Environmental inspector

Briefly explain what you do for a living. 

I work as an environmental inspector at the City of Kouvola. I’m responsible for environmental control and complaint matters. An example of a complaint matter is a situation where local residents report an illegal landfill, a neighbour's compost that is attracting rats or a noise factory. I also prepare environmental and soil permits. I’m currently working on environmental permits for a shooting range and new heating plant. Soil permit is a permit to extract soil, such as gravel or stone. My work also includes systematic monitoring visits, such as periodic inspections of various institutions. So it’s a combination of office and field work.

How have you ended up in the profession of your choice? 

In upper secondary school, I began to think about different career options. One of the first things I realized was that the care sector and the like are not for me. I thought that interacting with people all day long wouldn't suit me that well, as I liked to work on things on my own. I saw myself as an outdoors person who liked activities and brainwork. So I thought the geologist's profession would be a combination of both. I got into the University of Helsinki to study geology but haven't worked a day as a geologist. Luckily, geology studies are well suited for the environmental inspector's work.

Describe your typical working day or week. 

In a typical working week, I spent a couple of days at the office and focus on tasks that require thinking and concentration, such as preparing permits and writing statements. Before I can start writing, I need to spread all the maps and files out and go through the documents carefully without interruptions.

To counterbalance the paperwork, I might reserve one day for field work and visit all the relevant locations, such as complaints from local residents. On a day like that, I drive to various places and check the complaints.

The last day of the week is usually a mixed bag of Teams meetings, transferring photos from the phone to the computer, sending reminders, compiling the assignments and such. If a colleague gets sick or is away, my plans for the week could all change. On those days, I might get more calls or have to go and check a leaking wastewater pipe or oil dripping on the ground, for example.

What kind of work environment or working hours do you work in? 

How much time I spent in the office depends on the season, as there is less field work in winter. If I had to estimate, 70 per cent of the work in winter is done at the office and 30 per cent in the field. Much of the field work is done in autumn when the annual soil inspections and periodic inspections of many facilities are carried out.  

In my case, field visits also mean going to sites without addresses or good roads, as I'm one of the inspectors in our unit who are responsible for soil permits and the related inspections of gravel mining and quarrying sites. Environmental protection has several responsibility areas, which have been divided among the environmental inspectors in Kouvola. Some of my colleagues could focus on animal shelters and facilities using chemicals, for example, but I don't have such objects of supervision.   

We have typical flexible working hours, so mostly from 8.00 to 16.00. We can also work remotely, but I personally prefer working at the office as it is easier to think about tricky cases or examine maps together with a colleague at the office, for instance. 

What kind of competence or qualities are required in the profession? 

I would say that the environmental inspector's work suits those who like spending time outdoors and are willing to constantly learn. Those who like to use their brains and enjoy challenges and variation. If you're lulled into the idea that your studies taught you enough, you will be disappointed, as the work provides a constant stream of things to learn. I guess that sometimes our solutions might look simple from the outside, but there are also complicated cases where the process itself is rarely easy.  

I would emphasise the importance of interaction skills, as you must get along with all kinds of people. For example, in complaints, you can never know what you are up against, and you can't be too sensitive to feedback. If you want to be an environmental inspector, it is also important to be organised, precise and diligent and to have good writing skills. 

What is the best thing about your profession? 

The best thing about working as an environmental inspector is variability, as working days are never the same. The work is a combination of outdoor and indoor work, and you can often plan your working days to suit you. As an environmental inspector, you are also constantly introduced to new things you need to follow, which offers just the right amount of challenge. 

What are the downsides of the profession or what seems challenging? 

The downside is that you have a lot on your plate and must multitask. It's easy to feel that you are forgetting something as you have to keep track of the progress of each environmental permit, for example. A lot of new things are happening at the same time, such as legislative changes or new tasks. Sometimes it can be hard to absorb new information and learn when you are running at a thousand miles per hour.  

The work also includes challenging encounters with customers. They do not always happen in good spirit, even if you tried your best. You must be able to filter the inappropriate feedback and let it go in one ear and out the other. 

What would you tell a person considering the profession of a environmental inspector? 

If you are considering a career as an environmental inspector, it is worth noting that the work requires good interaction skills, even if it's a field that combines science and technology and not, for example, the social sector. It also requires situational awareness and the ability to encounter different people. 

A driving license is also a must, as in my experience, working without one is impossible. The field visits can take you far away from the office and be located at the end of poor roads. I have the opportunity to use the employer's cars. The ability to read maps is also important, and you should enjoy spending time in nature.  

How do you see the future of your profession? 

From my experience, there are plenty of employment opportunities in the field, although it might vary between regions. In that sense, I can recommend the environmental field, although the workload seems to be increasing all the time. I believe that IT skills will be highlighted in the future. For example, spatial data competence is something you should invest in already in your studies.