Environmental Compliance Inspectors

What the job really is

Inspect and investigate sources of pollution to protect the public and environment and ensure conformance with Federal, State, and local regulations and ordinances.

At a glance

• Sector: Business & Financial
• O*NET-SOC code: 13-1041
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Determine the nature of code violations and actions to be taken, and issue written notices of violation, participating in enforcement hearings, as necessary.
• Prepare, organize, and maintain inspection records.
• Investigate complaints and suspected violations regarding illegal dumping, pollution, pesticides, product quality, or labeling laws.
• Determine which sites and violation reports to investigate, and coordinate compliance and enforcement activities with other government agencies.
• Interview individuals to determine the nature of suspected violations and to obtain evidence of violations.
• Inform individuals and groups of pollution control regulations and inspection findings, and explain how problems can be corrected.
• Verify that hazardous chemicals are handled, stored, and disposed of in accordance with regulations.
• Learn and observe proper safety precautions, rules, regulations, and practices so that unsafe conditions can be recognized and proper safety protocols implemented.
• Monitor follow-up actions in cases where violations were found, and review compliance monitoring reports.
• Examine permits, licenses, applications, and records to ensure compliance with licensing requirements.
• Prepare written, oral, tabular, and graphic reports summarizing requirements and regulations, including enforcement and chain of custody documentation.
• Observe and record field conditions, gathering, interpreting, and reporting data such as flow meter readings and chemical levels.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Autodesk AutoCAD, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Project, Microsoft SharePoint, Microsoft Word, SAP software, Salesforce software

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Environmental Scientists and Specialists, Including Health
• Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
• Environmental Engineers
• Environmental Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Occupational Health and Safety Specialists
• Government Property Inspectors and Investigators
• Health and Safety Engineers, Except Mining Safety Engineers and Inspectors
• Brownfield Redevelopment Specialists and Site Managers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

Browse the verified job sources directory, or explore more occupations.

Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Environmental Compliance Inspectors — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.