ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST 41222

07/01/94 B

This is the first professional class in the Environmental Health series. Positions in this class are responsible for performing inspections, tests, evaluations, and permit issuances at the entry level to ensure the environment is free from communicable disease causing or transmitting sources. It is distinguished from the Environmental Health Assistant by the Environmental Health Specialist performing inspections and applying technical knowledge in order to make and recommend regulatory decisions. The Environmental Health Specialist is distinguished from the Environmental Health Specialist Senior class in that the Environmental Health Specialist Senior class carries out regulatory duties at the journey level without supervisory assistance or leadership from a higher level Environmental Health position. The Environmental Health Specialist Senior may also have programmatic responsibility district-wide or be charged with fixed leadership responsibility over Environmental Health Specialists and lower level support staff.

Complexity of Work: Performs work of moderate difficulty at the entry level in one or more environmental program area(s) to reduce health risks to the public. Investigates, inspects, collects samples and tests, evaluates, educates, develops recommendations to bring conditions into compliance and enforces state, federal, and local environmental laws, regulations, guidelines, and policies. The program areas typically include milk, frozen desserts, water, food, public facilities, animal (rabies) and vector control, shellfish, and environmentally transmitted disease or poisons (i.e., radon and lead). Duties performed to reduce health risks include inspecting milk processing and shipment; frozen dessert sanitary inspections and sampling; testing and approving commercial and residential well water use permits; periodically evaluating food processing and meal preparation facilities; conducting food handler safety and food manager's certification and awareness training; investigating consumer complaints and food-borne outbreaks, evaluating sanitary conditions at barber shops, beauty salons, hotels, motels, swimming pools, campgrounds, summer camps, child and adult care institutions, residential and commercial housing, and tourist facilities; investigating complaints and developing proposals to control rabies and insect and rodent infestations; inspecting shellfish processing plants and shellfish handling procedures; performing shoreline surveys to detect pollutants which may contaminate shellfish growing beds or pose an imminent threat to swimming and drinking water; evaluating geotechnical sites; determining placement of housing and businesses on land parcels; conducting housing inspections to ensure that property owners and occupants maintain dwellings in compliance with public health and safety; inspecting dwellings for lead and radon; and representing the agency in court concerning related court actions.

Supervision Given: Supervision is not typically a factor. The Environmental Health Specialist may provide technical guidance to Environmental Health Specialist Assistant positions.

Supervision Received: Positions in this class receive general supervision from higher level Environmental Health staff, typically an Environmental Health Supervisor or Environmental Health Manager. They may receive technical guidance from an Environmental Health Specialists Senior on complex situations not readily addressed by policy, procedure, or regulations. Work is routinely reviewed for consistency of application of regulations as well as for technical accuracy.

Scope: Positions in this class are usually located in a health district or specific geographical area and are assigned to a single program or a segment of multiple environmental programs. The work performed affects a portion of the accuracy and reliability of the health district or geographically assigned environmental program(s).

Impact of Actions: Positions in this class evaluate, correct, enforce, and permit environmental activities having minor impact on community health, goodwill, and the finances of commercial and residential ventures.

Personal Contacts: Positions in this class have frequent internal and external contacts with food establishment managers, contractors, public officials, and other governmental concerns.

Knowledge: Working knowledge of acute and chronic disease causation, disease control and prevention methods; landscape position and ground water movement and contamination; and private well development and construction. Some knowledge of state, federal, and local environmental laws; criminal and civil actions; rules of evidence; and laws relating to liability.

Skills: Working skill in utilizing ph meters, thermometers, water analysis kits, and lead and radiation detection equipment.

Abilities: Demonstrated ability to utilize standardized epidemiological investigative methods; prepare thorough and accurate documentation of regulatory activities; read, interpret, and apply policies and regulations; to communicate effectively orally and in writing with a variety of audiences.

QUALIFICATIONS GUIDE*

License or Certification: None.

Education or Training: Completion of college level course work in public or environmental health, biology, chemistry, or a related program.

Level and Type of Experience: Experience related to environmental health.

An equivalent combination of training and experience indicating possession of the preceding knowledge, skills, and abilities may substitute for this education and experience.

This class replaces the Sanitarian classification, effective July, 1994.