ORAL COMMUNICATION

Listens and communicates in a manner that mitigates risk and enhances railroad safety.

Basic

• Skill in oral communication.
• Conducts interviews.
• Demonstrates effective listening skills by listening carefully to identify relevant and important information.
• Expresses ideas and facts effectively.
• Presents negative findings in a positive manner.

Advanced

• Makes clear and convincing presentations.
• Facilitates meetings effectively.
• Practices active listening.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION

Writes factual information that accurately communicates safety inspection circumstances.

Basic

• Skill in written communication.
• Writes in a manner consistent with FRA policy and guidelines.
• Uses appropriate terminology.
• Completes forms thoroughly and accurately.
• Prepares reports by organizing and presenting facts.
• Explains conclusions in a succinct, persuasive, grammatically correct, and organized manner.
• Writes legally sufficient documents in accordance with FRA policy.

Advanced

• Writes succinct, factual information that accurately communicates safety inspection circumstances.
• Writes recommendations based upon analysis of the facts.

PROBLEM SOLVING

Applies analytical and investigative techniques.

Basic

• Arrives at appropriate responses to situations and problems.
• Evaluates and chooses the best alternative.
• Understands when and how to request Regional and/or HQ support.
• Understands and applies progressive remedy concepts.
• Demonstrates curiosity and notices problems or inconsistencies in behavior or situations.
• Notices problems that occur consistently and observes critically.
• Exercises judgment to understand what is important.
• Asks the right questions.
• Understands the magnitude of situations (mountain versus molehill).

Advanced

• Studies and analyzes problems systematically and efficiently.
• Cuts through details and complexity to identify root causes and draw sound conclusions.

DATA ANALYSIS

Retrieves and uses data and information that is essential for identifying safety risks and violations.

Basic

• Has familiarity with and knows how to access various job-related data and information.
• Chooses appropriate sources of information.
• Knows where to look or whom to contact in order to get information.
• Uses sound judgment to analyze data.
• Uses data to support findings and conclusions.
• Takes appropriate action based on data.
• Recognizes that documentation may be used as legal evidence and includes sufficient facts to support conclusions.
• Filters and sorts information and data.
• Discriminates between more and less relevant information.
• Avoids tendency to over-analyze data.

TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION

Uses technological tools and resources.

Basic

• Obtains assistance from IT personnel.
• Reads, composes, and sends e-mail.
• Accesses FRA and other data sources.
• Uses the Internet and World Wide Web.
• Uses computer tools to prepare reports and memos.
• Enters inspection information into the computer and retrieves it when needed.

Advanced

• Demonstrates familiarity and comfort with computer resources.
• Uses computer to prepare and give presentations.

PARTNERING

Works with others, both formally on teams and informally through networking, to carry out FRA duties and responsibilities.

Basic

• Shares ideas, information, and best practices with other inspectors.
• Knows own limitations and when to ask for help.
• Understands the importance of networking and networks effectively.
• Works congenially and cooperatively with teams.
• Works well as a team member.
• Willingly works for team leader.

Advanced

• Leads inspections/investigations.
• Handles team leadership role effectively.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

Exhibits proficiency in working with people, both within and outside the FRA.

Basic

• Demonstrates multi-party conflict management skills.
• Demonstrates tact, compassion and respect for others in a diverse work environment.

Advanced

• Maintains a healthy atmosphere in adversarial situations.
• Facilitates, negotiates, and mediates when interests of parties diverge.

SELF-DIRECTION

Plans, manages and works in self-directed manner to accomplish FRA priorities and ensures and promotes railroad safety.

Basic

• Independently carries out all required work processes and procedures.
• Chooses appropriate work methods (e.g., phone conversation versus personal interview, etc.).
• Serves as a safety promoter for assigned district.
• Makes prudent decisions about best way to use time and other resources.
• Prepares and maintains good records.
• Chooses, establishes, plans and implements an appropriate course of action.
• Demonstrates follow-through and persistence (e.g., work on a job until it is complete and go back to railroad/shipper to ensure corrections have been made).
• Ensures accuracy and completeness of work by double checking and paying close attention to detail.
• Submits timely, accurate, high quality documentation and paperwork.
• Works on several projects at once and stays focused on critical tasks.
• Decides independently what needs to be done (to ensure safety) and takes appropriate action.

CONTINUAL LEARNING

Grasps the essence of new information and masters new technical and business knowledge.

Basic

• Aware of available work resources and job aids.
• Understands how to apply particular resources and job aids in the workplace in order to maximize work efficiency and effectiveness.
• Understands FRA policies and regulations and keeps up to date with changes as they are communicated.
• Adapts behavior and work methods based on changes in policy and procedures.
• Accepts and applies constructive feedback from peers and supervisors.
• Monitors changes in regulations and understands how to apply changes to day-to-day duties and responsibilities.
• Seeks feedback from others and opportunities to master new skills.

Advanced

Recognizes own strengths and weaknesses to pursue self-development.

FLEXIBILITY

Deals with changing schedules, priorities, and situations.

Basic

• Deals effectively with spontaneous situations.
• Balances work needs with personal convenience or comfort, i.e., inspects despite inclement weather.
• Personal feelings do not interfere with policy changes.

DECISIVENESS

Exercises good judgment by making sound and well-informed decisions.

Basic

• Evaluates and chooses best alternative.
• Takes appropriate action based on data.
• Demonstrates decisiveness and the ability to intervene immediately to respond to dangerous situations.
• Stays focused and on task under pressure.

INTEGRITY/HONESTY

Conducts self with a high degree of professionalism at all times, in ways that reflect positively on FRA and contribute to the accomplishment of the Agency’s mission.

Basic

• Demonstrates the highest level of safety awareness/practice and leads by example.
• Inspects and observes with minimal disruption.
  Establishes rapport.
• Interfaces with railroad labor/management and/or shippers effectively.
• Balances regulatory, safety assurance and compliance roles.
• Maintains objectivity; personal relationships do not interfere with job duties and responsibilities.
• Maintains confidentiality, where practical and appropriate.
• Establishes atmosphere of trust.
• Avoids too close or too familiar relationships with railroad staff, shippers, etc.
• Communicates candidly but effectively.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Balances the interests of a variety of customers.

Basic

• Readily readjusts priorities to respond to pressing and changing customer demands.
• Anticipates and meets the needs of customers and is committed to continuous improvement of services.
• Demonstrates familiarity of Agency mission in conducting duties.

ORGANIZATIONAL AWARENESS

Identifies and keeps up to date on key policies and trends that affect the organization and its mission.

Basic:

• Knowledge of the FRA, its history, structure and mission.
• Knowledge of the responsibilities as a Federal employee.
• Knowledge of one’s role as a Federal inspector.
• Knowledge of programs and benefits available.
• Knowledge of inspector accountability under the "chain of command."

TECHNICAL CREDIBILITY

Understands and appropriately applies procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.

Basic

• Knowledge of the railroad industry, including economic and operating considerations and equipment.
• Knowledge of the general safety and health principles and practices applicable to the railroad industry.
• Knowledge of railroad accident investigation techniques.
• General familiarity with CFR regulations pertaining to railroad safety.
• Understands how regulations are modified, communicated to the field, and implemented.
• Understands FRA discipline-specific work processes and procedures that apply to safety inspections, accident investigation, complaint investigation, railroad information audits, etc.
• Thorough understanding of desired results that form basis for work.
• Processes and procedures are results-oriented.
• Identifies and/or records non-compliant and other safety conditions.
• Understands and demonstrates basic principles of effective workplace safety inspection.
• Understands and demonstrates rules of evidence sufficiency requirements for situations that may require litigation.
• Demonstrates the same level of commitment and application of safe work practices that FRA expects of railroads (e.g., protective clothing).

Advanced

Awareness and general understanding regarding how railroad practices, procedures, and technology are changing.

TECHNICAL CREDIBILITY
(DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC)

Understands and appropriately applies procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies related to specialized expertise.

Operating Practices

• Knowledge of railroad operating practices, rules, and procedures especially as they relate to safety issues.
• Knowledge of Federal regulations and standards relating to railroad operations and requirements in such areas as hours of service, accident reporting, blue signal protection of workers, rear end markers, radio communication, railroad employee qualifications, and railroad employee testing.

Motive Power and Equipment

• Knowledge of the design, maintenance, or inspection of various types of locomotives and freight and/or passenger equipment currently in use and their capabilities and limitations.
• Knowledge of the design, installation, maintenance, or testing of railroad safety appliances and power brakes, their capabilities and limitations.
• Knowledge of the applicable Federal laws and regulations pertaining to inspection and testing of locomotives, freight and/or passenger cars, safety appliances, and power brakes.

Track

• Knowledge of railroad track system construction, maintenance, testing, or inspection techniques.
• Knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of various track system configurations.
• Knowledge of Federal railroad track safety standards.
• Knowledge of Federal railroad workplace safety standards (bridge worker safety and roadway worker protection).

Hazardous Materials

• Knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of hazardous materials (Proposed Standard).
• Knowledge of the construction, maintenance, and qualification of containers used to ship materials by rail (Proposed Standard).
• Knowledge of Federal regulations and standards governing the shipment of hazardous materials by rail, including containerization, loading, handling, documentation, and placarding.

Signals and Train Control

• Knowledge of the design, installation, maintenance, testing, or inspection of signal and train control systems, including highway-rail grade crossing warning systems, and their capabilities and limitations.
• Knowledge of applicable Federal laws and regulations pertaining to signaling and train control systems.
• Knowledge of locomotive braking systems and their relationship to an interface with train control or automatic train stop systems and braking distances.