Switchman

Company: INEOS Phenol

Job Title: Switchman

Department: Production

Schedule: 5/8's

Location: Pasadena, TX

Pay Rate: $20.70/hr

INEOS Phenol is the world’s largest producer of phenol and acetone with an annual manufacturing capacity of over 3 million tonnes per annum. We employ around 600 people across four sites, located at:
Antwerp (Belgium), Gladbeck (Germany), Marl (Germany), Mobile, AL and Pasadena, TX. Our markets are growing worldwide. Our efficient, integrated assets provide a competitive global manufacturing base to grow with our customers, to continue to meet their needs around the world.

The Switchman is responsible for the safe, efficient movement and positioning of railcars within the manufacturing facility to support production, loading/unloading, and shipping operations. This role ensures strict adherence to safety protocols and maintains communication with the switch engine operator to facilitate safe railcar movement. The position is critical to maintaining uninterrupted plant operations, meeting safety and environmental standards, and ensuring continuous production flow and customer delivery commitments.

SHE Stewardship

• Maintain safety as the highest priority and abide by all INEOS safety policies and procedures.
• Understand and promote the INEOS “20 Principles of Safety”, ensuring others are aware of safe working practices and promoting safety concepts of “Coaching for Safety” and “Stop Work”.
• Promote safety and safe actions through communication such as discussing safety with employees/contractors before job tasks, during meetings, and as opportunities arise.
• Ensure compliance with all safety and environmental regulatory requirements and strive to meet internal SHE objectives.
• Complete training requirements as outlined in the annual training schedule.

Main Duties

• Operate a locomotive to move railcars within the plant.
• Direct and coordinate the movement of railcars within the plant.
• Operate track switches to route railcars to designated areas.
• Ensure proper placement and sequencing of railcars.
• Assist in building and staging inbound and outbound railcar sets.
• Ensure clear communication with the locomotive operator.
• Verify tracks are clear, railcars are disconnected, loading arms are raised, and switches are properly aligned before movement.
• Adhere to plant safety rules, speed limits, and procedures.
• Identify and report safety hazards or incidents immediately.
• Support rail isolation and lockout/tagout procedures.
• Coordinate with production and logistics teams to prioritize movements.
• Assist with railcar inspections and support loading/unloading operations.
• Hookup, pressure test hose connections, sample, and unload propylene railcars.
• Change lineups from liquid unloading to vapor recovery of railcars.
• Weigh inbound and outbound railcars and identify heel weights.
• Assist the Production Department with any other needs in the plant when not performing switch crew duties, such as: load customer trucks, move hoses within the plant, perform housekeeping duties, and work plant security gate.
• Participate in plant safety audits, job safety analyses, housekeeping audits, etc.

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Experience in manufacturing, logistics, or rail operations preferred.

Knowledge & Skills

• Understanding of rail switching operations and safety practices.
• Ability to interpret track layouts and switching plans.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Mechanical aptitude.

Core Competencies

• Safety Leadership.
• Attention to Detail.
• Communication and Teamwork.
• Decision-Making.
• Accountability.

Certifications (Preferred)

• Rail switching or conductor training.
• Safety training (LOTO, etc.).

• Ability to walk long distances and stand for extended periods.
• Ability to climb railcars and operate switches.
• Lift up to 50 lbs.
• Maintain situational awareness in high-risk environments.

• Outdoor work in varying weather conditions.
• Rotating shifts including nights and weekends.
• Exposure to heavy equipment and industrial environments.

This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job or require that different tasks be performed when circumstances change (e.g., emergencies, changes in personnel, workload, rush jobs, or technological developments).

Our culture is one of honesty and integrity with an emphasis on safety, health and environmental performance. On our team, people are acknowledged for embracing new practices that help create real value for customers.