an assessment of qualities and qualifications needed by environmental health graduates entering...
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An Assessment of Qualities and Qualifications Needed by An Assessment of Qualities and Qualifications Needed by Environmental Health Graduates Entering Private Sector Environmental Health Graduates Entering Private Sector
JobsJobs
Dr. Alice Anderson
Mr. Eric Ferrell
East Carolina University
Greenville, NC
June 2, 2008
IntroductionIntroduction
The purpose of this study was to identify the The purpose of this study was to identify the knowledge, skills and abilities currently knowledge, skills and abilities currently required for entry-level employment in the required for entry-level employment in the Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) private sector.private sector.
Additional goals of this study were to identify Additional goals of this study were to identify characteristics experienced EHS practitioners characteristics experienced EHS practitioners feel are beneficial for continued practice in the feel are beneficial for continued practice in the EHS field.EHS field.
MethodsMethods
Data for this study was collected byData for this study was collected by:: Job Description AnalysisJob Description Analysis
115 Entry-level job descriptions were surveyed from the EHS job-seeking 115 Entry-level job descriptions were surveyed from the EHS job-seeking site site WWW.EHSCareers.comWWW.EHSCareers.com, from January to March 2008., from January to March 2008.
Employer Opinion SurveyEmployer Opinion Survey TheThe Job Description Analysis Job Description Analysis data was supplemented by personal opinion data was supplemented by personal opinion
survey received from 98 EHS professionals (acceptance rate 28%). survey received from 98 EHS professionals (acceptance rate 28%). The survey was developed using the online survey tool Zoomerang, The survey was developed using the online survey tool Zoomerang,
personal opinions were elicited from experienced EHS practitioners. personal opinions were elicited from experienced EHS practitioners. Participants held the CIH or CSP certification, were active in the field and Participants held the CIH or CSP certification, were active in the field and
responsible for hiring entry-level employees responsible for hiring entry-level employees (Professionals were randomly selected from each state from the American (Professionals were randomly selected from each state from the American
Industrial Hygienist Association (AIHA) consultant’s listing).Industrial Hygienist Association (AIHA) consultant’s listing).
Results: Job Description Results: Job Description and Employer Opinion and Employer Opinion
SurveysSurveys Identified Identified core competenciescore competencies and and entry level job skillsentry level job skills
required by private sector employers.required by private sector employers.
Job DescriptionJob Description Employers preferred a Employers preferred a science-based 4 science-based 4 year degreeyear degree for entry-level employment. for entry-level employment.
Most desired concentrations were: Most desired concentrations were: Industrial HygieneIndustrial Hygiene, , Environmental HealthEnvironmental Health and and Occupational SafetyOccupational Safety..
Basic computer skillsBasic computer skills was a general area of competency in was a general area of competency in Job Description Analysis.Job Description Analysis.
Chemistry wasChemistry was highest ranked required competency by the highest ranked required competency by the Employer Opinion SurveyEmployer Opinion Survey
Biology, basic computer skillsBiology, basic computer skills and and college algebracollege algebra listed listed as as useful useful by more than 50% of respondents in by more than 50% of respondents in Employer Employer Opinion SurveyOpinion Survey. .
Characteristics needed for Characteristics needed for success: Job Description success: Job Description
and Employer Surveyand Employer Survey willingness to learn (95%),willingness to learn (95%), problem solving (89%), problem solving (89%), ability to interact with the client (90%),ability to interact with the client (90%), ability to work independently (84%), ability to work independently (84%), positive attitude (82%),positive attitude (82%), initiative (80%), initiative (80%), ability to work in a team (78%), ability to work in a team (78%), ability to multitask (70%), ability to multitask (70%), decision making (67%), decision making (67%), breadth of knowledge (66%). breadth of knowledge (66%).
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Percentage of Jobs
Lab inspections (conduct)Waste pickup (chemical/hazardous)
OtherManage employees (directly)Project/plan review (capital)
JSAsExposure monitoring (perform)
Accident investigationsEvaluate new technologies/optimize processes
POC for public, agencies, etcEmergency response preparation/drills
Environmental monitoring (perform)SOPs (develop)
Permitting (write/maintain)Facility inspections (conduct)
Regulatory compliance reportingProvide/coordinate training
Disseminate information for non specialistsProgram management/development
Consultation (source of knowledge withinCompliance (general)
Entry-level Job Duties and Responsibilities in the EHS Private Sector(Job Description Analysis, n=115)
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Percent Response
Other
2 yr
No Degree Required
Graduate
4 yr
4 yr (30+ hrs sci)
Comparison of Minimum Degree Requirements for Entry-level Employment in the EHS Private Sector(Employer Opinion Survey, n=98 vs. Job Description Analysis, n=115)
Employer Opinion Survey
Job Description Analysis
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
Percent Response
No Concentration Necessary
Other
Public Health
Environmental Engineering
Occupational Safety
Environmental Health
Industrial Hygiene
Comparison of Undergraduate Degree Concentrations Desired for Entry-level Employment in the EHS Private Sector
(Employer Opinion Survey, n=98 vs. Job Description Analysis, n=115)
Employer Opinion Survey
Job Description Analysis
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Percent Response
Foreign language
Business
Other
None specified
Calculus
Anatomy
Physics (general)
College Algebra
Computer skill (basic)
Biology
Chemistry
Comparison of General Areas of Study Needed for Practice in the EHS Private Sector(Employer Opinion Survey, n=98 vs. Job Description Analysis, n=115)
Employer Opinion Survey
Job Description Analysis
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Percent Response
CAD
Epidemiolgy
Vectors and Vector Borne Disease
Other
Solid Waste Management
Wastewaster/Water Supply
Environmental Law
Air pollution
Ergonomics
Engineering
Biological Safety
Toxicology
Chemical Safety
Industrial Hygiene
Comparison of Specific Areas of Study Needed For Practice in the EHS Private Sector (Employer Opinion Survey, n=98 vs. Job Description Analysis, n=115)
Employer Opinion Survey
Job Description Analysis
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Percent Response
Other
Assertiveness
Leadership
Resilience
Breadth of Knowledge
Decision Making
Able to Multitask
Team Player
Self motivated/Takes Initiative
Positive Attitude
Independent Worker
Problem Solving
Customer Service Skills
Willingness to Learn
Comparison of Personal Characteristics Needed for Practice in the EHS Private Sector (Employer Opinion Survey, n=98 vs. Job Description Analysis, n=115)
Employer Opinion Survey
Job Description Analysis
Conclusions: Current Conclusions: Current guidelines and Private guidelines and Private
Sector jobsSector jobs A solid foundation in A solid foundation in math, science, and strong communicationmath, science, and strong communication
skills are needed by new private sector employees to understand skills are needed by new private sector employees to understand technical material and explain that information to employees or the technical material and explain that information to employees or the public. public.
Students planning to enter the private sector would benefit from Students planning to enter the private sector would benefit from concentrating in concentrating in industrial hygieneindustrial hygiene and and toxicologytoxicology, while the , while the courses that were ranked lower in this survey could be taken as courses that were ranked lower in this survey could be taken as electives. electives.
Allowing Allowing flexibility flexibility in the curriculum enables students to in the curriculum enables students to understand core principles as well as expand their knowledge on a understand core principles as well as expand their knowledge on a wide variety of environmental health topics, allowing students to wide variety of environmental health topics, allowing students to expand their breadth of knowledge in the field. expand their breadth of knowledge in the field.
The current foundation and Environmental Health programmatic The current foundation and Environmental Health programmatic area requirements of the National Environmental Health Science area requirements of the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC) undergraduate and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC) undergraduate accreditation guidelines accreditation guidelines provide the basic frameworkprovide the basic framework that that prepares students for practice in environmental health. prepares students for practice in environmental health.
ConclusionsConclusions Results of this research are beneficial to public health Results of this research are beneficial to public health
and occupational safety students, since many of their and occupational safety students, since many of their job responsibilities in the private sector overlap those of job responsibilities in the private sector overlap those of an environmental health practitioner, especially at the an environmental health practitioner, especially at the entry level. entry level.
Further surveys of private sector employees regarding Further surveys of private sector employees regarding the inclusion of more occupational safety electives such the inclusion of more occupational safety electives such as occupational health, occupational safety, ergonomics, as occupational health, occupational safety, ergonomics, workers’ compensation and industrial safety courses workers’ compensation and industrial safety courses may help curriculum developers in the future. may help curriculum developers in the future. Cooperation with private sector advisory committee Cooperation with private sector advisory committee
members on these additions is advised. members on these additions is advised.