ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST

Environmental Health Specialist

This employee inspects and evaluates sites that require Board of Health permits and licenses that are the responsibility of the Cincinnati Board of Health. They respond to complaints, referrals, and directives about unsanitary conditions by visually inspecting premises, issuing orders when necessary, advising violators, and enforcing orders not abated by initiating court procedures or other enforcement actions against those found in violation. The field investigations generate a majority of the activity performed by the environmental health staff. Performs related work as required.

Knowledge of: microbiology, available sources of information related to environmental health, human behavior, disease, injury causation and control techniques, safety policies and procedures.

Skill to: drive a car, climb and work in difficult physical settings and terrain, lift heavy objects such as manhole covers.

Ability to: handle and relate with different people, organize time effectively, communicate both orally and in writing, work independent of others, interpret policy.

Each applicant must possess and maintain a State of Ohio Registration as a Sanitarian issued by the State Board of Sanitarian Registration and must possess any one of the following three combinations of education and experience: (A) Graduated from an accredited college or university with at least a baccalaureate degree, including at least forty-five quarter units or thirty semester units of science courses approved by the board; and completed at least two years of full-time employment as a Sanitarian; (B) Graduated from an accredited college or university with at least a baccalaureate degree, completed a major in environmental health science which included an internship program approved by the board; and completed at least one year of full-time employment as a Sanitarian; (C) Graduated from an accredited college or university with a degree higher than a baccalaureate degree, including at least forty-five quarter units or thirty semester units of science courses in the general areas of biology, chemistry, physics, geology, or math, and at least one year of full-time employment as a Sanitarian.

Other requirements: Must possess a valid driver's license. May be required to furnish own car on a mileage reimbursement basis. Must be willing to work irregular hours. Must be willing to work alone.

Examples of work performed include: inspecting licensed establishments requiring Cincinnati Board of Health permits or state licenses including food service operations, mobile and counter freezers, swimming pools, food and milk plants, day care centers, and other types of institutional facilities; re-inspecting code violators to ensure compliance with orders issued on environmental health conditions; initiating and processing legal procedures against code violators as an enforcement technique including pre-prosecution hearings, filing of affidavits and warrants, and providing expert testimony in court; investigating complaints of unsanitary environmental conditions initiated by various sources, including citizen groups, the Board of Health, the City Manager, City Council, and various other sources received by phone or by letter concerning environmental health hazards according to applicable codes and standards or laws which apply to various areas such as lead poisoning, rats, roaches, weeds, pollution, and septic tanks; responding to inquiries and referrals from various and sundry sources such as citizens, council members, Board of Health members, department officials, and the City Manager regarding environmental health issues; educating citizens, business proprietors, civic organizations, neighborhood groups, other health professionals and groups; completing various forms, reports, and other paperwork as required by local, state, and federal regulations; assisting in the review of plans and sketches submitted by licensed establishments and those requiring Board of Health approval for new construction or modification of a current structure; representing the Health Department at meetings with local, state, and federal agencies to coordinate efforts dealing with environmental health issues; serving on various committees and attending conferences and meetings as each relate to environmental health and the maintenance of sanitary conditions throughout the Cincinnati area, providing information and often receiving training on environmental health issues and new technology, when available; working knowledge of current safety policies, instructions for proper usage, and other procedures and professional practices required for completing job duties; identifying unsafe practices and conditions and bringing such matters to the attention of the crew leader or supervisor; conducting special studies of environmental health situations as assigned or requested by supervision or other Health Department officials.

Probationary period: Twelve months. Supervision exercised: May generally direct the activities of Sanitarians-in-Training, Vector Control Inspectors, aides, interns, or student employees and youth workers.