The Life of Grime (My Experiences and Advice)

Member Name: wtwildcats

Product:	My Experiences and Advice
Date:	28/11/02 (114 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Enjoyable, You get a wage

Disadvantages: I can't do anything else

Well, to most folk, you'll know that the BBC have done a few documentary series called "The Life of Grime", which is narrated by John Peel and features real life Environmental Health workers.

You'll have met and sympathised with characters such as Mr Wrobhus, the Polish War Veteran who never chucked anything away, and probably thought "Bloody EHO - what a git!"

(For future referance EHO = Environmental health Officer.)

Lets just say that that is drama. The real situation is much different.

I am an EHO. I have been ever since I started work 8 years ago. And I love my job. There are downsides, and they are mainly covered in my op on Local government, but I will cover the specific downsides to being an EHO later.

Firstly what does an EHO actually do? Well, they basically work in 5 distinct areas - those being Pollution Control, Food Safety, Health and Safety, Private Sector Housing, and Port Health.

What does that mean - well I am a Pollution Control Officer - so more about that in a bit.

Food Control

EHOs receive and investigate complaints about food hygiene and suspicious practices, and perform routine inspections to ensure that anywhere that handles food complies with current legislation - making sure that when you eat out, you should be ok. They enforce the Food Safety Act 1990 and associated Regulations.

Health & Safety

Thes officers invesigate accidents and near misses in the place of work. They perform routine inspections to ensure everything is carried out in accordance with the law. They enforce the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and associated Regulations.

Private Sector Housing

These people respond to complaints and investigate issues relating to private sector housing - making sure that private landlords are providing accomodation fit to live in - they enforce parts of the Housing Act 1990. They are also able to provid
e grants where means testing allows to improve dwellings used for private accomodation.

Port Health

Erm.. never done this so... they do other stuff thats only relevant to Ports - so control of livestock, vegetation etc arriving into the country.

Pollution Control

We investigate complaints of nuisance from smoke, smell, noise, dust, effulvia, grit etc. etc. We enforce part 1 and part 3 of the Enviromnental Protection Act 1990, and a few other Acts of Parliament too. We regulate factories to ensure the emmissions to atmosphere are not harmful to health. I am consulted on Planning Applications to ensure that there is no adverse effect on the environment from development. I monitor radiation levels in the area. We have a duty to monitor air quality, and find out how much of our land is contaminated.

My job, as you can see is varied.

Most of the job is complaint based, and I have to spend about 90% of my working time investigating complaints of nuisance. Most nuisances occur outside of working hours, so a large degree of flexibility is required to do my job as a Pollution Control Officer.

The job is varied - no 2 days are the same. I also have to enforce the requirements of the Clean Air Act 1993, and this can alter the course of a day by a phone call. Basically dark smoke from from a commercial premises is an offence, and if I witness it, I am willing to prosecute an offender in a Magistrates Court, so a phone call can really change my day.

I do spend about 1 day a month in Court - giving evidence in Prosecution, or defending my actions when I take legal action against someone. Its all part and parcel of my job and something I enjoy.

Downsides

Hours of Work - you need to be flexible - less so in other sections

Aggro - I enforce law, and daily receive verbal abuse, and monthly receive physical abuse. Serious abuse is very rare though, but its happened to me. (I could tell a
few storeis about people currently in jail!!!)

Specialisms

Really, you need to specialise in just one area of Env Health nowadays.

Any others? Well, most EHOs will work in Local Government, but those who specialise in Food or Health & Safety can find jobs in the Private Sector.

Local Government pay for professionals is not that good - especially for technical professionals, but you do need the experience.

personally I wouldn't work in any other section - I love the aggro that i daily get with my job. I meet the public and tell them to turn that stereo down etc - and they tell me to F Off and give me a gobful. Who wins???? Me, of course.

Pay is adequate, but should be improved, considering the level of responsibility you have in your job.

You also nowadays need to do a 4 year degree to qualify to do the job.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed reading this op.

Andy.

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