Is Environmental Health and Safety a good career?

Environmental health and safety (EHS) can be a rewarding career for those who are passionate about protecting the environment and ensuring the well-being of workers and communities. EHS professionals work to minimize the negative impact of human activity on the environment and to prevent accidents and injuries in the workplace. This can include tasks such as conducting safety inspections, monitoring environmental compliance, and developing emergency response plans. The field is growing, with many job opportunities available in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, construction, and government. To become an EHS professional, a bachelor's degree in a related field, such as environmental science or engineering, is typically required, as well as relevant experience and certifications.

A career in environmental health and safety (EHS) can involve a wide range of responsibilities, depending on the specific job and industry. Some common tasks that EHS professionals may perform include:

Conducting safety inspections and audits to identify and address potential hazards

Developing and implementing safety policies and procedures

Training employees on safety procedures and regulations

Monitoring compliance with environmental regulations and laws

Investigating and reporting on accidents and incidents

Assessing and managing risks to the environment and human health

Developing and implementing emergency response plans

EHS professionals typically work in industries such as manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and government. There are many different career paths within the field, including roles such as EHS managers, consultants, and specialists. To pursue a career in EHS, a bachelor's degree in a relevant field, such as environmental science, occupational health and safety, or engineering, is typically required. Additionally, certifications such as the Certified Safety Professional (CSP) or the Occupational Health and Safety Technologist (OHST) can be beneficial for career advancement.

Safety Officer

Safety officers play a critical role when it comes to environmental health and safety in the workplace. They oversee the adoption and implementation of an organization’s health and safety protocol

EHS Consultant

An EHS consultant, or environmental health and safety consultant, advises companies on how to minimize health and safety risks in the workplace. They may also provide guidance on environmental regulations. They work with companies to mitigate their environmental impact, ensuring compliance with all OSHA and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements.

An EHS consultant performs some of the same functions as a safety officer: performing inspections and audits, training employees, developing health and safety programs, and so on. However, a consultant acts as an independent third party as opposed to an in-house employee. Some companies hire EHS consultants on an as-needed basis, while others keep them on retainer — similar to an attorney — in order to continually improve their environmental health and safety programs.

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Industrial Hygienist

Industrial hygienists are vital to environmental health and safety, protecting people in the workplace and the community from hazardous materials like asbestos, lead and radon gas. Their job may also entail addressing other health hazards in the workplace, like illness or repetitive stress injuries.

Environmental Science and Protection Technician

Environmental science and protection technicians are more focused on the effects of pollution on the natural world than professionals in other environmental health and safety careers. They monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution and contamination, especially those impacting public health.

Environmental Health and Safety Manager

The job description for an environmental health and safety manager is similar to that for jobs of professionals in other environmental health and safety careers. Like safety officers, EHS managers typically work in-house for organizations to spearhead their health and safety programs.

Air Quality Specialist

An air quality specialist focuses on protecting the environment and public health from the negative impacts of air pollutants, such as lung cancer, emphysema, organ damage and possible birth defects. An air quality specialist’s work may involve testing air samples for contamination, advising policymakers on measures to reduce air pollution or enforcing vehicle or factory emissions standards.

Water Treatment Specialist

Water treatment specialists play a crucial role in public health by making sure people have access to clean water. They install and maintain water purification equipment and analyze water samples to check for contaminants. Contaminated water can transmit diseases like cholera, typhoid and polio and is estimated to cause nearly half a million deaths worldwide each year.