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.