Introduction
Environmental health officers inspect premises to ensure that
places where people live are safe and hygienic and that health
standards are maintained. Environmental health officers have
degrees and professional qualifications. They are supported in
their work by technical assistants. Technical assistants work
for district/borough, unitary and metropolitan councils. Their
duties can vary in different councils. The job does not exist in
some councils - where the work is done by technical officers or
enforcement officers.
Work Environment
Technical assistants are based in offices within the environmental
health department. However they spend a large proportion of their
time out on visits. They may have to visit unpleasant and
potentially dangerous places. When necessary, they wear masks and
protective clothing and footwear.
Daily Activities
Technical assistants might work in one or more of the following
areas: food hygiene inspections; health and safety inspections;
housing grant inspections; licensing inspections; complaints
investigations or enforcement procedures. They usually
undertake low risk casework but do not carry out enforcement
procedures or institute court proceedings themselves. They might
however, appear in court as 'witnesses of fact' when the council is
conducting a prosecution. In food hygiene or health and
safety inspection work, technical assistants might do fieldwork in
a geographical area or group of properties. Premises are divided
into different categories of risk. Technical assistants make
inspections of some of the lower risk premises. They might for
example, visit corner shops with no exposed food items, while
environmental health officers visit bakeries and factories where
food is processed. They report back and make recommendations to
their environmental health officer or team leader who might decide
to take further action.
Technical assistants might also visit premises such as pet
shops, animal boarding establishments or public entertainment
venues whose annual licences are due for renewal. If they note any
health and safety issues - such as electrical wiring trailing a
cross a floor - or an unacceptable level of noise in a disco, they
report this back to their team leader.
Owners of domestic properties can apply for grants from the
council to make specified repairs or renovations to their property.
Technical assistants specialising in housing grant work read the
application forms, then go to make a physical assessment of the
property. If they agree that the work needs to be done they have to
ask applicants to provide details of their income since grants are
means tested. They check through all the paperwork and may
recommend authorising the grant. They inform the property owner of
the amount to be awarded and ask for estimates of the cost
involved. All the financial details are approved by a senior
manager. Finally, technical assistants make an inspection to see
that the work has been done correctly. This is one area of
environmental health work in which owners are pleased to be told
that their property is sub standard!
Skills & Interests
Technical assistants need to be:
- careful and methodical;
- able to record details accurately;
- able to write clear reports;
- excellent communicators;
- able to get on with people from all backgrounds;
- able to remain calm and polite at all times - some owners of
premises being visited may become aggressive;
- persistent and self confident.
They also need scientific and technical knowledge and where
relevant an understanding of food hygiene and health and safety
regulations.
Entry Requirements
These vary - councils might ask for a number of GCSE/S grade
passes or A levels/Highers. They might also expect applicants to
have relevant experience and already hold appropriate
qualifications such as a Certificate in Food Premises Inspection.
Certificate in Health & Safety at Work or a Diploma in Consumer
affairs.
Future Prospects & Opportunities
It is possible to train to become an environmental health officer.
Technical assistants who gain the entry requirements for a degree
course in Environmental Health may be sponsored by their councils.
(Science A-levels or equivalent are normally required but some
universities may accept suitably experienced applicants with
non-standard qualifications.) It is also possible to study for the
degree on a part-time basis over five or six years.
Further Information & Services
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health www.ehcareers.org/default.aspx
You may find further information about this area of work through
Careers Wales (www.careerswales.com/) or
in your local service/careers office/school careers library.
Careers Wales have produced a Spotlight article on careers
in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths): https://www.careerswales.com/en/spotlight-on-stem/