Environmental health officer


An environmental health officer is a person responsible for carrying out measures to protect public health, which includes the administration and enforcement of legislation related to environmental health and safety hazards.
EHOs aim to keep water, food, air, land, facilities, and other environmental attributes in compliance with local legislation. They control health hazards, including biological, chemical, or physical through the application of environmental safety law. EHOs address factors influencing human behavior outside the workplace. In contrast, workplace factors, such as workplace injury, are addressed by Occupational Safety and Health officers. They also assess and control environmental factors that can potentially affect health to prevent disease and create health-supportive environments.
Environmental determinants of health, such as air, water, and food quality, are significant factors in a community's overall health and well-being. Inspectors play a crucial role in improving population health by reducing the incidence of disease and its consequences.
EHOs are trained to maintain a safe and healthy environment for the public. Employment opportunities in this field may require a degree or additional training and certifications, including public health inspections, policy development, emergency response, disease prevention and control, and health promotion and education. EHOs are responsible for preventing and addressing health risks as well as educating the community about these risks.
EHOs may be familiar with microbiology, epidemiology, chemistry, toxicology, environmental science, and food science. They are skilled in tracking and controlling communicable diseases and investigating environmental health incidents. They must also be familiar with relevant laws and regulations related to public health and safety in their region. As practitioners, they work with government agencies, local municipalities, businesses, and community groups to protect public health. Depending on the specific laws and definitions in their jurisdiction, environmental health practitioners may also go by other titles, including environmental health specialist, public health inspector, and health official. Some historical titles for this role include inspector of nuisances, sanitarian, and sanitary inspector.
Local, state, or federal health departments usually employ environmental health professionals to advise and enforce public health standards. However, many are employed in the private sector, the military, and other third-sector agencies such as charities and nongovernmental organizations.

Roles and responsibilities

Environmental Health Officers are involved in:
  • Inspection and enforcement services
  • Environmental health consulting and education
  • Communicable disease investigations and outbreak control
  • Food safety course training
  • Community planning
  • Sewage disposal systems planning
  • Housing standards/quality inspection and control
  • Infection prevention and control
  • Emergency contingency planning and implementation
  • Noise control and air quality monitoring
  • Health and safety at work inspection and control
  • Water protection and testing
  • Environmental sampling, analysis, and results interpretation
  • Community care facility licensing
  • Quality improvement

    Employment

EHOs are employed by local, state, or federal health departments, private sectors, military, and third-sector agencies like charities and NGOs.
  • Local Authorities: Enforcing health regulations at local councils.
  • Government Agencies: Working in agencies like CDC's NCEH or EPA.
  • Public Health Organizations: Ensuring compliance with health and safety standards.
  • Private Consulting Firms: Specializing in environmental health and safety services.
  • Private Sector and Healthcare: Roles in public health, healthcare, occupational safety, and more.
  • Occupational Health and Safety: Ensuring worker safety in both public and private sectors.
  • Environmental Protection and Sustainability: Addressing issues related to climate change and sustainability.
An EHO investigates health hazards in many settings and will take action to mitigate or eliminate hazards. Depending on the jurisdiction, EHOs may have broad job duties, including inspecting swimming pools, substandard housing conditions, shelters, public schools, daycares, nursing homes, conveyances, and personal service establishments.
EHOs may also permit and inspect wells, private water systems, and individual subsurface sewage disposal systems. Other tasks include campground inspections, special events inspections, waste management inspections, petting zoo inspections, correctional facility inspections, mobile home park inspections, and homeless encampment inspections.
Some EHOs are trained in communicable disease control and prevention. During a disease outbreak they may investigate and recommend/apply interventions to stop the spread of disease. They may also be trained in noncommunicable disease prevention and control. They can work to prevent NCDs and control risk factors. EHOs also may play a vital role in community projects such as those concerning health promotion, health equity, tobacco use reduction, healthy built environments/healthy communities, food security, and emergency preparedness.
They may also respond to complaints such as animal bites, garbage complaints, noise complaints, odour complaints, or sewage overflows. Depending on their educational background and training, they can provide information and referrals concerning lead, radon, mould, and emerging diseases. The field also overlaps with hazardous materials, and many hazmat responders are licensed environmental health practitioners or registered environmental health specialists.
During a public health emergency, such as a pandemic, they may take on crucial emergency response roles, provide public education and advice, enforce public health orders, and take necessary actions to protect public health. Likewise, they respond to other emergencies such as natural disasters by undertaking roles outlined in emergency response plans.

Related roles

Related roles include environmental health scientists, policymakers, safety inspectors, and others.
The common identifier of environmental health personnel is that they are responsible for the identification, evaluation, and management of risks to human health from factors in the environment, whether on behalf of government agencies or private sector organizations.

Working conditions

Environmental Health Officers, also known as Public Health Inspectors, have working conditions characterized by a variety of factors:
  • Work environment: EHOs typically operate in diverse settings, including government agencies, private companies, and non-profit organizations. Their role often entails visiting various locations, such as restaurants, public facilities, and industrial sites, to ensure adherence to health and safety regulations.
  • Schedule: The work schedule of EHOs can be variable. While some may adhere to regular business hours, others might work evenings, weekends, or be on-call for responding to public health emergencies.
  • Physical demands: The job can be physically demanding, requiring EHOs to spend long periods on their feet and sometimes work under challenging conditions. Handling and testing samples is also part of their duties, necessitating manual dexterity and strict adherence to safety protocols.
  • Mental and emotional demands: EHOs face the challenge of keeping up-to-date with complex regulatory frameworks and public health guidelines. Dealing with non-compliant operators or handling public health emergencies can add to the stress levels.
  • Travel: Frequent travel within their jurisdiction is common for EHOs, and they may occasionally need to travel farther for training or conferences.
  • Safety risks: EHOs are sometimes exposed to health and safety hazards, including hazardous materials, contaminated environments, or infectious diseases. This necessitates the use of protective equipment and strict safety procedures.
  • Training and continuous learning: A degree in environmental health or a related field is typically required, along with ongoing professional development to stay current with regulations and best practices.
  • Interpersonal interactions: The role involves significant interaction with the public, business operators, and other stakeholders, necessitating strong communication and sometimes negotiation skills.
  • Job satisfaction: Many EHOs find their role satisfying, as it significantly contributes to public health and safety.
  • Career advancement: Advancement opportunities may include specialized roles, supervisory positions, or movement into related fields like policy development or environmental consulting.

    History

The role of environmental health officers has evolved significantly over the centuries, beginning as early as the Renaissance in the Republic of Venice, where a type of court of health inspectors was established to contain the spread of epidemics. These inspectors, appointed by the Venetian Senate and later by the Council of Ten, were among the earliest forms of organized public health efforts.
During the early Industrial Revolution, particularly under the Factory Act 1802, local magistrates in England appointed two sanitary inspectors to oversee factory sanitation. These early inspectors, including a former cleric and a justice of the peace, played a crucial role in addressing the health and sanitation issues arising from industrialization.
The field of environmental health as we know it today can be traced back to the 1840s in England. Edwin Chadwick, a Poor Law Commissioner, conducted an inquiry into poverty's causes, highlighting the link between poor health and bad environmental conditions. Chadwick's campaign for improved sanitation led to the Public Health Act 1848, establishing a General Board of Health and allowing local boards to correct discovered issues based on an inspector's survey.
In 1883, the Association of Public Sanitary Inspectors, which later became the United Kingdom's Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, was established. This marked a significant development in the professionalization of the field. Over the following decades, the role and qualifications of environmental health practitioners evolved, transforming into a graduate profession by the 1960s. The profession's enhanced role and status were further recognized with the grant of a royal charter in 1984.
Reflecting the changes in their roles and educational requirements, the titles of these professionals have evolved over the years, from inspectors of nuisances to sanitary inspectors, and then to public health inspectors or environmental health officers. This progression also mirrors International Trends, as the titles and roles of environmental health officers have adapted to reflect their advanced education and expanding responsibilities.
Throughout history, Environmental Health Officers have been integral to public health, adapting their roles and expertise to meet the challenges of their times, from the spread of epidemics in Renaissance Venice to the complex public health needs of modern societies.