Health Inspector careers

A public health inspector will normally work for the government or private company and is required to invest in a special training program that will teach him or her all of the subtleties of a job in this career field. There are many health and safety regulations that the public health inspector must know. These professionals have to know how to measure the regulations and how to suggest remedies when correct safety and health precautions are not being met. Also, if a place of business is found to be in violation, it is important to follow up to be sure that the necessary changes were made. These professionals also have to analyze water quality of public swimming areas, beaches, and spas. They must ensure that the general public is safe from hazardous pollutants. These professionals also usually work alone, but will always answer to a superior officer and will usually have a partner from which they can ask certain questions when first starting out.

Health Inspector Requirements

In many countries, a bachelor’s degree and experiential credentials are required. Most employers prefer a bachelor’s degree in a health-related subject, such as water sciences, industrial hygiene, food science, or health physics. A recognized training program for public health inspectors often includes courses in hazardous material management, occupational health, or risk management. An internship is almost always required in the curriculum. During the internship, future public health specialists learn more about the practical side of health regulations and safety rules.

Health Inspector Specialization

Once in office, public health inspectors can specialize in a certain area like air pollution, noise pollution, waste management, septic water treatment, toxic waste disposal, etc. For this reason, many colleges and universities offer postgraduate training programs leading to a master’s degree, diploma, or certificate in a specific health-related field. Such programs are offered for instance by the Student Public Health Inspector Training Program in Toronto, Canada, and the Environmental Protection Agency in California, USA. In the UK, many public universities offer postgraduate training programs with practical job training for public health inspectors.

For more information on the work of a health inspector, the following is recommended reading: