Introduction
You do not have to be addicted to sewage to work in the pollution
control unit of environmental services. But, like other technical
officers in the unit, you might spend a lot of your time dealing
with complaints about a variety of nuisances that plague the local
community. Many of these would involve some assault on all the
senses - noise, smells, dust, barking dogs or new planning
schemes.
But pollution control is part of the solution not the problem.
The technical officers role is positive. They inspire and guide
people to improve the environment on everybody's behalf.
Technical officers in the environmental health department ensure
that where people live and work is hygienic and safe. They
can get a great deal of satisfaction out of solving people's
problems.
Work Environment
The work involves local travel to a range of indoor and outdoor
settings including shops, cafes, restaurants, warehouses, public
houses, factories, homes and various other sites and premises.
Technical officers monitor and assess noise and air pollution as
well as occasionally investigating dirty houses or
accumulations of refuse that are causing nuisance .(deleted ..lot
of walking to carry equipment.). The hours worked are
sometimes at anti social times and amount to just over 36 hrs per
week. There is no shift work.
Daily Activities
Armed with their monitoring equipment for noise and vibration or
methane gas, technical officers go into the community and judge
whether the complaints they receive constitute a statutory
nuisance. They talk to the people who have a grievance and take
measurements - of the level of noise and location of barking dogs,
either privately owned or from a boarding kennel, or the polluting
effects of badly functioning sewage works, for example. They then
write up reports and case histories and consider whether to serve
noise abatement or other legal notice. But first they will try to
get the people responsible for the problem to agree to take action
before that is necessary. Three of the main areas of special
concern are: noise awareness, air quality and contaminated
land.
In investigating complaints, technical officers have to use
their initiative and work both within a team and alone. They have
to liaise with colleagues with different specialisms and with other
departments, with company managers, local councillors and the
general public. But it not all negative. Very often environmental
health staff are welcomed by people in all sorts of settings for
the support and protection they can offer.
Skills & Interests
It is very important to have:
- practical ability;
- attention to detail;
- a caring nature;
- confidence;
- ability to get on with people from different
backgrounds;
- written and spoken communication skills;
- tact;
- firmness and impartiality;
- scientific and technical understanding.
And useful to be:
- interested in the countryside;
- a competent project manager;
- handy with figures;
- methodical in gathering facts and information.
As dealing with people who may aggressive and unreasonable is
often a major part of the job, the officer should be patient, calm
and tactful. Issues can often be resolved informally through
sympathetic listening to all points of view and so avoiding having
to serve legal notices. Having previous scientific or technical
experience is helpful.
Entry Requirements
The usual requirements are a degree in environmental science or
other sciences.
On the job training is expected towards vocational qualifications
(S/NVQs) and continuous professional development (CPD) through
courses or as a member of a professional association.
Future Prospects & Opportunities
As all Local Authorities employ Technical Pollution Officers,
there is the opportunity to broaden experience and progress to more
senior positions in some Authorities. Some Officers have
successfully made the transition from Technical Pollution Officer
to qualifying as an Environmental Health Officer.
Further Information & Services
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health www.ehcareers.org
Royal Society for the Promotion of Health www.rsph.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 a Spotlight article on careers
in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths): https://www.careerswales.com/en/spotlight-on-stem/