Work Environment
Environmental Health Officers typically work in the following Career Sectors:
Videos & Interviews
Marie O'Donovan, Environmental Officer
Marie O'Donovan studied Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering in Trinity College, which is a 4 year honors degree course. She is now working as an Environmental Officer for Roadstone Provinces Ltd., working in the south of the country. She has recently been involved in achieving company wide accreditation of the ISO 14001, an Environmental Management System.
Videos on the Web
- Environmental Health Officer- from: Youtube Search
Most commonly reported Work Activities
- Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
- Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
- Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Communicating with Persons Outside Organisation Communicating with people outside the organisation, representing the organisation to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
- Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
The Work
Environmental health officers protect our health and safety at home, at work and in public places like leisure centres, shops and restaurants.
They visit shops and offices to make sure employers have a safety policy and that everyone follows the safety rules. Environmental Health Officers check the working environment, for example, making sure that ventilation, sanitary facilities and temperature controls are all adequate. They also investigate the cause of accidents.
Officers may visit people's homes to make sure their water supply and sanitary facilities are adequate. As well as conventional housing, Environmental Health Officers may inspect caravan sites and boat moorings.
Responsibility for food hygiene is a very important part of the Environmental Health Officer's work. They visit shops, hotels, restaurants, airports, slaughterhouses, factories and food stalls. They make sure that people follow the procedures for storing and preparing food. Officers take samples back to laboratories to test for the presence of micro-organisms that can cause serious illness. They monitor incidents of diseases like salmonella, tracing their sources and taking steps to prevent further infections.
Environmental health officers also inspect swimming pools and leisure centres. They supervise waste disposal (including toxic waste), street cleaning and the collection of litter. They check that housing is of a particular standard and is fit for habitation.
Most commonly reported Work Tasks
- Discuss test results and analyses with customers.
- Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, or charts that interpret test results.
- Develop or implement programs for monitoring of environmental pollution or radiation.
- Investigate hasardous conditions or spills or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis.
- Calibrate microscopes or test instruments.
- Provide information or technical or program assistance to government representatives, employers, or the general public on the issues of public health, environmental protection, or workplace safety.
- Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, or asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels or identify sources of pollution.
- Monitor emission control devices to ensure they are operating properly and comply with state and federal regulations.
- Inspect sanitary conditions at public facilities.
- Examine and analyse material for presence and concentration of contaminants, such as asbestos, using variety of microscopes.
Further Information
- Environmental Health Officer - from: N.C.S. [UK]
- Environmental Health Officer - from: GradIreland
Qualities - Environmental Health Officer
You must be committed to protecting the public's health and safety. This is a very important responsibility, so you'll need energy, enthusiasm and attention to detail at all times.
Good communication skills are very important. You must be able to explain safety procedures and regulations clearly and concisely to people from a wide variety of backgrounds.
You may have to deal with people who are distressed or angry, so you'll need a calm, professional manner to defuse potential confrontations. You'll need good negotiating skills, patience and tact. Environmental health officers also need to be firm, to enforce the law where necessary.
Environmental health officers need good organisational skills to prepare and prosecute cases using their own evidence and chemical analyses; you must be prepared to appear in court.
Interests - Environmental Health Officer
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Naturalist
Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.
Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.
Realist
Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.
Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.
Administrative
Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.
They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.
Entry - Environmental Health Officer
To become an Environmental Health Officer it is necessary to hold a qualification approved by the Department of Health. [See Eligibility criteria from HSE here]. Environmental Health Officer opeate from offices of the HSE around Ireland, click here.
Environmental Health Officer grade HSE Approved qualifications in Ireland:
FET Centre PLC Courses Occupational Health & Safety NFQ level 5 Search FET PLC Courses
Higher Education CAO Entry Occupational Safety & Health, Environmental Health & Envt health Safety NFQ level 7-8 Search CAO courses
B.Sc. Environmental Health Level 8 degree TU869
Postrgraduate study options Diploma in Environmental Health
Professional Development
See also: Working in Ireland as an EHO EHAI.
Environmental Health & Safety Officers also work in the private sector advising on Safety & health compliance in a wide array of Industries, in complaince with the HSA check here
Last Updated: April, 2023
Pay & Salary - Environmental Health Officer
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €42k - €101k
Salaries vary by employer, duties, role, experience, and location.
Data Source(s):
PAS/ Forsa/ HSE.ie/ Morgan McKinley
Last Updated: July, 2024
* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.
View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available
Labour Market Updates - Environmental Health Officer
This occupation has been identified as a Job in Demand by the most recent National Skills Bulletin.
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).
Employment grew strongly for this occupation between 2018 and 2021, although employment remained unchanged in the most recent time period. Almost three quarters were employed in industry. Despite the static employment levels in 2022, there was a significant increase in the number of employment permits issued between 2021 and 2022 (by 1,100), with the industrial sector accounting for half of the increase. Roles for which permits were issued included quality, process, and design engineers.
This occupation had the highest number of mentions of vacancies that were difficult to fill in the Recruitment Agency Survey, especially for quality control/assurance, compliance/regulatory and process engineering roles. Employers (through Skills for Growth and/or Spotlight on Skills) have cited roles in design engineering (with specific industry knowledge), quality control and production engineers as being difficult to fill. Demand continues to be strong for this occupation despite static employment levels and issues with recruiting suitably qualified/experienced candidates for these roles are likely to persist.
Useful Contacts - Environmental Health Officer
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Health and Safety Executive
- 1G Redgrave Court, Merton Road, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 7HS, UK
- +44 (0)845 345 0055
- [email protected]
- Click Here
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Public Appointments Service
- Chapter House, 26/30 Abbey Street Upper, Dublin 1, D01 C7W6
- (01) 858 7400 or Local: 1890 44 9999
- [email protected]
- Click Here
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Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- PO Box 3000 Johnstown Castle Estate Wexford
- 053-916 0600
- [email protected]
- Click Here
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Environmental Health Association Ireland - EHAI
- Heraghty House 4 Carlton Terrace Novara Avenue Bray Co Wicklow Ireland
- (01) 276 1211
- [email protected]
- Click Here
