Physician, communal hygiene

Environmental and occupational health and hygiene professionals assess, plan and implement programmes to recognise, monitor and control environmental factors that can potentially affect human health, to ensure safe and healthy working conditions, and to prevent disease or injury caused by chemical, physical, radiological and biological agents or ergonomic factors.

• developing, implementing and enforcing programmes and policies to minimise potential environmental risks to human health and safety;
• preparing and implementing plans and strategies for the safe, economical and appropriate disposal of commercial, industrial, medical and household waste;
• implementing programmes and strategies for the prevention of communicable diseases, food safety, waste-water treatment, waste collection systems, domestic water quality, pollutants and hazardous substances;
• identifying, recording and documenting hazards, assessing and controlling environmental and workplace risks, and advising on compliance with current laws and regulations;
• developing, implementing and monitoring programmes to minimise environmental and workplace pollution, including from chemical, physical and biological hazardous waste;
• advising on methods of preventing, eliminating, controlling and reducing radiological contamination and its effects on workers, students and the environment;
• promoting ergonomic principles in the workplace, such as suitable furniture, equipment and working conditions in line with staff needs;
• providing training and information and advising people on environmental health, hygiene and occupational health and safety;
• recording and investigating equipment failures and damage and reporting on safety;
• coordinating compensation, rehabilitation and return-to-work arrangements for injured workers.
• Examples of occupations in this unit group:
• Physician, occupational health service
• Expert, occupational health and safety
• Ergonomist