Career Summary: Railroad Maintenance

Working at the Canton, North Carolina paper mill in railroad maintenance may seem unimportant but, do you really know what goes into it? I will tell you about this job and, how the workers use different fitness and health components to complete this job not only safely but, also effectively.

Slade Henry, my dad now works in railroad maintenance. His job is to repair the railroads and trains so that the company can deliver shipments and products. A few things he may do during the day is hammer railroad spikes, carry heavy objects, repair and work on trains and many other kinds of jobs. He must work quickly because the trains have to use the railroads. This requires him to use agility and speed. Muscular strength and endurance work well with agility and speed. The tools he uses to do his job are often large and heavy, also he must swing and use them multiple times. Because of this work his body composition needs to be more muscle and strength rather than bones and fat. His work is often at ground level causing his ligaments and muscles to flexible since he has to bend at his hips, back, arms, and legs for hours at a time. Balance is also used when he is bending over for hours at time so that he doesn’t fall. Since he is bent and looking at the ground reaction time and coordination need to be well honed skills. In case of an accident he needs to be able to move his limbs so that they don’t get crushed or severely injured. To not cause accidents he needs good coordination since, he hammers and swings heavy tools such as
However, he did obtain his high school diploma and this was all he needed to work at the mill. Over the years, my dad has been moved many times throughout the mill. His salary has changed many times because of this; however, his salary now without over time, is around forty to forty-five thousand a