Disciplined Operations specialists Damon T. and James U. look on as students test out their paper airplanes at the start of class.
The Nuclear Operations Laboratory at Roane State Community College’s Oak Ridge campus is set up to mimic the production environment at Y-12 down to the gloveboxes, lab coats, and safety glasses. One big difference? The paper airplanes.
Less than 5 miles from Y-12, the Roane State lab is designed to support future workforce needs at the site by providing instruction in a nuclear environment. The college’s first cohort of Nuclear Technology Program students will graduate in May, and one student has already accepted a job at Y-12. This continues the success of the Chemical Engineering Technology program, which has had numerous graduates go on to work at the site over the past 7 years.
On a recent afternoon, four instructor-certified Disciplined Operations specialists from Y-12 were there to provide perspective on what it’s like to work in the nuclear security enterprise. That’s where the paper airplanes came into play.
Disciplined Operations specialist James U. is in his second year of helping with the class and appreciates the strict rules that are followed. He began his most recent lesson by asking students — fully dressed out in lab coats, gloves, safety glasses, and booties to reinforce the rigor and discipline of working at Y-12 — to make a paper airplane without any further requirements. The planes flew, but there had to be a better way to ensure efficiency and quality. By the end of the class, the students paired up to build a second set of planes following instructions and using conduct of operations principles. The results? Planes that flew much farther than what the students had made on their own..
The importance of following procedures was clear.
“Letting the next generation understand the rigorous requirements we follow on a daily basis could save my own life one day,” James said. “They could be the difference between something bad happening. We are setting the groundwork for a focus on safety and security early. Knowledge is power, and I jump at the chance to share what I know any time I get the opportunity.”
Y-12 Disciplined Operations specialist Dustin D. sees the benefit of these lessons for the students, specifically how they are able to learn principles from experts in a low-risk environment.
“These young people are interested in a career within the nuclear industry, so to have professionals within that career field share their expertise is invaluable,” Dustin said.
The lab is led by a former Y-12er, Joe S., who now serves as the director of the Nuclear Technology Program at Roane State. He noted that “learning conduct of operations directly from Y-12 professionals within our Roane State Nuclear Operations Laboratory helps our students understand that disciplined operations are the cornerstone of nuclear safety.”
East Tennessee continues to need students interested in the nuclear industry with an understanding of what safety looks like. While it is an exciting time to be in nuclear as new companies announce they are coming to Oak Ridge, it also means sites like Y-12 will continue to need a steady flow of talented workers.
“The nuclear enterprise in East Tennessee is growing rapidly,” Dustin said. “Y-12 will be competing for the best and brightest to not only sustain but also continue its success. The future workforce is a drumbeat for Y‑12. We cannot afford to miss out on opportunities to show these students the importance of our mission and how integral they will be in sustaining its success.”
The Uranium Processing Facility Transition team is already seeing the direct positive impact this program has on the site as they prepare to onboard 135 chemical operators in the next year.
“The Roane State course is preparing the next generation of employees for not only the UPF project, but the site as a whole,” UPF Transition director Joe M. said. “The robust and realistic curriculum has enabled students to understand the principles of how to safely operate in a high-hazard, complex work environment. Many of the recent and upcoming graduates will play vital roles in the initial commissioning of UPF and bringing the plant to life. Our team has been impressed with the students’ level of knowledge and their enthusiasm to be part of the newest major Nuclear Security Enterprise facility.”
Thanks to the conduct of operations training these instructors provided, these students will take the lessons they learned flying paper planes to the production floor.
James U. oversees a student creating their paper airplane.
The lab has been created to feel like a true production area, including gloveboxes, working valves, and full personal protective equipment required to enter.