Environmental consultants are employed in a variety of industries, ranging from the private sector to corporations and government contract. Their responsibilities vary greatly according to the field that they are working in. Most of the time, are responsible for assessing the environmental impact of a particular business or process. They typically work in areas that have employees working with hazardous materials on a regular basis. Environmental consultants can examine the raw materials and the materials used to decide if the materials are suitable for employees within the business to work with. This could include things like the lead-based paints, chemical corrosives or asbestos.
Environmental consultants spend a large amount of time finding environmental hazards like those mentioned above and educating employees about the hazards of these risks. They make sure that the employees of the business are safe and are able to handle these substances in a way that minimizes risk and damage to the environment and themselves. Additionally, environmental consultants are also able to report risks to the upper management to help them determine the best course of action to address environmental issues.
To become an environmental consultant, one must typically hold a bachelor's degree in engineering, environmental science or another related area. Additionally, environmental experts require strong communication abilities, both in writing and orally.