You must be able to stay focused and alert for long periods, as you’ll be responsible for the safety of your colleagues working near railway tracks. You’ll plan your activities carefully and value safety first. You will also be a clear communicator who can provide precise information to signallers, track workers, train drivers and network control. To be a senior protection officer, you’ll need to be a confident leader and manager.

You’ll be part of a team that builds and maintains infrastructure along the rail network. You’ll work within the rail corridor, alongside trains, or on construction sites to protect workers from oncoming rail traffic.

In most roles you’ll wear protective and safety equipment such as a hardhat, gloves, and hi-visibility clothing. Worksites are often exposed to weather so you may need to work in the heat, cold, wind and rain.

You may be required to do shift work, including nights, weekends, rotating rosters and public holidays.

Protection officers need training on the rail network they intend to work on. Rail operators sometimes provide this training through a registered training organisation. Training requirements vary across different railway networks.

You’ll learn to:

• use communication systems and warning devices
• conduct safety assessments
• make protection plans
• manage other safeworkers
• secure and track points and switches
• prevent trains from entering work areas
• pilot rail traffic

Protection officers also need to complete track safety training and hold a general construction induction card (White Card).