State of Maryland

A Chief Railroad Inspector is the supervisory level of work in the enforcement and promotion of federal and State railroad safety standards.  The employee in this classification supervises the work of lower-level Railroad Inspectors and other staff assigned to the Maryland Department of Labor, Railroad Safety Inspection Program.

The employee in this classification receives general supervision from the Program Manager, Safety Inspection Program.  The employee may be subject to call-in.  The work is performed both in normal office surroundings and on-site in railroad yards or on railroad property throughout the State.  When on-site, the work requires the use of specialized safety equipment such as safety shoes, protective eyewear and hardhats.  When on-site, the work involves exposure to hazardous materials being used by railroad employees or carried in railroad cars and to variable weather conditions.  When on-site, the work requires crawling, climbing ladders, bending and stooping in confined spaces and walking on uneven track surfaces.

Positions in this classification are evaluated by using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of the class specification.

The Chief Railroad Inspector is differentiated from the Railroad Inspector II in that the Chief Railroad Inspector supervises lower-level Railroad Inspectors while the Railroad Inspector II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities under general supervision.

Supervises lower-level Railroad Inspectors who perform railroad safety inspections to ensure the safety of State railroad operations;

Plans, coordinates, supervises and evaluates the operation of the railroad safety inspection program;

Reviews inspection reports prepared by lower-level Railroad Inspectors for conformance to federal and State regulations;

Schedules inspections and coordinates the work of lower-level Railroad Inspectors to maintain program effectiveness;

Coordinates the railroad safety program in Maryland with other state and federal agency programs to ensure a comprehensive railroad safety program;

Meets with representatives of railroad companies, railroad employees and their representatives to exchange information, resolve problems and promote compliance with applicable laws and regulations;

Responds to railroad accident situations to direct investigations and inspections;

Conducts complex accident and other special investigations and recommends appropriate civil action;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of railroad safety;

Knowledge of techniques and procedures for conducting inspections and investigations;

Knowledge of Maryland’s Railroad Safety and Health Act, related regulations and the laws and regulations administered by the Federal Railroad Administration;

Knowledge of railroad company organization and operations;

Skill in preparing accurate and concise reports;

Skill in interpreting and applying pertinent federal and State railroad safety regulations;

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with rail management employees, private industry using rail services, labor organizations, the general public and other State and federal inspection personnel;

Ability to plan, coordinate, supervise and evaluate the operation of the State railroad safety inspection program.

Education:   Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Three years of experience performing railroad safety or regulation compliance inspections.

1. The employee in this classification is subject to call-in 24 hours a day and will be required to provide the employing agency with a telephone number where he/she can be reached.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Skilled Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Skilled Service positions.  Some positions in Skilled Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.

This classification is not assigned to a bargaining unit as indicated by the designation of S (supervisor), M (manager), T (agency head), U (Board or Commission member), W (student), X (excluded by agency), or Z (confidential).  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and therefore, all positions in those agencies are excluded form collective bargaining.