Health and Regulatory Inspectors

Most health and regulatory inspectors should expect to travel a considerable amount of the time. They interact with a wide variety of people from different educational and professional backgrounds. Health and regulatory inspectors sometimes work long and irregular hours. Inspectors may also experience stressful, unpleasant, and even dangerous situations. Mine inspection can be dangerous, and agricultural and food inspection may bring contact with unpleasant odors, loud noises, potentially infectious diseases, and other difficult working conditions. Agricultural commodity graders may work outside in the heat or in cool refrigeration units. They may also be required to lift heavy objects. Consumer safety inspectors may work in slaughterhouses or processing rooms or in refrigerated storage rooms. Customs inspectors must deal with irate and angry travelers as they search luggage and cargo. They also face danger when dealing with smugglers, terrorists, and other criminals. Customs patrol officers may deal with dangerous border crashers as well as exposure to extremes in temperature as they perform their duties. Postal inspectors may encounter hazardous or explosive materials that may have been shipped improperly or deliberately through the mail. Environmental health inspectors may encounter radioactive or toxic materials or substances as they strive to make all areas of the environment safe for the average citizen.

Inspectors may face adversarial situations with individuals or organizations who feel that they do not warrant an investigation, are above the law, or are being singled out for inspection.

The work of health and regulatory inspectors is important and can be rewarding. Compensation and job security are generally good, and travel and automobile expenses are reimbursed when necessary. Inspectors can be proud that the skilled performance of their duties improves life in some way or another for every member of our society.

Most federal inspectors, including employees of the FDA, are eligible to take advantage of the Federal Flexible Workplace (Flexiplace) Project, which permits employees to work at home or other approved sites for a portion of the workweek.