Operations, Safety Case & Health Physics Work Experience


The Operations, Safety Case & Health Physics work experience programme introduces learners to the operational, radiological and safety case professions at Sellafield.

A dynamic week-long experience based on the Seascale main site.

Programme Purpose

  • To help learners understand how Sellafield safely manages complex nuclear operations.
  • To demonstrate the critical role safety cases play in hazard assessment, risk management, and operational decision-making.
  • To develop understanding of radiological hazards on the Sellafield site and how the Health Physics teams work to maximise safe working regarding these hazards.
  • To give learners insight into the analytical, technical, and leadership responsibilities within operations & Health Physics teams.

Learners on this work experience programme will experience:

  • Hazard assessment
  • Operator safety principles
  • Health Physics duties and work scope
  • Process operations
  • Lean manufacturing concepts
  • Teamwork (collaboration)
  • Problem-solving
  • Presenting technical information to professionals

Learners participate in creating a safety case for a nuclear plant, applying real engineering and operational thinking. They will also complete hands-on tasks in simulated environments, using the knowledge developed in Operations & Health Physics to support this.

  • Visit Sellafield operations
  • Observe real teams and plant conditions
    • How safety cases ensure safe operations
    • How hazards are identified and mitigated
    • The relationship between process engineering and operational decisions
    • Human factors in operations & Health Physics
    • The balance between safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance
  • Main Project:

    Create a simplified safety case for a mock or model nuclear plant scenario by:

    • Identifying potential hazards
    • Assessing consequences and likelihood
    • Proposing engineering or procedural mitigations
    • Presenting findings to Sellafield professionals

    Following this, they will complete a practical task following the safety case and taking on different roles which will include:

    • Working in simulated environments
    • Donning PPE
    • Using contamination control techniques
    • Using specialised equipment to assist with task
    • Putting Human Performance Tools into practice

    This mirrors the real work Sellafield teams undertake to ensure safe facility operation.

  • Minimum age: 15 at the time of placement (required for escorted visitor pass for the site).

    Ability to attend the programme in West Cumbria (Seascale main site) – please note public transport is not recommended for this.

  • Technical Skills

    • Basic understanding of safety case methodology
    • Hazard and risk analysis
    • Process operational fundamentals
    • Radiological monitoring techniques

    Employability Skills

    Suggest we link this to Skills builder framework v2, and identify which steps the scheme hits – so we can get your programme accredited externally)

    • Teamworking
    • Analytical thinking
    • Communication and presentation
    • Time management
  • Duration: 1 week

    Location:

    • Energus, Lillyhall – Monday & Friday
    • Sellafield main site, Seascale (Tuesday – Thursday)

    Format: Group activities, site visits, project work, presentations.

Work Experience in Operations, Safety Case & Health Physics could provide you with an understanding of what to expect on one of our entry level programmes such as: