Environmental Health Specialist

POSITION: Environmental Health Specialist

DEPARTMENT: Health

SALARY: $2,433.15 Bi-weekly

Incumbent serves as Environmentalist/Food, Swimming Pools for the Tippecanoe County Health Department, responsible for enforcing federal, state, and local environmental health regulations.

DUTIES:

Inspects food establishments, such as restaurants and groceries, according to a regular schedule or in response to public complaint, reviewing potential health violations and hazards, collecting samples, advising personnel on proper sanitation of equipment, food handling, and rodent/insect control, and taking appropriate action to ensure compliance with all requirements.

Inspects new food service establishments and their construction plans, reviews potential health violations and hazards, collects samples, advises personnel on proper sanitation of equipment and procedures, and takes appropriate action to ensure compliance with all requirements. Reviews reports from inspections and determines appropriate actions.

Processes applications for food service licenses, such as permanent and new food service establishments and occasionally fair/festival vendors, including inspecting sites. Reviews plans for new or remodeled food establishments, making recommendations as needed.

Maintains various records and case files as required, such as inspection reports, code violation notices, and complaints, and prepares and submits reports as required.

Inspects public and semi-public swimming pools to ensure compliance with state and federal purity standards, including making site inspections, collecting, packaging, and sending water samples to state laboratories for testing and initiating action to resolve problems.

Periodically makes food and environmental health presentations to community groups, food preparation personnel, and public classrooms.

Maintains current knowledge of environmental health issues and regulations by periodically attending seminars and meetings.

Process applications for Tattoo establishments and artists.

Inspect new Body/Tattoo establishment to ensure compliance with requirements.

Inspects Body/Tattoo Establishments according to a regular schedule or in response to a public complaint, reviewing potential health violations and hazards, ensuring compliance. Compile reports from inspections and determines appropriate actions

Advise personal on proper sanitation of equipment and taking appropriate action to ensure compliance with all requirements.

Receive and investigate environmental complaints as assigned, such as open burning, dumping, rodent infestations, housing conditions, hazardous wastes sites, and air quality issues. Prepares and mails code violation notices to property owners, responds to inquiries, and conducts follow-up inspections to ensure compliance.

Surveillance of potential mosquito breeding grounds, application of appropriate treatment, and maintenance of records.

Working knowledge of state and local regulations and standard principles and practices of environmental health, including solid waste disposal, vector, and rabies control.

Ability to identify characteristics a vector infestation.

Transporting possible rabies samples to state laboratory.

Inspects for compliance of county sewage local ordinances and ISDH sewage rules.

Maintains digital records and some paper copies of onsite sewage systems and update them accordingly.

Performs lead-based paint hazard risk assessments including gathering building information, collection of samples, and utilization of XRF equipment in compliance with local, state, and federal rules and regulations.

Interprets lead sampling data and prepares reports for occupant, homeowner, and IDOH including risk assessment results, remediation recommendations, and education to prevent further poisoning.

Serves on 24-hour call for emergencies.

Performs related duties as assigned.

I. JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Baccalaureate Degree in biology, environmental science, life science, or related area.

Must be at least 21 years of age.

Possession of or ability to obtain certification as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist, Certified Pool Operator, Category 8, Lead Inspector and Risk Assessor and Standardized Retail Food Inspector.

Working knowledge of state and local regulations and standard principles and practices of environmental health, including solid waste disposal, food service/store sanitation and food preparation, and vector and rabies control.

Working knowledge of and ability to properly operate standard office, and food and water testing equipment, including sanitizer test strips, computer, typewriter, telephone, chemical test kits, thermocouple, temperature measuring devices, and calculator.

Knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling and punctuation, and ability to prepare detailed reports as required.

Knowledge of basic filing systems and ability to create and maintain accurate and complete department files and records.

Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County departments, various state agencies, regulated establishment personnel, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.

Ability to inspect sites for potential code violations, conduct effective investigations of environmental complaints, and ensure compliance with legal requirements.

Ability to collect, record and analyze data and test samples, maintain accurate records, prepare reports, and make related arithmetic calculations.

Ability to use appropriate universal health and safety precautions to avoid contamination and/or infection in high-risk environments.

Ability to compare or observe similarities and differences in data, compile, collate, or classify data, analyze, evaluate, and coordinate data and make determinations based on data analyses.

Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of department information and records according to State requirements.

Ability to comply with all employer and department policies and work rules, including, but not limited, to attendance, safety, drug-free workplace and personal conduct.

Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out written or oral instructions and present findings in oral or written form.

Ability to work on several tasks at the same time and complete assignments effectively amidst frequent distractions and interruption, often under time pressure.

Ability to work alone and with others in a team environment with minimum supervision.

Ability to apply knowledge of people and/or locations, and plan and layout assigned work projects.

Ability to read and interpret detailed prints, sketches, layouts, specifications and maps.

Ability to plan and present public speaking presentations, fund raisers, and special events.

Ability to perform arithmetic calculations.

Ability to occasionally testify in legal proceedings/court as required.

Ability to regularly work extended hours, and occasionally work weekends and/or evening hours and travel out of town for meetings, sometimes overnight.

Possession of a valid driver's license and demonstrated safe driving record.

II. DIFFICULTY OF WORK:

Incumbent performs duties which are relatively broad in scope, involving varying situations and conditions. Incumbent performs according to well-defined legal requirements and standard department policies and procedures, exercising judgment in applying guidelines and technical knowledge to specific cases and circumstances.

III. RESPONSIBILITY:

Incumbent monitors various sites for compliance with local and state guidelines governing public environmental health/sanitation, referring to supervisor unusual or unprecedented situations. Work is periodically reviewed for compliance with department policy and legal requirements.

IV. PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

Incumbent maintains communication with co-workers, other County departments, various state agencies, food establishment personnel, and the public for the purpose of exchanging and explaining information, resolving problems, sometimes persuading code violators to implement corrective procedures.

Incumbent reports directly to Food/Pools Service Supervisor and/or Chief Environmentalist.

V. PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Incumbent performs duties in a variety of settings, including a standard office environment, in the field, and in a vehicle. During site inspections, duties may involve standing/walking for long periods, pushing/pulling/lifting/carrying objects weighing less than 25 pounds, crouching/kneeling, bending, reaching, close vision, color perception, and hearing communication, and exposure to chemicals, inclement weather, and contamination. Safety/health precautions must be followed at all time to avoid infection. Incumbent occasionally works extended, weekend, and/or evening hours, and occasionally travels out of town for meetings and training, sometimes overnight.