Public health inspectors are vital members of the community health system. They safeguard the environment and health of the public by monitoring facilities and enforcing health legislation. They also play an important role in public education and consultation. They are employed in federal, provincial and municipal health agencies as well as businesses and industries specializing in food processing, catering and fisheries. Public health inspectors can also move into industrial health and hygiene or even teaching.
In this job, you investigate and correct health hazards in a community. By assessing sanitary conditions in various private and public locations such as restaurants, schools, recreational centres and funeral homes, you ensure compliance with regulations and standards. You also recommend issuing licenses and permits, where applicable.
Your responsibilities include sampling both drinking water and the water in recreational centres, public beaches, swimming pools, spas and whirlpools; assessing and approving on-site sewage systems for private, commercial and industrial applications; inspecting solid waste disposal sites in conjunction with Environment Canada.
When you receive a report of a disease, you investigate the source of the infection, as well as possible contacts and carriers. You also investigate reports of potential exposure to rabies from animals and ensure that the animals are confined and tested.
An important part of the job is to provide the public with information on how to ensure health and safety. You often address meetings of recreational staff, community groups and municipal councils. You may also give occasional lectures at community colleges and universities.
When other means fail, you enforce public health and environmental protection laws. You may lay charges, prepare crown briefs, assist legal counsel and testify in court.
Most public health inspectors are paid salaries and most belong to a union.
This job will appeal to you if you have a strong interest in the applied sciences and you want to serve your community in a very practical way. You have to be inquisitive and decisive, and must have good investigative and observational skills.
You need good judgement and tact to deal with the many different situations that may arise. Employers look for good listeners with strong oral and written communication abilities.
The work can be psychologically and physically stressful in situations where confrontations occur. Presenting evidence in a court of law, assisting legal counsel, and undergoing intense cross-examination by defence counsel create additional stress. You may be exposed to insect infestations, communicable disease infections, rabid animals, and potentially hazardous chemicals while investigating health and safety complaints. In rural areas, you may have to drive long distances to reach the more remote sections of your district, occasionally in poor weather.
sciences or water chemistry
At present, the British Columbia Institute of Technology and the Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in Ontario are the only two Canadian institutions that offer programs in public and environmental health.
food sciences or water chemistry