The role of the Environmental Health Officer is to provide advice with respect to strategies by which hazards to health may be controlled.

Responsibilities

Environmental Health Officers are responsible for the planning, coordinating and implementing control strategies designed to minimise the adverse health impact of the environment and the workplace, on personnel. Areas of responsibility of Environmental Health Officers (ENVH) include, but are not limited to, the following:

Water safety;

Food safety;

Epidemiological studies;

Occupational Hygiene;

Waste management;

Vector Control;

Emergency Management;

Quarantine;

Workplace Assessments; and

Radiological Assessments.

Areas of Employment

Environmental Health Officers are normally employed in health support environments; however, their duties necessitate assessments of Defence work areas and practices that take them to all areas of Defence operations, both locally and overseas. In most cases Environmental Health Officers are required to carry out their duties with minimum supervision.

Working Conditions

Hazardous working conditions are encountered and the wearing of personal protective equipment may be required. Sometimes environmental health tasks are conducted in the field with limited resources, in support of ADF operations and disaster relief both within Australia and overseas eg. East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

Environmental Health Officers (ENVH) in the Royal Australian Air Force Active Reserve are trained in preparation for their role in one of the Air Forces Operational Units. These units may include Service Hospitals, Health Service Flights, higher command headquarters, expeditionary and in-situ combat support squadrons. ENVH are posted to Reserve squadrons, which organise their training and employment either within the member’s squadron or in another ADF organisation.

An ENVH provides strategies by which hazards to health may be controlled. ENVH are responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing control strategies designed to minimise the adverse health impact of the environment, and the workplace, on personnel. This involves managing the impact of military operations/activities on the environment.

Environmental Health Officers are normally employed in the health support environment; however, their duties necessitate assessments of Defence work areas and practice that take them to all areas of Defence operations, both; locally and overseas. In most cases, ENVH are required to carry out their duties with minimum supervision. ENVH with prerequisite operational skills and knowledge may be employed in an operational role. Their duties would normally be carried out in the field during wartime or exercise scenarios. The ENVH is responsible for minimising the adverse health impact of the environment on field personnel by ensuring public health and sanitation are of a high standard as much as possible in the operational context. The normal non-operational role is to provide advice to managers and base personnel with respect to controlling hazards to health. ENVH can also be employed in the area of disaster support. Where RAAF health support is identified for disaster situations, an ENVH (with appropriate experience and training) may be selected to assist in the maintenance of hygiene and sanitation standards.

The operational role of an ENVH will require them to develop the specialised Ground Defence skills and knowledge needed to perform their duties in an operational environment.

Environmental Health Officers (ENVH) in the Royal Australian Air Force Specialist Reserve are trained in preparation for their role in one of the Air Force's Operational Units. These units may include Service Hospitals, Health Service Flights, higher command headquarters, expeditionary and in-situ combat support squadrons. ENVHs are posted to Reserve squadrons, which organise their training and employment either within the member's squadron or in another ADF organisation.

Environmental Health Officers provide strategies by which hazards to health may be controlled. ENVH are responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing control strategies designed to minimise the adverse health impact of the environment and the workplace on personnel.

Environmental Health Officers are normally employed in the health support environment. However, their duties necessitate assessments of Defence work areas and practice that take them to all areas of Defence operations, both locally and overseas. In most cases, ENVHs are required to carry out their duties with minimum supervision. ENVHs with prerequisite operational skills and knowledge may be employed in an operational role. Their duties would normally be carried out in the field during wartime or exercise scenarios.

The ENVH is responsible for minimising the adverse health impact of the environment on field personnel by ensuring environmental health and sanitation are of a high standard as much as possible in the operational context. ENVH normal non-operational role is to provide advice to managers and base personnel with respect to controlling hazards to health. ENVHs can also be employed in the area of disaster support. Where RAAF health support are identified for disaster situations, an ENVH (with appropriate experience and training) may be selected to assist in the maintenance of hygiene and sanitation standards.

The operational role of an ENVH will require them to develop the specialised Ground Defence skills and knowledge needed to perform their duties in an operational environment.