Environmental health officer
An environmental health officer (EHO), also referred to as an environmental health practitioner (EHP) or public health inspector, is a person
Occupation
Environmental health practitioner, public health inspector
Varies by country, usually requires a degree and/or certification
responsible for carrying out measures to protect public health,[1] 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.[2][3] They also assess and control environmental factors that can potentially affect health in order 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.[4] They often require a degree[5] and additional training and certifications, including public health inspections, policy development, emergency response, disease prevention and control, and health promotion and education.[6][7] 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.[8][9] 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.
EHOs are employed by local, state, or federal health departments, private sectors, military, and third-sector agencies like charities and NGOs.
An EHO investigates health hazards in many settings and will take action to mitigate or eliminate hazards.[15] Depending on the jurisdiction, EHOs may have broad job duties, including inspecting swimming pools, substandard housing conditions, shelters, public schools, daycares, nursing homes, conveyances (e.g., cruise ships, ferries, airplanes, trains), and personal service establishments (e.g., tattoo parlors, tanning salons, beauty salons, laser hair removal facilities, barbershops).
EHOs may also permit and inspect wells, private water systems, and individual subsurface sewage disposal (septic) 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 (NCD) 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 (rabies control), 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 (e.g., West Nile virus, avian influenza, COVID-19). The field also overlaps with hazardous materials (hazmat), 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[edit]
Related roles include environmental scientists, health inspectors, 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.[14]
Environmental Health Officers (EHOs), also known as Public Health Inspectors, have working conditions characterized by a variety of factors: