Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators
On the Job
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators operate railroad track switches. They signal to engineers by hand or using flags.
Physical Demands 
This career requires good eyesight.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Inspect locomotives or other railroad equipment.
- Climb ladders or vehicles to perform duties.
- Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation.
- Record operational or production data.
- Record service or repair activities.
- Connect hoses to equipment or machinery.
- Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment.
- Receive information or instructions for performing work assignments.
- Signal others to coordinate vehicle movement.
- Measure the level or depth of water or other liquids.
Typical Working Conditions
- Working outdoors exposed to weather.
- Exposure to sounds or noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
- Exposure to hazardous equipment.
- Serious consequences if mistakes are made.
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- Working with a group or team.
- Meeting strict deadlines.
- Responsibility for others' health and safety.
- Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.
