Railroad Safety Inspector – DIRECT HIRE

To be qualified for a Railroad Safety Inspector, the Qualifications Standards state you MUST have demonstrated knowledge in the following areas: Railroad industry, including economic and operating considerations and equipment. General safety and health principles and practices applicable to the railroad industry. Railroad accident investigation techniques. Skill in written an oral communication. In addition, applicants for inspector positions must demonstrate possession of the knowledge, skills, and abilities for the specialization for which application is made to the degree required by the position. Only those elements required by the position to be filled, as identified below, will be used in evaluating candidates’ specialized experience. Hazardous Materials: Practical knowledge of the typical reactions of different hazardous commodities to various environmental conditions and of safe procedures for containing or controlling fires, leaks, or explosions of these materials; Knowledge of the construction, testing, and retesting of containers used to ship hazardous materials by rail; and Knowledge of Federal regulations and standards governing the shipment of hazardous materials by rail, including containerization, loading, handling, documentation, and placarding. Track: Knowledge of railroad track system construction, maintenance, testing, or inspection techniques; Knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of various track system configurations; and Knowledge of Federal railroad track safety standards. Signals and Train Control: Knowledge of the design, installation, maintenance, testing, or inspection of signal and train control systems and their capabilities and limitations; Knowledge of applicable Federal laws and regulations pertaining to railroad signaling and train control systems; and Knowledge of locomotive braking systems and their relationship to and interface with train control or automatic train stop systems and braking distances. Operating Practices: Knowledge of railroad operating practices, rules, and procedures, especially as they relate to safety issues; and Knowledge of Federal regulations and standards relating to railroad operations and requirements in such areas as hours of service, accident reporting, blue signal protection of workers, rear end markers, radio communication, railroad employee qualifications, and railroad employee testing. Motive Power and Equipment: Knowledge of the design, maintenance, or inspection of various types of locomotive and freight cars currently in use and their capabilities and limitations; Knowledge of the installation, maintenance, or testing of railroad safety appliances and power brakes, their capabilities and limitations; and Knowledge of the applicable Federal laws and regulations pertaining to inspection and testing of locomotives, freight cars, safety appliances, and power brakes. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSAs): Your qualifications will be evaluated on the basis of your level of knowledge, skills, abilities and/or competencies in the following areas: Accident Investigation – Knowledge of guidelines, regulations, and procedures associated with an accident investigation including preservation of accident scene, root cause analysis, and evidence detection and handling. Planning and Evaluating – Organizes work, sets priorities, and determines resource requirements; determines short- or long-term goals and strategies to achieve them; coordinates with other organizations or parts of the organization to accomplish goals; monitors progress and evaluates outcomes. Decision Making – Makes sound, well-informed, and objective decisions; perceives the impact and implications of decisions; commits to action, even in uncertain situations, to accomplish organizational goals; causes change. Written Communication – Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. For additional information about applying to Federal positions, please click on the following link: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-policies/#url=e4 Applicants must meet all qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.
The FRA administers and enforces Federal safety and health laws and regulations that apply to the railroad industry and its ancillary components. You will serve as a Railroad Safety Inspector, in an assigned territory, as a mobile worker in one of the following disciplines: Hazardous Materials, Track, Signals and Train Control, Operating Practices, Motive Power and Equipment, or Grade Crossing. The positions are located in one of eight FRA Districts within the continental United States.