Job description Brake Inspector - Railway Car in British Columbia

Find out what work is like for a brake inspector - railway car in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Railway carmen/women (NOC 72403).

Railway carmen/women

Description

Railway carmen/women inspect, troubleshoot, maintain and repair structural and mechanical components of railway freight, passenger and urban transit rail cars. They are employed by railway transport companies and urban transit systems. Apprentices are also included in this unit group.

Work week duration

Railway carmen/women usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Railway carmen/women have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Inspect interior and exterior components of freight, passenger and urban transit rail cars to determine defects and extent of wear and damage
  • Repair and install railway car parts such as compressors, air valves, bearings, couplings, air cylinders and piping
  • Repair and maintain electrical and electronic controls for propulsion and braking systems
  • Repair defective or damaged metal and wood components, using hand and power tools
  • Repair and repaint wooden fixtures
  • Replace damaged windows and repair upholstery
  • Test and adjust parts using testing gauges and other test equipment
  • Perform and document routine maintenance.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Standing
  • Handling material manually
  • Bending or twisting the body
  • Making repetitive motions
  • Walking and running

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Railway carmen/women are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Urban transit systems
  • Railway transport companies

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Outside, exposed to weather
  • Hazardous equipment, machinery, tools
  • Sound and noise
  • Standard safety equipment
  • In an open vehicle or equipment
  • High places
  • Dangerous chemical substances
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Hazardous conditions
  • In an enclosed vehicle or equipment

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 72403), and a list of similar occupations:

  • rail vehicle mechanic
  • railway car inspector
  • railway carman/woman
  • railway carman/woman apprentice
  • streetcar and subway car mechanic

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Railway carmen/women in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
Date modified: