Environmental Engineers


Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources > Environmental Engineers > Working%20Conditions
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Environmental Engineers

Environmental Engineers - Working Conditions

In a typical work setting, environmental engineers:

Interpersonal Relationships

  • Have a moderately high level of social interaction. They spend most of their time working with others but also work alone when writing reports.
  • Are responsible for the health and safety of people working on their projects.
  • Are responsible for the work outcomes of coworkers.
  • Are sometimes placed in conflict situations.
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  • Work as part of a team. This is very important because they coordinate the activities of many people.
  • Communicate with clients and coworkers daily by telephone, e-mail, and in person.
  • Write letters and memos on a weekly basis.

Physical Work Conditions

  • Mostly work indoors. Some indoor work sites may not be temperature-controlled.
  • Sometimes wear protective gear when visiting sites.
  • Sometimes travel to and from work sites in an enclosed vehicle such as a car, truck, or van.
  • Are occasionally exposed to contaminants.

Work Performance

  • Must be accurate in performing their job. This is very important because they must follow guidelines and make sure procedures and standards are met.
  • Meet strict weekly deadlines.
  • Rarely consult a supervisor before setting tasks and goals.
  • Repeat the same physical or mental activities. They may need to work at the computer all day writing. They may also do repetitive tasks in the field, such as sampling.
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  • Can make most decisions without talking to a supervisor.
  • Often make decisions that impact their company, coworkers, and clients.

Hours/Travel

  • Usually work more than 40 hours per week.
  • May travel to conferences or sites.
Source: Illinois Career Information System (CIS) brought to you by Illinois Department of Employment Security.