EHP Qualifications

Duties & Tasks of an Environmental Health Officer
Environmental health officers:

• Investigate complaints about food safety and ensure shops, restaurants and food processors follow health regulations
• Monitor and control water, air and noise pollution and collect water samples for analysis
• Initiate and conduct environmental health impact or risk assessments
• Design and conduct health education programs or public information campaigns
• Prepare policy documents and guidelines relating to environmental health matters
• Manage immunisation campaigns
• Manage programs to control disease-causing pests such as mosquitoes
• Investigate and manage public health incidents such as disease outbreaks
• Manage programs to maintain public health and environmental issues associated with major public events
• Respond to disasters and emergencies where public health is at risk
• Assess building development applications and inspect houses and public buildings to ensure they comply with environmental or health and safety standards
• Inspect and license premises that may present infectious disease risks to the community (such as tattoo parlours and acupuncturists, where skin penetration and body piercing occurs), and inspect hairdressing and beauty salons
• Maintain records, prepare statistics, write reports and give evidence in court cases where health or environmental regulations have been violated.

Personal requirements for an Environmental Health Officer

• Good communication skills
• Good negotiation skills
• Tactful and courteous
• Able to be firm and impartial when making decisions
• Resourceful
• Able to take initiative
• Good problem-solving skills
• Able to work independently or as a part of a team

Tasks

• Advises on and enforce relevant legislation.
• Train employees in personal protective equipment and safe working procedures.
• Identify hazards, assess and control risks in the workplace.
• Develop, implement and monitor programs minimising workplace and environmental pollution involving chemical and physical hazards.
• Work to minimise air, sea, water and noise pollution to improve health outcomes.
• Inspect and audit workplaces, processes, plant, chemical and physical hazards for legislative compliance.
• Prepare and implement plans and strategies for the safe, economical and suitable disposal of commercial, industrial, medical and household wastes.
• Implement prevention programs and strategies for communicable diseases, food safety, wastewater treatment and disposal systems, recreation and domestic water quality and any contaminated or hazardous substances.