Environmental Technician Job Description

Updated on: May 30, 2017

Position Overview

An environmental technician’s main work is to collect samples and observe facility operations to provide environmental information necessary to ensure compliance with regulatory authorities. The main work of an environmental technician is to conduct facility environmental testing and sampling of surface and groundwater, and identify and communicate deficiencies noted in the field to supervisors.

Environmental technicians perform a lot of other duties apart from testing materials and environments. They also make sure that correlating reports are properly written and submitted in a timely fashion. Good organizational and time management skills, the ability to establish effective working relations and operational knowledge of tools, equipment and tasks in job processes, and deep insight of hazardous waste processing and regulations is also imperative in this work.

Skills & Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences or a relevant field is the minimum that anyone hoping to acquire a job as an environmental technician needs to possess. In addition to this, one needs to understand the different ways of safely handling hazardous materials, and excellent communication skills. Working knowledge of the principles and practices of the environmental field to which you are assigned, and deep insight into handling tools and equipment of the trade are also important prerequisites of working at this position.

Some of the duties that an environmental technician will be required to perform on a regular basis are listed below:

Environmental Technician Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct environmental sampling and testing of soil and groundwater and identify and communicate deficiencies

• Perform inspections of tank farms, gypsum stacks, process ponds and air emissions to ensure that they comply with regulatory requirements

• Maintain environmental compliance records, using standard operating protocols and field sampling data

• Develop, implement and monitor environmental control programs and ensure that they are in accordance with contract requirements

• Conduct inspections on completed contract work and ensure that documentation is carried out to ensure that all environmental specifications are met

• Inspect maintenance documents, historical files and inspection records to determine trends or recurring discrepancies, and initiate needed corrective action plans

• Produce environmental deficiency reports in a clear, concise and comprehensive manner

• Monitor and measure EMSs (environmental management systems) goals and missions and provide recommendations on how to achieve success in reaching these goals

• Provide insight and assistance in carrying out corrective and preventative actions aimed at remedying non-compliance

• Inspect sites and data reporting to support environmental protection plans and inspect maintenance programs against established rules and protocols

• Use and maintain field screening equipment and document readings in a confidential and accurate manner