A public health inspector gathers and analyzes data from public places, public facilities and work environments to ensure safety. These health inspectors are safety specialists that ensure public health and safety by conducting tests, measuring potential or real hazards, and inspecting and developing procedures that will keep people safe. Health inspectors also work to ensure health and safety in public places and to ensure public health and safety laws are not violated. The main job of a health inspector is to ensure public health, and occupational health and safety by physically going to locations for inspections.
Health inspectors have expertise and knowledge of public health laws and codes. A health inspector visits locations such as nursing homes, public swimming pools, hospitals, camps, restaurants, hotels, medical facilities and bars among other public facilities to ensure lawful environmental health and food safety among other things. Food safety in restaurants and facilities in ensured through a public health inspector doing a comprehensive food safety inspection. Food safety in an important public health concern for the community. A health inspector can expect to spend most of their day traveling to locations for inspections and writing up reports regarding their findings. A safety and environmental health inspector is on the move to inspect environmental health, human disease risk, food safety and for sanitation violations.
An individual who not only cares about how clean and safe the environment is but also wants to play a part in keeping it that way often chooses to become a public health inspector. “How do I become a health inspector?” is usually the question asked. The good news is that the job outlook is very good for an environmental health inspector and there are various training programs available that can help aspiring public health inspectors meet their career goals in this public health field. Read on to learn what steps you need to take to become a qualified health inspector and make a difference in public health as a public health inspector.
Enroll in a formal degree program
If you would like to become a public health inspector, you will first need to obtain the appropriate formal degree and then the appropriate type of professional experience. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, health inspectors typically need more than high school and earn a bachelor’s degree in occupational health and safety or related scientific or technical field such as biology or a healthcare and related majors. For some jobs a health inspectors qualifications may include a master’s degree in industrial hygiene, health physics, environmental health or related field may be required. In addition to science courses, other courses may include things like ergonomics, writing and communications, occupational safety management, and accident prevention. To become a health inspector it’s important that public health inspectors are fully trained to identify environmental health issues and environmental hazards and to train the public, they must be trained formally and experienced. Some begin with an associate degree before moving on to one of the more advanced degree programs.
A majority of health inspectors are employed by either local agencies or state agencies. These agencies may have their own health inspector qualifications and requirements, but a majority of the local-level and state-level agencies require anyone applying for an inspector position to possess a minimum of an associate degree in addition to high school. Some agencies may simply require applicants to have completed at least 60 credit hours towards a bachelor’s degree at an accredited institution where they have studied multiple courses in natural sciences before hiring them as safety inspectors. Some of the majors you can choose may include physics, chemistry, health science, biology, public health and more. A public health degree should be from a public health accredited program. Whether an associate or bachelor’s degree is being pursued, public health courses can be expected to be included in the curriculum.
Apply for an internship opportunity
As you are completing your bachelor’s degree education you should apply to be an intern with a public agency, environmental protection agency, or with a private employer offering a position that will give you relevant experience working alongside experienced health inspectors. Interning is a great way to get hands-on professional experience as you work to become a health inspector that you simply cannot get while you are in class. Working alongside environmental health inspectors is also a great addition to your resume. Many interns are offered full-time paid positions through public health agencies if they are found to be a good fit when they graduate. This is a good opportunity to become a health worker in this important public health profession.
Take pre-employment examinations
Some jurisdictions will require job applicants to sit for employment exams before they are eligible to apply to be a civil employee. You should check with your county to see if this is a requirement for health inspector positions and how you can go about scheduling your exam before an opening is posted to state and countywide job boards.
Get certified to be more marketable
You are not required by law to be certified to work as a health inspector, but having a health inspector certification credential will make you more marketable. If you want to advance yourself professionally, you should look for certifications that you can test for through the National Environmental Health Association. Be sure to compare the various types of certifications that the national environmental Health Association makes available so that you can choose the appropriate one. In most cases, you will need to complete certification courses at your own pace and then test so that you can be awarded your credential as a public health inspector.
Health inspectors can earn professional certifications including the following:
The Board of Certified Safety Professionals offers the following certifications:
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- Certified Safety Professional (CSP) certification
- Associate Safety Professional (ASP)
- Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST)
- Construction Health and Safety Technician (CHST)
In addition, the American Board of Industrial Hygiene awards a certification known as a Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH).
Important qualities of a health inspector
Those wishing to become a health inspector should have some or all of these important qualities:
Ability to use technology: A health inspector must be able to use advanced technology and complex testing equipment.
Communication skills: A professional health inspector must be able to communicate safety instructions and concerns and often must prepare written reports and prepare and deliver safety training.
Detail oriented: A health inspector needs to understand and follow safety regulations and complex government regulations.
Physical stamina: Standing for long periods and the ability to travel regularly is something a health inspector must be able to do, as well as work in uncomfortable environments such as tunnels or mines.
Problem-solving skills: Problem solving in order to design and implement workplace processes and procedures that help protect workers from hazardous conditions is a skill a health inspector needs to possess.
Health inspector salary and job outlook
The BLS reports the median annual wage for occupational health and safety specialists was $75,240 in May 2022. Labor statistics show a robust job outlook with the overall employment of occupational health and safety specialists and technicians projected to grow 13 percent from 2022 to 2032, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Many of the expected 17,200 job openings over the next decade are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or leave the work force, such as to retire. A health inspector can expect a positive job outlook with job opportunities and wages varying depending on education, experience, employer and location.
Helping to keep communities and work environments as safe and free from dangers as possible is a big part of what public health inspectors do on a daily basis. Individuals who discover the steps to become a health inspector often decide they want to join this rewarding career.
MPH staff, 2023
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