Friday, April 4, 2014

Environmental Health Specialist


Duties and Responsibilities:
 Environmental health specialists monitor health and safety conditions in residential, industrial, commercial, and recreational settings. A person who works as an environmental health specialist may also be called an environmental health or safety inspector, or a health and safety specialist. The main responsibilities of the position are to determine the existence of possible health hazards and to take steps to correct them.Most environmental safety specialists work for government agencies that monitor local, state, and federal safety and environmental regulations. This includes checking plants and factories for pollution or industrial waste; inspecting restaurants for cleanliness; and inspecting schools, day care centers, and nursing homes for harmful substances such as radon or lead paint. 


Salary:
 $37,500-$57,551

Education:
Most positions for environmental health specialists require at least a bachelor's degree. Significant course work in chemistry, biology, public health, physical sciences, as well as environmental engineering is usually needed as well. Those who want to work for the government have to complete a certification course administered by the appropriate local, state, or federal agency. Most states have licensing boards that examine potential candidates and grant certification to qualified applicants. The type of training and certification needed depends on the types of facilities being inspected. Credentialing is also available through the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA). It is possible to receive specialist certification for dealing with certain types of hazardous materials.

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