Environmental health practitioner: Job description

Environmental health practitioners (EHPs) act as advisers, educators, consultants, managers and enforcement officers, ensuring people are able to live, work and play in safe, healthy environments.

EHPs are responsible for developing, implementing and enforcing health policies, using specialist technical skills and knowledge to maintain and safeguard standards relating to people's health and well-being. They may be generalists or may specialise in specific areas of the industry, such as:

• housing;
• public health;
• occupational health and safety;
• food safety and food standards;
• noise control;
• environmental protection;
• waste management;
• pollution control.

They liaise closely with officers from related council departments, as well as with Health and Safety Executive (HSE) .

Typical work activities

Tasks vary according to whether you deal with all environmental health issues or whether you specialise in a particular area. However, typical work activities are likely to include:

• carrying out routine or unplanned visits and inspections to ensure compliance with health and safety legislation and taking action to improve conditions;
• providing advice and assistance to householders and businesses;
• taking photos, producing drawings, removing samples and conducting interviews as part of the inspection process;
• investigating complaints from the general public;
• carrying out food hygiene and food standards inspections;
• investigating accidents at work and complaints about poor standards of health and safety, as well as identifying areas of negligence;
• investigating outbreaks of infectious disease and preventing it spreading any further;
• taking water samples to maintain and improve standards in public swimming and bathing areas as well as private water supplies;
• monitoring radiation activity, taking action when safety levels have been exceeded;
• ensuring the health and welfare of animal livestock on farms and other premises, as well as during transportation;
• issuing licences for pet shops and other animal-related businesses;
• advising on planning and licensing applications;
• monitoring levels of noise, air, land and water pollution;
• giving talks at public enquiries, meetings and exhibitions, as well as ensuring compliance through education, advice and enforcement;
• taking enforcement action, initiating legal proceedings, preparing and giving evidence in court;
• advising on health and safety issues in relation to new buildings and developments;
• arranging for removal of abandoned vehicles and refuse.

For an overview of work activities in the different specialist roles, see the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)  website .