A director of environmental services is in charge of enacting and enforcing health and safety policies. Directors can work in a variety of settings, and each position has its own set of responsibilities. A hospital, an assisted living facility, an industrial plant, or a city development agency, for example, might hire an environmental services director. The primary goal of any workplace is to keep residents, employees, and the surrounding environment safe from potential hazards. Professionals evaluate the effectiveness of their policies on a regular basis and supervise general operations in their departments.
The environmental services director is in charge of ensuring that sanitation standards are met in a hospital, nursing home, or other health-care facility. He or she is in charge of sterilizing patient rooms and medical equipment. When dealing with infectious patients or contaminated equipment, the director may observe workers to see if they are wearing the proper protective gear, such as gloves and masks. Other responsibilities could include ensuring that bio-hazardous waste is properly disposed of and that employees receive environmental compliance training on a regular basis.
Environmental safety policies are strictly enforced by directors at factories, power plants, mines, and other industrial facilities. They pass laws governing, for example, the proper handling and disposal of hazardous materials. Employees who conduct outside tests on air, soil, water, and biological samples report their findings to the directors. If violations are discovered, they consider a variety of options for resolving the issue. For example, a director might recommend that a company use more environmentally friendly production methods or hold training seminars for employees to help them improve their safety practices.
A city planning and maintenance program may include an environmental services director. He or she is in charge of overseeing local industrial practices, new building and housing construction, and other activities that could harm the environment. Other departments receive expert advice from the director on how to plan and execute urban development projects with environmental health in mind. If a company fails to meet standards, the director may levy fines or convene meetings with development teams to discuss better ways to complete a project.
To become an environmental services director, you must meet a variety of requirements. Most professionals have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher in a field related to their work, such as hospital administration, environmental management, or city planning. Before moving up to director positions, most workers gain several years of experience in entry-level jobs.