ENVIRONMENTAL Health Officers work with the public, companies and organisations to ensure a healthy and sustainable environment for all. Practitioners can specialize in food safety, public protection and housing. The work is varied and challenging and could involve dealing with noise complaints, investigating fly-tipping and providing specialist advice in crisis situations.
If you are looking for a career that doesn't tie you to a desk perhaps Environmental Health work is for you.
Name: Gill Monks
Occupation: Environmental Health Officer
Age: 26 years old
How long have you been an Environmental Health Officer? I trained to be an Environmental Health Officer for three years and have been qualified for just over one year.
Have you always wanted to be an EHO? No, being an Environmental Health Officer was never my childhood dream, in fact I always dreamt of being a dentist. I became interested in the profession when I was working in the food industry and had direct contact with Environmental Health Officers at work. The public often perceive us to be rat catchers which is never much of an inspiration to people looking for a career, it is only when you look deeper into environmental health that you realise the enjoyment and the sense of achievement and sense of worth which can be gained from the job.
What is your typical day? Every day is different depending on what arrives on your desk. There is so much variety in the job there is never a dull moment. This is also experienced when you are training to be an EHO, you find yourself doing all the jobs traditionally associated with the profession plus things which I would never have imagined doing such as noise monitoring at concerts, licensing butchers shops, investigating food poisoning outbreaks, meat inspection training at the abattoir and so on.
What do you love about the job? I love the variety. I am an inquisitive person so I find being able to see what goes on behind the scenes fascinating. You also get a great sense of achievement by helping and protecting people.
What do you hate about it? There is nothing to hate about the job really, oh except having to wear the white coat and white trilby hat when carrying out food hygiene inspections ' they are not exactly a fashion statement. However in my opinion the positive aspects far outweigh any negative aspects of the job.
What difficulties, if any, have you experienced? I haven't really experienced any problems so far. However I have enjoyed overcoming lots of challenging situations with full knowledge that the environmental health team are close at hand to provide advice, help and support.
What qualities do you need to be an effective EHO? Good communication and social skills are essential for this type of work. In addition to this I believe that being observant, assertive and the ability to be understanding of peoples circumstances are beneficial to somebody entering into the profession.
So you want to be an Environmental Health Officer
September 09, 2004
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Can you please e-mail me some information on how i could aply to become or train to become a Environmental Health officer. Thank you.
Well, EHO does sound good. I like the idea of the variety etc. and avoiding being a desk jockey. One question though, you say you trained to be an EHO for three years. Was this a uni course or not? I did envi studies and then a masters in the same vein of things so would that enable me to become an EHO or would further training be required? If so how much? And could you let me know if any jobs are coming up any time soon? Sorry for the last question but they always say it's not what you know...
Cheers and thanks for your time,
Olly
How do you become an EHO ?
What qualifications do you need to become an EHO ?
Where do you get information about it and how do you apply to become an EHO ?
Is there any training vacancies availible for it is somethink i have been intrested in for many years i have just not been able to find enough information on it i have asked a college but have not found any where that does training courses thankyou for your time jane from manchster.
how do I train to be a environmental health officer
I would be grateful for any info as to how I could qualify as a EHO. I hold a Law Degree and would love to use the skills gained in this area within my role as an EHO.
Can you please e-mail me some information on how i could aply to become or train to become a Environmental Health officer. Thanks.
please send me any information you can about being an environmental health officer and how and where the training is offered thanks
Please could you send me info regarding the training to become an EHO. Thanks
Could you please send me all the information required for me to apply to become an EHO. Qualifications required, length of training etc. Thanks in advance. Mark from Gorton
Could you please send me all the information required for me to apply to become an EHO. Qualifications required, length of training etc. Many Thanks.
Could you please send me all the information required for me to apply to become an EHO. Qualifications required, length of training etc. Many Thanks.
Could you please send me all the information required for me to apply to become an EHO. Qualifications required, length of training etc. Many Thanks.
Please could you send all the info need about the job and length of training etc. Thank you
I would very much appreciate it, if you could please send me, all the information you hold on how to become an Environmental Health Officer, as the story provided appealed to me very much.
Please would you send me information on how to train to become an Eho.
Could you send me information on how and what i need to become a EHO officer mant thanks
Could you please send me all the information required for me to apply to become an EHO. Qualifications required, length of training etc. Many Thanks.
Could you please send me all the information required for me to apply to become an EHO. Qualifications required, length of training etc. Many Thanks.
After reading the piece about being an EHO this sounds a very intresting and exciting career path to persue I would like some info of any job vacancies in this field of work thank you.
very interesting piece. would love some more info, on training/qualifications needed to pursue a career in this field.
Having worked in senior management in the leisure and restaurant sector I would like to make a career move in to Environmental Health. Not having a degree but having done various courses throughout my career including advanced food hygiene how can I go about this, is there a degree run by the Open University I could do or is there other options.