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Public Health and Consumer Protection
This sector covers careers in health and safety, environmental health, occupational health & hygiene and trading standards.
Many jobs in this sector are in local government but there are also opportunites in central government and the private sector.
There are both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in areas such as environmental health and trading standards, but many jobs are open to graduates from any discipline. Some require specialist qualifications, such as occupational health nurses, who must be registered nurses. Most jobs will require study towards professional qualifications.
Profiles
Follow the links below for profiles of common occupations in this sector:
- Environmental health practitioner
- Health and safety adviser
- Health and safety inspector
- Occupational hygienist
- Trading standards officer
Career contacts
We have links with professionals who have agreed to be consulted by students and recent graduates about working in public health and consumer protection.
This is a unique opportunity to find out much more than you will from printed information, but please remember: these people have agreed to act as career contacts, not recruitment contacts.
The career contacts can only be viewed within the University of Edinburgh domain.
Environmental health
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) - professional body at the forefront of environmental and public health. It accredits the courses and qualifications for environmental health practitioners.
Careers in Environmental Health - designed by Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, this provides detailed information about careers in environmental health and routes to qualification.
EHN Jobs - Environmental Health News, a CIEH website advertising vacancies, and providing up-to-date sector news.
Health Protection Agency - provides an integrated approach to protecting UK public health through the provision of support and advice to the NHS, local authorities, emergency services, other Arms Length Bodies, the Department of Health and the Devolved Administrations.
Health Protection Scotland (HPS) - a new organisation established by the Scottish Executive to strengthen and coordinate health protection in Scotland.
Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) - independent charity whose main objectives are for the benefit of the community to promote the advancement of environmental health. The site includes a careers section and some useful links to environmental health resources for Scotland.
Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) - an independent, multi-disciplinary organisation, dedicated to the promotion and protection of collective human health and well-being. Site includes details of the courses and qualifications they offer.
Health and safety
National Careers Service - information from the government careers service, including a profile of a health and safety adviser.
Health & Safety Executive (HSE) - government agency charged with protecting people's health and safety in the workplace. The site includes a careers section with information on the work of trainee inspectors and current vacancies.
Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) - a registered charity promoting safety and the prevention of accidents at work, at leisure, on the road and in the home through safety education. Vacancies are advertised on the website.
Occupational health and hygiene
British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) - aims to help reduce work-related ill-health by promoting public and professional awareness, good practice and standards, and by researching and advancing education in the science of occupational health and hygiene. Site includes a jobs section as well as details of courses and qualifications.
Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) - Europe’s leading body for health and safety professionals. The site includes a careers forum with interesting 'chat' on jobs in health and safety as well as information on qualifications and courses, although no formal careers information.
A day in the life of...
In our 'Day in the Life' series graduates write about the jobs they do.
Trading standards
Trading Standards Institute (TSI) - the professional association for Trading Standards professionals in local authorities and industry & commerce. The website includes a careers section with information on qualifications.
Consumer Focus - formed from the UK National Consumer Councils, Postwatch and Energywatch, this is the new statutory organisation which champions consumer interests throughout the UK. Jobs are advertised on the site when vacancies arise.
Office of Fair Trading (OFT) - agency responsible for making markets work well for consumers. The site includes a careers section, with profiles of the different roles available and vacancy listings. The website also includes a list of the various regulators and ombudsmen for this area who are also potential sources of employment.
Which? - consumers' rights association. The website has a careers section which includes vacancy listings.
This article was published on Feb 19, 2013