Any REHS in the house?

Are there any REHS (Registered Environmental Health Specialist) on the board? Looking to possibly pivot careers and stumbled on this profession recently. I have the hard science background already, and have submitted my transcripts for approval to get my eligibility letter from CDPH, and then hopefully start applying for trainee positions.

Was curious if anyone here is in the field and can provide any insight/thoughts/wisdom on the profession. I'd love to hear about it. TIA.

Do you work in the private sector, or gov't agency?
What is your day-to-day? How much time do you spend in the field/lab/office respectively?
How challenging was the exam and trainee period?
Are you satisfied with your career (financially, and from a personal fulfilment standpoint)?

Julian

Having dealt extensively with our local Santa Cruz County EHS department, I cant imagine it being a personally fulfilling endeavor. Unless you enjoy f_cking with peoples livelihood... Just sayen. 

Hey Julian,

I’m not an REHS but I work with them occasionally in my line of work, and sometimes need to take on their role. The ones I work with are inspectors who are in charge of code compliance for stores that sell food, restaurants, tenant housing, and rarely septic systems & wells.

They are county employees, and it seems that once they have a position they stick with it through to retirement, so I’m guessing they’re find it fulfilling.

They do disrupt people’s livelihood so it’s not for the faint of heart. I have worked with them to close stores that have severe rat infestations, or requiring landlords to maintain their dilapidated rentals.

Your best bet would be to see if you could get a ride along with one of the inspectors. You would be able to see what they they do, and talk with them about how they feel about the profession.

I’m a building inspector, and I find it very rewarding. The downside is that you can be friendly but you can’t make friends. One of my residents just bought a Boston Whaler with twin 300s and bugs me to go out fishing all the time, another has a private launch near Paradise, and says I can use it anytime. I have to decline the offers.

Let me know if you would like me to inquire about a ride along.

They do disrupt people’s livelihood so it’s not for the faint of heart... The downside is that you can be friendly but you can’t make friends.

Not sure what your "Science Background" is? If your education is compatible, you may want to check out Industrial Hygienist (IH). Most jobs centered around large construction projects will pay more than a city/county job.

Appreciate all the feedback so far.

The role I'm interested in is specifically a Land Use Environmental Health Specialist. It would be a lot of septic and water well construction things, as well as land development permitting/inspections. Hopefully less "f*cking up" lives than say, a restaurant or food safety inspector. But who knows, just trying to see what's out there at this point.

My background is in Physics which should satisfy the minimum science requirements to get the letter of eligibility.

They do disrupt people’s livelihood so it’s not for the faint of heart... The downside is that you can be friendly but you can’t make friends.

I just read your post from last year about your dealings with SC EHS. All I can say is Wow-and that is awful. Not a good look for that department at all, to say the least. I'm still learning what this profession exactly does, hence why I posed the question for the group. This paints an unsettling picture. I hope you are getting by through that nightmare.

you may want to check out Industrial Hygienist (IH).

I will look into this! Thanks!

Hi Jewli0n,
I am not an ehs but I am a civil engineer that does a lot of work in Marin County with Septic systems and work very much with them.   
It must be hard to tell folks that they have to replace their septic system and all the cost that entails.   Most of the folks I work with seem to like the job and the challenges that they face doing the work.   
Occasionally we get a client that refuses to do the right thing or does not have the means to do the right thing.   These interactions can be stressful for all the people involved.
The other thing that gets stessful is that all residential development in Marin requires some level of functioning system and includes inspections and sometimes with very limited properties there is no way to get improvements due to poor soil, high groundwater or other constraints..... sometimes the folks wanting the improvements will not/ can not understand that they are truly limited no matter what the cost.

These are the typical folks who will not take "no" as an answer no matter how it is explained to them..... these folks are the hardest for me to deal with and my guess is that it is harder for the EHS folks.  I could see this job being tough for folks who want everyone to be happy.  Sometimes this is not possible.

The upside is you may be out in Nature more than the usual office job.... you can be involved in problem solving.... you probably will get dirty..... the there is the poisen oak.



Troy

By ignoring a septic violation WHILE permitting my septic system, then rescinding that permit 4 years later during an unrelated job, SC EHS are the ones who refused to "do the right thing"  - which would have been to allow us a realistic time period to financially prepare for this massive and retrospective job. Instead they refused to “allow” us to repair our home until we agreed to fix their “mistake”.  Just think about that before you join that shit show (literally).

My take on EHS and the whole planning inspecting machine is that it is a necessary evil; like a painful oozing infection. I realize we can’t have folks just building anything they want anywhere they want, but these departments have become way out of control. Our local department is unpredictable, inconsistent in their enforcement, and most of all UNRELIABLE. I don’t think they appreciate the power they have and wield it very irresponsibly with no consideration of the consequences to the “customer “. 
 
My experience taught me a valuable lesson. Permits are complete bull shit. They are worthless and can/will be rescinded at the convenience of the county. I have no interest in getting anymore permits in the future. I have a deep distrust if the whole operation. Thanks to them, I had to max out a 100K HELOC right as the economy took a shit JUST to repair my deck and wall from a tree.  F those guys.

Prepare yourself to tell fire victims they are not allowed to rebuild, or that building will be cost prohibitive. Or that your department made a giant mistake which the homeowner will need to clean up for you.  I hope those bureaucrats get paid well, because it must take a part of their soul with it. Get a job that does real science and helps your community. You can even make friends.

I apologize for the negative energy, but I got burned and it hurts.