Abstract: The main process operators at spent fuel reprocessing facilities are important professional technical talent concerning nuclear and radiation safety of the facility. It is necessary to implement license management for the operators in the safety-critical operation positions. In the four parts of the main process in the spent fuel reprocessing facility, which are divided as front-end, Uranium and Plutonium separation, Uranium-end (including Uranium refining) and Plutonium-end (including Plutonium refining). Analysis and comparison were carried out on the safety functions they performed, the credible potential accidents they might face, and the realistic accidents caused by human error in history as well. The study found that, the safety process of prevention of criticality, radioactive material containment and external radiation protection was carried out in the four processes of front-end, Uranium and Plutonium separation, Uranium-end (including Uranium refining) and Plutonium-end (including Plutonium refining); the number of credible potential accidents in the four processes are all about 20; the realistic accidents caused by human error in history are more concentrated in the three processes such as Uranium and Plutonium separation, Uranium-end (including Uranium refining) and Plutonium-end (including Plutonium refining). The study showes that, it is necessary to set up licensed positions and carry out operator personnel qualification management in the four parts of the main process in the spent fuel reprocessing facility.

Key words: reprocessing, operator, licensed position