There are more than 8,000 qualified Environmental Health Officers/Practitioners (EHOs/EHPs) in the UK and the employment opportunities are expanding. They are employed by both local government and industry, in a broad range of settings including food manufacturing, protecting the environment, safety at work and housing. Employment prospects are good. Demand for EHPs in the public health sector is rising as are the number of opportunities for Environmental Consultants. EHPs are also employed by the Food Standards Agency, Public Health England and the Environment Agency.
You'll need to develop scientific and technological knowledge - as well as collaboration skills for working closely with other professionals and communities.
You may spend time inspecting premises and processes, giving technical advice and dealing with complaints. Practitioners also work to prevent future environmental problems with health protection and promotion programmes, and through involvement in the planning process. EHPs may also get involved in the legal side of things - for example, instigating enforcement procedures and appearing as witnesses in court.
Watch the CIEH's short film about a career in Environmental Health, which will show you the scope of employment opportunities for EHPs and give you a flavour of the diverse work situations you may find yourself in.
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