Railroad Inspector (Operating Practice) - (NY HELPS)

• Investigates serious railroad accidents, visits the accident site, and makes inspections and tests of situations and objects to determine the operational condition of affected equipment.

• Questions employees and witnesses to develop facts, and writes a narrative report describing the accident, the cause or causes and recommends measures to prevent similar accidents in the future.

• Examines carrier records to determine that all reportable personal injuries and accidents have been properly reported, to determine if employees connected with the movement of a train were permitted to be or remain on duty contrary to provisions of the law, to determine if employees connected with the movement of a train are in compliance with federal alcohol and drug regulations, and to determine if employees connected with the operation of locomotives or a train are in compliance with federal regulations concerning locomotive engineer certification.

• Investigates complaints from railroad employees or the general public regarding unsafe practices involving train operations.

• Investigates reportable accidents and incidents involving railroad operations to determine probable cause and if federal regulations were violated.

• Observes railroad employees in the performance of operational duties related to the movement of trains for compliance with the law, including utility employees.

• Assists in the inspection of railroad yards, repair shops, and locomotive repair and servicing facilities for compliance with blue signal protection regulations.

• May appear in court as a witness when required; submits evidence for prosecution for violations; and enforces the provisions of the appropriate federal laws.

• Will be required to obtain and maintain various federally mandated certifications pertaining to rail safety programs.

• The duties of the position require considerable travel within a designated area of assignment.

Responsibilities may include serving a role within the Incident Command System to support the department’s response to regional and statewide emergency situations.

• For the duration of the NY HELPS Program, this title maybe filled via a non- competitive appointment, which means no examination is required but all candidates must meet the minimum qualifications of the title for which they apply. At this time, agencies may recruit and hire employees by making temporary appointments. In May 2024, if a temporary NY HELPS employee is satisfactorily performing in the position, the appointment will be changed from temporary pending Civil Service Commission Action to permanent non-competitive and the official probationary period will begin.

At a future date (within one year of permanent appointment), it is expected employees hired under NY HELPS will have their non-competitive employment status converted to competitive status, without having to compete in an examination. Employees will then be afforded with all of the same rights and privileges of competitive class employees of New York State. While serving permanently in a NY HELPS title, employees may take part in any promotion examination for which they are qualified.
Pursuant to Executive Order 161, no State entity, as defined by the Executive Order, is permitted to ask, or mandate, in any form, that an applicant for employment provide his or her current compensation, or any prior compensation history, until such time as the applicant is extended a conditional offer of employment with compensation. If such information has been requested from you before such time, please contact the Office of Employee Relations at (518) 474-6988 or via email at info@oer.ny.gov.
Although this position will report to Main Office, the incumbent may be assigned to work from a locationwithin a territory that encompasses Albany, Clinton, Columbia, Duchess, Essex, Franklin, Greene,Montgomery, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Warren, Washington, Westchester, andUlster counties.