Top Environmental Health and Safety Technician Interview Questions and Answers

Getting hired as an environmental health and safety (EHS) technician requires demonstrating your technical skills and safety knowledge during the interview. This article provides tips on how to best answer the most common EHS technician interview questions. We’ve included top questions interviewers ask candidates for this role, along with example responses and what skills to highlight.

Read on to learn how to master your upcoming EHS technician interview!

What Does an EHS Technician Do?

Before diving into the interview questions. let’s briefly recap the key responsibilities of an EHS technician

• Conducting safety inspections and risk assessments
• Implementing and monitoring safety programs and procedures
• Ensuring compliance with environmental, health and safety regulations
• Investigating incidents, accidents and near misses
• Maintaining accurate records and documentation for safety activities
• Training employees on safety practices and use of equipment
• Handling hazardous materials and waste disposal

Now let’s look at how to demonstrate these critical skills during the interview:

Technical Expertise

1. What experience do you have conducting environmental site assessments or safety audits?

Interviewers want to confirm you have hands-on experience with core EHS site assessments. Highlight your specific expertise in:

• Walkthrough safety inspections and job hazard analyses
• Environmental site assessments like Phase I ESAs
• Performing safety program audits
• Leading incident and accident investigations
• Issuing final risk analysis reports and recommendations

For example: “I have over 5 years of experience performing safety and environmental site assessments for manufacturing facilities. This includes quarterly internal audits of our LOTO, PPE and confined space entry procedures. I’ve also conducted Phase I ESAs at three of our plant locations prior to acquisition. These in-depth assessments enabled me to pinpoint risks and provide senior leadership data-backed recommendations to mitigate hazards.”

2. What methods would you use to monitor air quality and noise levels at a construction site?

This question tests your technical knowledge of occupational hygiene principles. Discuss using:

• Real-time monitors like photoionization detectors for VOCs
• Integrated sampling pumps for long-term air monitoring
• Dosimeters to measure worker noise exposure
• Sound level meters for area noise level surveys
• Comparing readings against OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs)

For example: “For air quality monitoring at a construction site, I would use real-time PID monitors to quickly screen for VOCs from vehicle exhaust and paints. For asbestos fibers, I would take personal samples with integrated sampling pumps as per NIOSH methods. For noise surveys, I would use Class 2 sound level meters and noise dosimeters. I would compare all readings against PELs and recommend controls like ventilation, PPE, sound barriers as needed.”

3. What kind of safety hazards would you look for when conducting a routine inspection of a manufacturing facility?

This behavioral question tests your understanding of common safety hazards in industrial environments. In your response, cover inspecting for dangers such as:

• Slip, trip and fall hazards
• Emergency eyewash/shower accessibility
• Adequate machine guarding
• Proper electrical cord condition
• Forklift operation practices
• Blocked fire exits and extinguishers
• Proper chemical labeling and storage

For example: “When conducting safety inspections at manufacturing facilities, I carefully examine the facility for hazards such as proper housekeeping procedures to avoid slip and fall risks. I check that emergency eyewash stations have clear access. I verify equipment have the appropriate machine guards in place and that electrical cords are undamaged. I confirm forklifts are operated safely with no unnecessary loads lifted too high. I check chemical storage areas to ensure containers are properly labeled and incompatible chemicals segregated.”

4. How would you advise management on improving safety practices at a construction worksite?

This tests your ability to provide safety recommendations and influence management decisions. Discuss advising on best practices like:

• Conducting regular safety training refreshers
• Enforcing PPE requirements (hard hats, safety glasses)
• Implementing a JHA program for high-risk tasks
• Increased supervision and accountability for safety
• Rewarding safe work practices via incentive program
• Investing in modern fall protection and equipment safety upgrades

For example: “To improve safety at a construction site, I would first recommend conducting mandatory safety refresher training on a monthly basis to reinforce hazards and proper protocols. I would advise launching a daily JHA program requiring foremen and workers to analyze risks before complex jobs. Installing a safety observation program where workers can report issues anonymously could also help identify gaps. Most importantly, I would consult with workers directly to get their perspective and buy-in on proposed changes.”

Regulatory Expertise

5. How do you stay current on the latest environmental and safety regulations and standards?

EHS roles require continuously staying up-to-date on changing regulations, so interviewers want to ensure you make learning a priority. Share how you:

• Regularly review regulatory agency websites like OSHA’s for new guidance
• Attend relevant conferences and training seminars
• Complete continuing education courses on emerging standards
• Subscribe to industry publications and online communities
• Leverage networks like ASSE to exchange best practices

For example: “Staying current on the latest EHS regulations is critical in this role. I subscribe to OSHA’s newsletter and review their site weekly for any new guidance. I am also a member of my local ASSE chapter where I gain insights on new standards through training events and networking with other professionals. I complete around 20 CEU hours annually through online courses on emerging topics like ISO and risk management best practices. Reading publications like EHS Today also helps me remain up-to-date in between conferences.”

6. How would you investigate a report of illicit dumping of hazardous waste at a remote worksite?

Interviewers want to understand your systematic approach to investigating safety incidents and violations. Discuss steps such as:

• Interviewing involved workers to gain firsthand accounts
• Visually assessing any environmental damage/releases
• Sampling or testing impacted soil, water for contamination
• Reviewing waste manifests and disposal procedures
• Checking cameras, entry logs for evidence
• Issuing cease and desist orders if ongoing
• Consulting regulatory agencies as needed

For example: “If hazardous waste dumping was reported at a remote worksite, I would travel to the site immediately to conduct a visual inspection of any impacted areas and collect soil or water samples for lab analysis if contamination occurred. I would interview all workers who were on site leading up to the incident to learn more. I would review waste manifests and permits to identify the materials and volumes dumped. If I could not determine the origin, I would thoroughly check security footage and entry logs for any suspicious activity and report the incident to the EPA for further investigation and remediation.”

7. Can you explain the requirements of OSHA’s Lockout Tagout (LOTO) standard?

Given how critical LOTO compliance is for safety, interviewers want to confirm your command of this OSHA standard. Discuss key requirements like:

• Conducting hazard assessments on energy sources
• Implementing written LOTO procedures for equipment
• Providing authorized locks and standardized tags
• Training workers on LOTO program before implementation
• Periodically inspecting to ensure procedures are followed

For example: “OSHA’s LOTO standard aims to prevent hazardous energy releases during maintenance and servicing activities. It requires identifying all hazardous energy sources on equipment and developing specific written isolation procedures. Workers must be trained to properly shutdown and lockout energy sources like electrical, mechanical or hydraulic before any tasks. Standardized tags must also be placed to warn against energizing. Periodic inspections must occur to ensure the LOTO program is effective.”

Communication & Interpersonal Skills

8. How would you communicate complex safety information or training to production workers in a plant?

This question gauges your skills in simplifying and delivering technical safety knowledge to employees. Highlight approaches like:

• Using visual aids like images instead of text-heavy PowerPoints
• Incorporating hands-on demonstrations into training
• Relating concepts to real on-the-job examples
• Checking frequently for understanding and addressing concerns
• Making content interactive via role playing activities

For example: “When conducting safety training for production workers, I use a mix of simple visuals, demonstra