A health inspector (known as an Environmental Health Officer in countries such as Australia, Ireland and England) is a public employee who investigates health hazards in a wide variety of locations, then will take action to mitigate or eliminate the hazards. Usually the public perception of a health inspector is someone who examines restaurants and ensures they maintain sanitary standards for food safety set by the regulating authority. However, most health inspectors have broader job duties, including inspecting swimming pools, substandard housing conditions, public schools, day cares, nursing homes, and personal service establishments such as tattoo parlours. Depending on their jurisdiction, Registered Environmental Health Specialists often permit and inspect wells, private water systems, or individual subsurface sewage disposal (septic) systems. Other tasks include; campground inspections, tanning salon inspections, beauty salon inspections, correctional facility inspections and mobile home park inspection.
They may also respond to complaints such as animal bites, garbage complaints, odor complaints, or sewage overflows. Due to their educational background they can provide information and referrals with regards to; lead, radon, mold, and emerging diseases such as West Nile Virus and Avian Flu. The field also overlaps with hazardous materials (Hazmat) and many Hazmat responders are also Licensed Environmental Health Practitioners or Registered Environmental Health Specialists.
Sanitarians, Environmental Health Specialists, work with many different people in a variety of environments. Their jobs often involve considerable fieldwork, and some travel frequently. Many Sanitarians, Environmental Health Specialists, work long and often irregular hours. They inspect pools, childcare centers, restaurants, septic systems, and many other types of establishments that relate to health safety.
Sanitarians, Environmental Health Specialists, may be exposed to many of the same physically strenuous conditions and hazards as industrial employees, and the work may be performed in unpleasant, stressful, and dangerous working conditions. They may find themselves in an adversarial role if the management of an organization disagrees with the recommendations for ensuring a safe working environment.