Railway infrastructure inspector

Description

Railway infrastructure inspectors are responsible for checking the conditions of railways. They monitor compliance to health and safety standards and inspect the infrastructure to detect damage or flaws. They analyse and report on their findings to ensure railway conditions are maintained at a safe level.

Railway infrastructure inspectors typically do the following duties:

  • Scheduled railway patrols and inspections to ensure rail safety management systems are met
  • Detailed inspections of railway joints, rail wear, spills and pests, sleeper and fastener condition, crossing defects, clearance infringements, ballast defects, earthworks problems and signage problems
  • Enter results of inspections and measurements into database management system
  • Provide technical guidance, expertise and support for maintenance and repair
  • Arrange repair of the railway as appropriate
  • Operate road rail vehicle and carry out inspections using the vehicle
  • Ensure the operational performance of all the assets is safe and reliable, and all associated works are completed to relevant standards
  • Examine railway infrastructure

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to railway infrastructure inspector:

railway infrastructure surveyor
railway infrastructure safety inspector
railway infrastructure auditor
railway infrastructure examiner

Minimum qualifications

An associate’s degree is generally required to work as a railway infrastructure inspector.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Railway infrastructure inspector is a Skill level 3 occupation.

Railway infrastructure inspector career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to railway infrastructure inspector.

rolling stock inspector
forestry inspector
agricultural inspector
weights and measures inspector
utilities inspector

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of railway infrastructure inspector. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of railway infrastructure inspector with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

rail operations manager
railway station manager
rail project engineer
environmental programme coordinator
health and safety engineer

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of railway infrastructure inspector.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of railway infrastructure inspector.

  • Assess railway operations: Review and study existing railroad equipment, facilities, systems and processes in order to improve railway safety and efficiency, increase quality, and reduce costs.
  • Ensure safe operation of railway during repairs: Ensure that all safety measures have been applied when works are being carried out on railway track, bridges, or other components.
  • Undertake inspections: Undertake safety inspections in areas of concern to identify and report potential hazards or security breaches; take measures to maximise safety standards.
  • Monitor work site: Regularly ensure that working conditions on site meet health and safety requirements; ensure that the proposed work will not pose a threat to the physical integrity of others.
  • Comply with legal regulations: Ensure you are properly informed of the legal regulations that govern a specific activity and adhere to its rules, policies and laws.
  • Identify hazards in the workplace: Perform safety audits and inspections on workplaces and workplace equipment. Ensure that they meet safety regulations and identify hazards and risks.
  • Perform inspection analysis: Investigate and report on inspection procedures, techniques, equipment and materials.
  • Enforce railway safety regulations: Promote and enforce safety procedures and EU regulations to ensure that railway safety is generally maintained and continuously improved, taking into consideration the development of European legislation.
  • Conduct environmental surveys: Conduct surveys in order to collect information for analysis and management of environmental risks within an organisation or in a wider context.
  • Write inspection reports: Write the results and conclusions of the inspection in a clear and intelligible way. Log the inspection’s processes such as contact, outcome, and steps taken.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of railway infrastructure inspector. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Rail construction engineering: Thoroughly understand the nature of rail construction engineering; understand safety requirements and related security standards and procedures, to ensure that designs optimise constructability and maintainability.
  • Physical characteristics of railways: Familiar with all physical aspects of the railway, including train stations, the incline and decline of the right-of-way and speed limits.
  • Rail infrastructure: Thoroughly understand the characteristics of railway infrastructure: rail technologies, track gauges, rail signalling, rail junctions, etc.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of railway infrastructure inspector. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

  • Operate rail-flaw-detection machine: Operate electric, diesel or steam locomotives to detect and identify rail flaws.
  • Write rail defect records: Compose documents and reports on the nature of rail defects investigated, position of defect in rail, location, etc.
  • Provide railway technical advice: Provide railway technical advice, technical input, or recommendations for updating maintenance processes and revising documentation in order to improve industry performance.
  • Advise on safety improvements: Provide relevant recommendations following the conclusion of an investigation; ensure that recommendations are duly considered and where appropriate acted upon.
  • Ensure public safety and security: Implement the relevant procedures, strategies and use the proper equipment to promote local or national security activities for the protection of data, people, institutions, and property.
  • Liaise with government officials: Consult and cooperate with government officials who handle matter that is relevant to you or your business.
  • Identify preventive actions: Anticipate situations that could be damaging to the workplace and the processes undergone there by drawing attention to possible undesired outcomes and suggesting preventive actions.
  • Liaise with rail experts: Communicate and cooperate with bridge, geotechnical, materials experts, architects, etc.
  • Analyse environmental data: Analyse data that interpret correlations between human activities and environmental effects.
  • Perform rail operations risk management: Identify risk factors related to various areas of rail operations; develop valid strategies to mitigate these risks.
  • Assess performance of rail operations: Assess the best practices in the railway industry, and devise strategies to improve performance.
  • Detect flaws in rails: Detect internal flaws in rails in order to prevent derailments.
  • Provide advice on breaches of regulation: Advise on preventive and corrective actions; correct any breaches of or non-compliance with legal regulations.
  • Manage maintenance operations: Oversee maintenance activities, making sure that staff is following procedures and ensuring routine and periodic refurbishment and maintenance activities.
  • Detect rail track malfunctions: Identify and analyse damage or malfunctions in the mechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic equipment of rail track; determine necessary maintenance and repair work.
  • Perform rail track inspections: Plan and implement regular inspections and investigations of the rail track system in order to provide optimal coverage of the railway network in a given area. Inspect aspects such as track alignment, features of the terrain, and existence of ditches, embankments, and loose rock debris on the network.

ISCO group and title

3112 – Civil engineering technicians


References
  1. Railway infrastructure inspector – ESCO
  2. Career Profile : Track Inspector – Rail Academy
  3. Featured image: By Andy F, CC BY-SA 2.0
Last updated on February 11, 2023