Five Skills Every Environment Health Officer Should Possess
- Extensive Knowledge of the Law
- Concern for the Environment
- Concern for Human Health and Safety
- Attention to Detail
- Keeping Excellent Written Records
Students interested in working in environmental health and environmental science should understand the characteristics of a great environmental health officer. This can be a highly rewarding role for anyone who wants to safeguard both the environment and human health and provide expertise to prevent disease, water protection and many other environmental matters. The best environmental health officers work toward environmental protection in this field and exhibit the following traits.
1. Extensive Knowledge of the Law
Environmental officers are responsible for ensuring schools, homes, and businesses are safe, environmentally-friendly, and up to code. To do this, an environmental officer needs to have a strong knowledge and experience working with all relevant environmental laws. These laws are on the federal level, state level, and local level and upheld by government agencies. An environmental officer knows how to apply this specialist knowledge to any given situation and then determine if any party involved is breaching the law. If that is discovered to be the case, an environmental health officer may be responsible for facilitating further investigation or reporting the incident to the proper authorities for prosecution.
2. Concern for the Environment
A good environmental health officer is very concerned about the environment and the impact humans have on it. Environmental officers need to know what environmental hazards and substances pose health risks that are particularly harmful to the environment and the steps that can be taken to neutralize them or ensure further contamination will not occur. An Environmental officer may be responsible for taking samples and testing them in labs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they may decide to become Certified Hazardous Materials Managers for greater accreditation. They may also be called upon to give educational talks to community groups, local legislators, and bachelor’s degree and other students. These environmental officers work to develop training programs and work at developing policies to help ensure environmental protection.
3. Concern for Human Health and Safety
Just as important as having a concern for environmental well-being is having a strong concern for human health and safety. Whether it is due to pollution, poor sanitation, food poisoning or other environment-related issues, such as a breach in water protection. The state of all aspects of the environment plays a significant role in the health of humans. A good environmental officer is compassionate towards those who have been adversely affected and work tirelessly towards environmental protection. They want to do everything in their power to ensure those who are affected are compensated and that the issue does not recur.
4. Attention to Detail
Environmental officers need to pay attention and absorb every small detail in order to get all the facts and make the best decisions. Every case will be different, and missing something small could have drastic consequences in environmental matters later on. Environmental officers also need to be able to ask the right questions of business owners in private sectors, employees, medical professionals, and the general population to gain a full picture of the situation and make their own determinations as to what is going on in terms of environmental issues. Environmental officers also need to be excellent problem solvers. In this role, that can be tricky, necessitating the consideration of all aspects of a problem in order to find a solution.
5. Keeping Excellent Written Records
Writing ability is one of the characteristics of a great environmental officer that many might not consider necessary. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. These environmental officer professionals need to keep comprehensive written records on every case they investigate. This information will be kept under file at the relevant organizations and authorities so records exist if future incidents occur. This continuity is critical to ensuring that recurrent violators are brought to justice. Environmental Officers also need to be able to write strong reports that detail all aspects of an incident so the relevant authorities have all the needed information to take appropriate action.
What are some of the professional organizations for an Environmental Officer?
The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) works towards providing a healthy environment for all by serving its 6,000 plus members who are working in the environmental protection profession. The NEHA is the credentialing agency for those who are working to earn a Registered Environmental Health Specialist/Registered Sanitarian credential. This credential requires environmental health professionals to have mastery of a body of knowledge that is verified by examination, as well as work experience in the environmental health field. NEHA provides continuing education, networking opportunities, an annual conference, and publishes the Journal of Environmental Health. NEHA’s important public health mission is “to build, sustain, and empower an effective environmental health workforce.”
Other professional organizations in the environmental health field include:
American Society of Safety Professionals
National Safety Council
World Safety Organization
National Association for Environmental Management
How is the job outlook and pay potential for Environmental Health Officers?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS.org) reports that Environmental Health Scientists can expect a robust 5% growth in jobs from 2021-2031, which is about as fast as average for all occupations. The median income in 2021 was $76,530, which means half of workers made more than this amount and half made less. More education and experience in the field typically equals a higher pay scale.
How does one enter this important field of environmental health?
To enter the field of environmental health, a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in environmental science or related natural science degree is a must. A master’s degree in environmental science may help workers to advance in this career.
Environmental science programs may include valuable internship requirements, giving students hands on experience as well as networking opportunities. Courses and internships that include computer modeling, data analysis, and Geographic Information Systems (GISs) will be valuable for future employment opportunities.
Environmental health officers’ work is never dull, and those with these five characteristics should also find it to be a very rewarding career. The career of an environmental health officer involves investigations and the satisfaction of protecting public health, the wellbeing of environments, and the people who live and work within them.
Environmental health officers play a critical role in keeping both humans and the environment safe. It is an occupation that can have significant personal satisfaction for the people who choose it. Students who exhibit these characteristics of a great environmental health officer may do very well in this role.
MPH Staff, Updated September 2022
Related Resource: