Environmental Health Officer

Job overview
The management of environmental affairs influencing human well-being is the province of environmental health officers.

What do people do in this job?
Environmental health officers aim to ensure, as far as possible, that the environment in a nation is not detrimental to health or well-being.

They operate within a legal framework but achieve results largely through health education and advocacy.

Community involvement is of great importance.

Environmental health officers monitor and manage environmental interventions relating to:?

• Water for drinking and recreation.
• Food and beverages.
• Communicable disease control.
• Control of vectors? (carriers of diseases?) ?and alternative hosts.
• Construction and maintenance of housing and residential environments.
• Trans-boundary and international health hazards relating to air or land transport.
• Removal and disposal of wastes, including sewage, surface water and solid waste.
• Removal and disposal of hazardous and radioactive substances from industry.
• Pollution of water, air and soil.
• Physical, chemical and biological hazards in the workplace.
• Environmental and industrial noise.
• Hazardous lifestyles.
• Public recreation and tourism.
• Disasters and emergencies.

What kinds of people are suitable for this career?
Environmental health officers should be tactful and able to maintain good human relations.

What qualifications are needed?
Normally a BSc degree with emphasis on chemistry and biology.