What Do Agricultural Inspectors Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Agricultural Inspectors inspect agricultural commodities, processing equipment, and facilities, and fish and logging operations, to ensure compliance with regulations and laws governing health, quality, and safety. They also set standards for the production of meat or poultry products or for food ingredients, additives, or compounds used to prepare or package products.

Other tasks include:

• Inspect food products and processing procedures to determine whether products are safe to eat.
• Inspect agricultural commodities or related operations, as well as fish or logging operations, for compliance with laws and regulations governing health, quality, and safety.
• Label and seal graded products and issue official grading certificates.
• Monitor the operations and sanitary conditions of slaughtering or meat processing plants.
• Take emergency actions, such as closing production facilities, if product safety is compromised.
• Interpret and enforce government acts and regulations and explain required standards to agricultural workers.

We asked Agricultural Inspectors how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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62% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 57% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Agricultural Inspectors set standards for the production of meat or poultry products or for food ingredients, additives, or compounds used to prepare or package products. They inspect the cleanliness and practices of establishment employees.

A typical day for an Agricultural Inspector will also include:

• Label and seal graded products and issue official grading certificates.
• Interpret and enforce government acts and regulations and explain required standards to agricultural workers.
• Monitor the grading performed by company employees to verify conformance to standards.
• Set labeling standards and approve labels for meat or poultry products.
• Inspect agricultural commodities or related operations, as well as fish or logging operations, for compliance with laws and regulations governing health, quality, and safety.

We asked some Agricultural Inspectors a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	67% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	49% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	69% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	59% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	17% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	54% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Agricultural Inspectors also provide consultative services in areas such as equipment or product evaluation, plant construction or layout, or food safety systems. They may also inquire about pesticides or chemicals to which animals may have been exposed.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Agricultural Inspectors Collect samples from animals, plants, or products and route them to laboratories for microbiological assessment, ingredient verification, or other testing. They might also Examine, weigh, and measure commodities, such as poultry, eggs, meat, or seafood to certify qualities, grades, and weights.

In addition, they Inspect or test horticultural products or livestock to detect harmful diseases, chemical residues, or infestations and to determine the quality of products or animals.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Review and monitor foreign product inspection systems in countries of origin to ensure equivalence to the U.S. system.

To some Agricultural Inspectors, it is also their responsibility to Label and seal graded products and issue official grading certificates.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as an Agricultural Inspector, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes452011.htm

http://www.bls.gov/ooh/farming-fishing-and-forestry/agricultural-workers.htm