year and will continue now, he explains. 

There's plenty to do

What is it that makes Leevi Ranne, well past his age of retirement, return to the annual outages year after year?

- It’s a pleasant change to the life ofnsioner, and you see familiar faces here. The added income is a bonus, of course, he mentions.

- This is my sixth year of retirement, but I enjoy the variation provided by these occasional jobs. And it’s not because I have been bored at home, as I enjoy hunting and trap shooting.

Apparently, even the Mrs approves of his side hustle.

- We have been married for more than 50 years. She might even be glad that I’m spending time out of the house, he says with a grin.

Text: Ville Kulmala
Photos: Tapani Karjanlahti