Duties of an environmental health officer

Public health encompasses the work of an environmental health officer. The officer's role in public health is to identify, track, and address the environment's risk factors, particularly in a community. Most environmental health professionals have different areas of responsibility, such as pollution, noise control or reduction, toxic contamination, waste management, and accidents at work. Environmental health professionals write reports, documenting their inspection and findings. They provide training courses, investigate complaints, and serve legal notices on delinquent establishments. They even provide evidence in court using their findings. They collaborate with other organizations in a community to resolve issues. They provide their expertise when being consulted by employers on matters of environmental health.

It is important to note that for public health officers to work more effectively, they are mandated to enter premises without any hindrance from establishment owners. They have the power to issue and enforce legal notices if businesses breach certain rules that prove to be a risk to the health and safety of the public.Captain Martin Sanders, Ph.D., CSP, is a public health professional with more than a decade of service in the occupational health and safety sector. He was the acting Chief of Safety for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), related to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA). For more about Capt. Sanders, visit this page. Disclaimer: This site was prepared by Martin Sanders in his personal capacity. The opinions expressed are the author's own and do not reflect the views of the USPHS, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Homeland Security, or the United States Government.