Introduction
Being fit and healthy is not just a question of aerobic exercise
and a sensible diet. As we know from the many recent scares about
mad cow disease in humans (CJD), salmonella poisoning and the like,
no matter how careful we are it is not always possible to control
what goes into our stomachs. Technical officers with a
special brief for food control provide specialist help in a team
directly responsible to a principal officer whose aim is to
maintain, improve and promote safe and healthy living, working and
trading conditions throughout the local area. This involves helping
to educate the community in food hygiene and safety and inspecting
for infectious diseases. Officers help with inspections,
complaints, sampling, gathering evidence and witness statements to
be used for informal and formal enforcement in the courts. But
their role is a positive one and the job richly rewarding. Many of
their clients welcome the support and protection they can
provide.
Work Environment
The settings in which technical officers work includes shops,
pubs, restaurants, hotels, factories - indeed all food businesses,
and so a certain amount of local travel is required. Sometimes
conditions can be difficult, dirty and pest ridden and involve anti
social hours though no shifts are scheduled. But again, their
visits may not be in pursuit of a problem but designed to help find
a solution. 36 and a quarter hours is the standard working
week. White coats, protective hats, safety shoes and sometimes
'wellies' are provided and, always, a briefcase and tool box for
sampling.
Daily Activities
Every day food safety inspections, investigating complaints and
sampling are required, providing specific technical support to the
service. This means visits to businesses categorized as at risk
according to the criteria laid down in the Food Law Code of
Practice - auditing, monitoring and evaluating hazards to ensure
that proprietors have identified points critical to food safety and
appropriate staff training needs. Samples are taken to
determine whether there is a significant risk of food being
contaminated with the likes of e.coli, botulism or other bacteria.
This entails being up to date with current legislation.
From time to time officers are part of a project team with a
brief to help raise awareness of food safety issues through
seminars, "Food Safety Weeks', literature and training courses.
This is a highly satisfying aspect of the environmental health
team's work where they feel they are making a difference to food
safety and nutrition in the community. So there are
deadlines, like getting to the lab on time with samples, but mostly
technical officers work to a timetable that is often determined by
the needs of the team and the individual. This will involve liaison
with a range of external agencies like the Department for
Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Department of
Health and with the public and business owners.
Skills & Interests
To be good at this job you would need to be:
- computer literate;
- open minded and flexible;
- ready to act in an emergency;
- good with figures;
- confident.
You would also need to have:
- practical and a specific technical/scientific skill;
- attention to detail;
- a caring nature;
- an ability to get on with people from different
backgrounds;
- good communication skills generally.
Entry Requirements
BTEC in Environmental Health or Certificate in Food Premises
Inspection.
Previous relevant experience is very useful. For example
work in a laboratory, in the food business itself - say in a meat
company - or as a food technologist. On the job training to
obtain the Certificate in Food Premises Inspection is a necessary
requirement at Technical Officer level but continuing professional
development (CPD) through the Institute of Food Science and
Technology can be useful.
Future Prospects & Opportunities
Promotion prospects depend on whether or not an officer wants to
train as an environmental health officer (EHO) as the range of
opportunities is fairly narrow. But pay and prospects vary from one
authority to another. There are, however, opportunities outside of
local authorities in the food industry - as auditors, consultants
and food technologists for example.
Further Information & Services
The New Scientist Journal www.newscientist.com
National Environmental Health Association www.neha.org
Institute of Food Science and Technology www.ifst.org
You may find further information about this area of work through
Careers Wales (www.careerswales.com/) or
in your local library, careers office or school careers
library.
Careers Wales have produced Spotlight articles on careers
in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths): https://www.careerswales.com/en/spotlight-on-stem/ and
careers in food and farming:
www.careerswales.com/en/spotlight-on-food-and-farming/