Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health

Career Description: Performs laboratory and field tests to monitor the environment and investigate sources of pollution, including those that affect health. Under direction of an environmental scientist or specialist, may collect samples of gases, soil, water, and other materials for testing and take corrective actions as assigned.

Industry: Life, Physical, and Social Science

Other Job Titles for Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health:

• Realistic: Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Investigative: Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
• Artistic: Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.
• Social: Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Enterprising: Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.
• Conventional: Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.
• First Interest High-Point: Primary-Rank Descriptiveness
• Second Interest High-Point: Secondary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness
• Third Interest High-Point: Tertiary-Cutoff/Rank Descriptiveness

• Record test data and prepare reports, summaries, and charts that interpret test results.
• Collect samples of gases, soils, water, industrial wastewater, and asbestos products to conduct tests on pollutant levels and identify sources of pollution.
• Respond to and investigate hazardous conditions or spills, or outbreaks of disease or food poisoning, collecting samples for analysis.
• Provide information and technical and program assistance to government representatives, employers and the general public on the issues of public health, environmental protection or workplace safety.
• Calibrate microscopes and test instruments.
• Make recommendations to control or eliminate unsafe conditions at workplaces or public facilities.
• Inspect sanitary conditions at public facilities.
• Prepare samples or photomicrographs for testing and analysis.
• Calculate amount of pollutant in samples or compute air pollution or gas flow in industrial processes, using chemical and mathematical formulas.
• Initiate procedures to close down or fine establishments violating environmental or health regulations.
• Determine amounts and kinds of chemicals to use in destroying harmful organisms and removing impurities from purification systems.
• Discuss test results and analyses with customers.
• Maintain files such as hazardous waste databases, chemical usage data, personnel exposure information and diagrams showing equipment locations.
• Perform statistical analysis of environmental data.
• Set up equipment or stations to monitor and collect pollutants from sites, such as smoke stacks, manufacturing plants, or mechanical equipment.
• Distribute permits, closure plans and cleanup plans.
• Inspect workplaces to ensure the absence of health and safety hazards such as high noise levels, radiation or potential lighting hazards.
• Weigh, analyze, and measure collected sample particles, such as lead, coal dust, or rock, to determine concentration of pollutants.
• Examine and analyze material for presence and concentration of contaminants such as asbestos, using variety of microscopes.
• Develop testing procedures or direct activities of workers in laboratory.
• Conduct standardized tests to ensure materials and supplies used throughout power supply systems meet processing and safety specifications.
• Develop and implement programs for monitoring of environmental pollution and radiation.
• Design and build laboratory equipment needed for special research projects.
• Observe the production, distribution, and consumption of food to identify and mitigate threats to food security.
• Analyze and characterize user experiences and institutional settings to assist consumer product developers, technology developers, and software engineers with the design of innovative products and services.
• Build geographic information systems (GIS) to record, analyze, and cartographically represent the distribution of languages, cultural and natural resources, land use, and settlement patterns of specific populations.
• Observe and measure bodily variations and physical attributes of different human groups.

Emerging Tasks

• Conduct research on economic issues and disseminate research findings through technical reports or scientific articles in journals.
• Provide litigation support, such as writing reports for expert testimony or testifying as expert witness.
• Study the socio-economic impacts of new public policies, such as proposed legislation, taxes, services, and regulations.
• Provide consulting services including educational programs, outreach programs, and prevention talks, to schools, social service agencies, businesses, and the general public.
• Supervise the work of others including interns, clinicians in training, and other counselors.

• Analyzing Data or Information: Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• Assisting and Caring for Others: Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Coaching and Developing Others: Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Persons Outside Organization: Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates: Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Controlling Machines and Processes: Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others: Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
• Developing and Building Teams: Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• Developing Objectives and Strategies: Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
• Documenting/Recording Information: Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment: Providing documentation, detailed instructions, drawings, or specifications to tell others about how devices, parts, equipment, or structures are to be fabricated, constructed, assembled, modified, maintained, or used.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships: Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information: Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards: Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Getting Information: Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates: Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• Handling and Moving Objects: Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events: Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material: Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• Interacting With Computers: Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others: Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People: Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems: Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings: Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• Monitoring and Controlling Resources: Monitoring and controlling resources and overseeing the spending of money.
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment: Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or water craft.
• Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work: Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• Performing Administrative Activities: Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public: Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Performing General Physical Activities: Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• Processing Information: Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• Provide Consultation and Advice to Others: Providing guidance and expert advice to management or other groups on technical, systems-, or process-related topics.
• Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment: Servicing, repairing, calibrating, regulating, fine-tuning, or testing machines, devices, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of electrical or electronic (not mechanical) principles.
• Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment: Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
• Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others: Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
• Scheduling Work and Activities: Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• Selling or Influencing Others: Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
• Staffing Organizational Units: Recruiting, interviewing, selecting, hiring, and promoting employees in an organization.
• Thinking Creatively: Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Training and Teaching Others: Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge: Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

Detailed Work Activities

• adhere to safety procedures
• advise clients or customers
• advise enforcement personnel on environmental standards
• advise governmental or industrial personnel
• analyze biological research, test, or analysis data
• analyze chemical experimental, test, or analysis data or findings
• analyze ecosystem data
• analyze scientific research data or investigative findings
• calibrate or adjust electronic equipment or instruments to specification
• collect geographic or physical data
• collect samples for testing
• collect scientific or technical data
• collect statistical data
• communicate technical information
• compile numerical or statistical data
• conduct analyses or tests of organic compounds
• conduct analyses to determine physical properties of materials
• conduct field research or investigative studies
• conduct laboratory research or experiments
• conduct standardized qualitative laboratory analyses
• conduct standardized quantitative laboratory analyses
• confer with scientists
• create mathematical or statistical diagrams or charts
• determine negligence or violation of laws or regulations
• determine specifications
• determine the effects of pollution
• develop or maintain databases
• develop plans for programs or projects
• develop policies, procedures, methods, or standards
• develop tables depicting data
• direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
• direct implementation of new procedures, policies, or programs
• draw maps or charts
• enforce laws, ordinances, or regulations
• ensure compliance with government regulations
• examine biological or other material specimens under microscope
• explain complex mathematical information
• explain government rules or policies
• explain rules, policies or regulations
• follow infectious materials procedures
• follow microbiology procedures
• follow safe waste disposal procedures
• identify properties of soil or water samples
• inspect facilities or equipment for regulatory compliance
• inspect waste disposal or treatment facilities for regulatory compliance
• issue licenses or permits
• maintain records, reports, or files
• make decisions
• measure air quality
• measure, weigh, or count products or materials
• monitor atmospheric or meteorological processes
• obtain technical support instructions from scientists or engineers
• operate industrial or nondestructive testing equipment
• perform safety inspections in industrial, manufacturing or repair setting
• perform tests to assess compliance with standards
• prepare environmental impact or related environmental reports
• prepare reports
• prepare safety reports
• prepare sample for laboratory testing, analysis, or microscopy
• prepare technical reports or related documentation
• recognize public safety hazards
• recommend action to ensure compliance
• recommend improvements to work methods or procedures
• record test results, test procedures, or inspection data
• set up or calibrate laboratory equipment
• test air quality, noise, temperature, or radiation
• test air to detect toxic gases
• test materials or solutions
• understand properties of gases or liquids
• use biological testing instruments
• use chemical processing emergency procedures
• use chemical testing or analysis procedures
• use computers to enter, access or retrieve data
• use government regulations
• use hazardous disposal techniques
• use hazardous materials information
• use health or sanitation standards
• use interpersonal communication techniques
• use interviewing procedures
• use knowledge of environmental laws and regulations
• use knowledge of investigation techniques
• use knowledge of materials testing procedures
• use knowledge of medical terminology
• use knowledge of metric system
• use laboratory equipment
• use mathematical or statistical methods to identify or analyze problems
• use microscope
• use physical science research techniques
• use pollution control techniques
• use precision measuring tools or equipment
• use quantitative research methods
• use relational database software
• use scientific research methodology
• use spreadsheet software
• use word processing or desktop publishing software

Overall Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Job Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.

Education
Most of these occupations require a four - year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Examples
Many of these occupations involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Examples include accountants, human resource managers, computer programmers, teachers, chemists, and police detectives.

• Average hourly wage (2007) -$18.93
• Average annual wage (2007) - $39,370.00

• Projected growth (2006-2016): 27.95%
• Projected need (2006-2016): 10,202
• Employment (2006): 36,500

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• Chemical Technicians
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• Forensic Science Technicians
• Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
• Soil and Plant Scientists
• Purchasing Managers