As a safety officer, you are the direct contact person on the construction site and responsible for implementing safety measures when work is taking place in the track area. You are responsible for the protection of staff, materials and equipment from the hazards of railway operations and rail power installations. In addition, you ensure that safe railway operations are guaranteed at all times on the work site. In order to do so, you always maintain a good overview of things. You have site-specific knowledge, understand the track diagrams and know when work is being carried out in each section. This way, you can properly instruct the workers and ensure that their protection is guaranteed. Depending on the number of people, the construction site and the machines in operation, you will be assisted by one or more safety wardens, who will warn the construction site staff of approaching trains in good time. You are responsible for the well-being of the workers at all time. Only once everyone has left the work site and the safety measures have been lifted is your work done.

Your tasks are as varied as your workplace. As a safety officer, you will be responsible for your own region and will be deployed to any location in the region where work is carried out in the track area. This gives you and your small team the opportunity to experience Switzerland in a unique way. A degree of enthusiasm for outdoor work is a prerequisite because whether rain, wind or sunshine – safety never rests. You defy bad weather with quality equipment, a positive attitude to work and a calm manner. Finally, you must have a high degree of flexibility. Depending on the job and the assignment, work in the track area may only be possible if rail traffic is restricted. If there is no other possibility, this work takes place at night or at weekends. As a safety officer, no two days are the same and you are often on duty at different sites within a short space of time.

Safety officer training starts with a 30-day basic training course for becoming a safety warden. There are several steps to complete for this. As soon as you have successfully completed the safety training, you will be allowed to set foot on the track area on your own and carry out work. You will first complete a theoretical training block, followed by a practical one. After a total of 30 training days, you will be ready for the final exam for becoming a safety warden. The training costs are covered by SBB. As a safety warden, you will gain valuable experience on work sites and familiarise yourself with important protection concepts and measures. 

Once you have successfully completed the safety warden training, you will be ready for further training to become a safety officer. This further training consists of three days of theory and four days of practical training.

Safety officers bear a great deal of responsibility. A high degree of reliability and the willingness to take on responsibility are therefore among the main requirements. You should also be assertive and able to concentrate. As a team player, you communicate in an open manner and have the empathy needed to positively shape cooperation with colleagues and other teams.

You must also meet the following requirements:

• Federal Certificate of Vocational Education and Training 
• Category B driving licence
  
• Very good eyesight and hearing
• Good to very good oral and written knowledge (B2) of the language of the region of deployment. Other national languages are an advantage
• Affinity for the use of technical tools such as smartphones or tablets
• Willing to work irregular hours, meaning you can plan your free time flexibly

Apply for a vacancy in good time online. Please enclose the following documents with your application:

• Curriculum vitae
• Federal VET Diploma and/or baccalaureate including transcript of marks
• References and confirmation certificates from employers
• Residence permit B, C or G (if required)

We attach great importance to training and further education. With the basic training for becoming a safety warden, you lay the foundation to advance to the position of safety officer. The dual training means you are more versatile and it also makes construction site planning more efficient. Many safety wardens at SBB have completed this second training course so that they can be deployed flexibly and are perfectly equipped for any assignment. If you are suitably qualified, one obvious further development option is to become a safety manager or a team leader. In these positions, you take on additional responsibilities or the leadership of other professionals. The entry and retraining opportunities at SBB are as varied as the range of vocations we offer at SBB. If you decide to take a new direction within our company, we will be happy to support you.

Remuneration system.

We have a fair and progressive remuneration system. We reward individual performance, take the nature of the job market into account and create transparency. We have also been awarded the “We Pay Fair” label.

Your gross monthly salary including the thirteen month’s pay depends on age, experience and location.

Extra pay.

As a safety officer, you will also benefit from attractive night and Sunday bonuses, which vary depending on your shift plan. SBB implements preventative health measures, including for shift work.

• You receive monetary compensation for working irregular hours (CHF 6/hour for night work and CHF 16/hour for Sunday work).
• An additional time supplement of 10-30% is granted for night shifts. You can use this time to take additional holiday.
• Flat-rate subsistence allowance: CHF 19 per day.
• The child allowance is CHF 320 (CHF 205 for each additional child).

Individual salaries will be fixed as part of the employment contract following our remuneration system which forms part of the collective agreement. 

Special offers for SBB employees.

Our employees enjoy attractive discounts from companies throughout Switzerland. Such discounts are offered for everything from insurance and fashion products to language training courses and electronic devices.

GA Travelcard.

Our employees receive a 2nd class GA Travelcard – the eligibility criteria are a level of employment of 50% and a term of employment of over one year. Our staff also benefit from discounted rail journeys abroad.