An environmental safety health inspector has to analyze work environments provided to the employees and design programs to control, eliminate, and prevent disease or injury to the workers. They are to look for the various hazards in the work place. Their work includes making the equipment more ergonomic so that it promotes proper body positioning, increase worker comfort, and decrease fatigue. Specialists may be required to conduct inspections and inform any discrepancies in the employer's policies regarding the state and federal laws to the organization's management. An environmental Safety Health Inspector plays an advisory role for the management on the cost effective safety and health programs. He also plays a key role in providing training to recognize hazards and make understood the organization of the regulations and policies of the government.
Other than this the Environmental Safety Health inspector has to ensure that the machines and equipment are well equipped with safety regulations such as lifting devices. They should also check the personal protective equipments like masks, gloves, and eye wear. In case of injury and illness, the environmental safety health officers are to investigate the cause and recommend the remedial measures needed.
The responsibilities of an Environmental Safety Health inspector vary by industry, workplace, and types of hazards affecting employees. While some have to inspect the proper flow of air, others have to evaluate and coordinate the storage of wastes. And yet others have to cleanup the contaminated soil or water, or other activities that affect the environment. Ergonomists are expected to devise the equipment and the workplace to get the maximum worker comfort and productivity. The working area of Health Physicists includes places where radiation and radioactive material is used so as to help protect people and the environment from possible exposure to hazardous radiation.
Some employers require the environmental health and safety inspectors to have a bachelor's degree in occupational health, safety, or a related field, such as engineering, biology, or chemistry, while a master's degree in industrial hygiene or a related subject is required at some places.
An environmental safety health inspector should have a command over the language both orally and written as they are expected to communicate with the decision makers of the company, workers and also are required maintaining the proper reports of the tests conducted and the samples tested.
In general no prior training is expected by the employers but yet preference is given to them who have a certificate from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals or the American Board of Industrial Hygiene.
An environmental safety health inspector who works for the Federal Government advances up the career ladder to a specified full-performance level if their work is satisfactory.
There is competitive advancement for the positions above this level depending upon the merit of the individual and need of the agency.
Once you have completed the course and have the option to choose work as an Environmental Safety health officer you can be employed in a private firm or get a job in the government which may be local or federal. It should be mentioned here that every 2 out of 5 are government jobs. Within the Federal government most jobs are held by Environmental Safety Health inspectors who enforce U.S. Department of labor regulation and impose fines. In order to provide protection to its employees, usually big size government agencies also take employment services of occupational health and safety specialists and technicians.
An average employment growth is expected in the field of Environmental Safety Health. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the expected growth of job opportunities is expected to rise by 9% as is expected in other fields. Continuously increasing importance of emergency preparedness will create a demand for these workers. Technological advancements in safety appliances and threats increase public expectations and changing regulations will increase needs for more specialists in this field of employment.
Environmental Safety Health inspectors earned a weighted annual average salary ranging between $68,890 at the maximum to $49,690 at the minimum. Many of them work in large Private firms or for federal and local governments.
Thus we find it a good option to choose an Environmental Safety health inspector as a better career avenue than other fields as there is less competition when compared to other traditional fields like the IT sector or conventional engineering courses.
