I left school in 2003 with poor grades at GCSE, particularly in maths. My career prospects were poor, and I bounced between various low skilled jobs just to bring an income in. I soon realised I needed direction, structure and an actual career. Having always been interested in public service and the military, I joined the Royal Navy as a Medical Assistant (Submariner) in 2006. Although I never managed to go to sea on a submarine due to medical constraints that arose, I underwent formal training in Radiation Protection.
I was discharged from the Royal Navy in 2012 due to a chronic medical condition and joined Babcock International as a Health Physics Monitor in Devonport Royal Dockyard. Here, I underwent further training in Radiation Protection and undertook operational health physics duties. I found the work varied and interesting, particularly the technical side of the job, and developed aspirations for career progression to Health Physicist. I again found myself studying in the part time, but this time at college for an Access to Higher Education Diploma. My aim was to study physics at degree level and re-join Babcock as a Graduate Health Physicist.
Fast-forwarding to 2017 I graduated from the University of Bristol with a 2:1 in Physics and was recruited by Babcock as a Graduate Health Physicist: objective achieved! Whilst on this scheme I successfully studied for a master’s degree in radiation protection. Upon completing the Graduate Scheme, my first role was as the Operational Services Health Physicist in 2019. Here, I undertook various duties such as ensuring the business had the health physics instrumentation required to support business needs, author and review various radiation safety documentation to ensure employees were set to work safely, and review radiological survey data to ensure radiological safety. An opportunity came up for me to move roles into the Radioactive Waste Management Team where I was quickly promoted to Senior Health Physicst..
Whilst I enjoyed the role of Senior Health Physicist and the work I was doing; I was keen to broaden my horizons and take on a new challenge within my discipline within a new context. An opportunity came up as a Radiological Protection Engineer at Hinkley Point C. This was an exciting prospect as there are limited opportunities in new nuclear build in my discipline at the moment, I would be able to experience civil nuclear in the context of pre-operations, and I firmly believe that developing nuclear power is a key cornerstone of helping mitigate the effects of climate change. I have been in that role since the end of 2023 and have undertaken tasks such as developing operational arranges for various aspects within radiological protection, undertaken intelligent customer oversight inspections of industrial radiography on the construction site, and have developed the first phase of the management arrangements for radioactive waste at Hinkley Point C. I am currently working towards certification as a Radiation Protection Adviser.
I have found that roles within the radiological protection and radioactive waste management disciplines go beyond the academic aspects learned in a STEM subject at university. Among others, the role requires good interpersonal and stake holder management skills, a sound understanding of relevant legislation and regulation, the ability to articulate technical and complex subjects in a simple and concise manner, and the ability to reprioritise effectively in fast paced, changing environment. I certainly do not claim to be an expert in any of those skills but do recognise that my career in radiological protection and radioactive waste management gives me an excellent opportunity to further develop those, and many other, skills.
sean.lodge@edf-energy.com