Environmental Health Specialist

Description

Under general supervision of the Director of Public Health the Environmental Health Specialist is responsible for the planning, developing, and implementing a comprehensive environmental health program at WIHCC, Inc.  Complies with all applicable standards set by the Environmental Health regulatory agencies, and responsible for public health and environmental health. Including applicable  Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and The Joint Commission standards (TJC) and other industry specific regulatory agencies like the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA), Navajo Nation Occupational Safety Health Administration (NNOHSA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency, Navajo Nation Office of Environmental Health & Protection Program, Navajo County Health Department, Arizona Department of Health Services, and others. The work results in focused environmental surveys aimed at reducing or eliminating disease and injury by environmentally related factors in facilities surveyed. The program encompasses injury prevention and control, institutional environmental health, food sanitation, vector control, epidemiology and recreational environmental health for WIHCC, Inc. Serves as the team lead for the Environmental Health staff and works collaboratively with other WIHCC, Inc. entities including Infection Prevention & Control, Facilities Management & Engineering, Security, and Quality Management.. Upholds the principles of WIHCC’s Vision, Mission, and Value Statements. Maintains confidentiality of all privileged information at all times.

 This list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only of the tasks performed by this position and is not all-inclusive.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Maintains regular attendance and punctuality
• Plans, develops, and implements a comprehensive environmental health program.
• Assists the program field staff in planning, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive environmental health program.
• Produces reports, correspondence and other documentation of environmental health activities.
• Assists with clinical referrals for animal bites, bed bugs, mold, etc., in EHR for WIHCC, Inc. If necessary, conducts and assist with home assessment and animal bite investigations.
• Conducts environmental evaluations of institutional facilities such as schools, preschools, chapter houses, senior centers, community buildings, kitchens, etc., in areas of Life Safety, infection control, safety management, industrial hygiene, housekeeping, and operation and maintenance. Makes comparison to existing standards, codes, and regulations and recommendations methods to comply. Analyze the policies and procedures used by institutions and makes recommendations on how to improve the policies and procedures.
• Conducts injury surveillance activities and gives recommendations to leadership on reducing or eliminating injury risk factors.
• Obtains and maintains certification for Safe Kids Worldwide Safety Campaign as nationally certified Child Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) and will provide training for users of child passenger seats including proper installation into the vehicle.
• Evaluates community water supplies, wastewater treatment facilities and solid waste disposal sites and systems.
• Conducts epidemiological investigations involving outbreaks of diseases and injuries.
• Provides environmental evaluations of food services facilities (tribal, commercial, BIA, IHS). Compares results to Tribal codes. Keeps current on information pertaining to food handling and shares this information with appropriate individuals. Provides training to the public and staff as required.
• Conducts other evaluation activities as deemed necessary for the protection of public health.
• Works closely with Navajo Area Indian Health Service personnel and acts as a resource for community programs, local, state, and tribal entities.
• Gathers data and prepares quarterly and annual environmental health reports, as well as quarterly departmental reports to the Director of Public Health.
• Assists in determining the needs of the Environmental Health Program for personnel, supplies and equipment.
• Coordinates with the community to provide a variety of educational topics relating to environmental health to a variety of community settings including schools (car seat, food safety, bed bugs, mold, , hantavirus, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, etc.).
• Gains competency in use of the WebEHRS data base and recording system. Approves environmental inspection surveys of institutional facilities in WebEHRS.
• Conducts and assists routine environmental health surveys in accordance with the WebEHRS work plan and schedule.
• Establish a follow-up of any identified critical deficiencies to ensure correction with institutional facilities in a timely manner. 
• Coordinates, maintains, facilitates, and assist the Water Management Team and Plan with WIHCC, Inc. Maintain water management plan with Facilities Maintenance and Engineering and other stakeholders.
• Monitors biohazard waste pickups; maintains OSHA training, and facilitates team meetings.
• Assists and responds to facility maintenance work orders and other inquiries of pest and rodent hazards within WIHCC, Inc. Maintains policy and procedure with Facilities Maintenance and Engineering.
• Assists and respond to emergency codes, drills, and trainings with WIHCC, Inc.
• Assists incident command team; serves as liaison with federal ,state, tribal, local agencies, workgroups, and task forces on various emergency preparedness initiatives.
• Provides emergency preparedness education/training and technical assistance to the community and tribal organizations.
• Assists in planning and coordinating special projects, events, and programs as required.
• Requires completion of tasks or duties assigned by a supervisor.
• Upholds all principles of confidentiality and patient care to the fullest extent.
• Adheres to all professional and ethical behavior standards of the healthcare industry.
• Adheres to WIHCCs Personnel Policies and Procedures, departmental policies, rules, and regulations.
• Interacts in an honest, trustworthy and dependable manner with patients, employees, visitors, and vendors.
• Possesses cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Maintains compliance with all Human Resources requirements.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree in appropriate scientific, engineering, or public health field required. Master’s Degree strongly preferred in Environmental Health Sciences or related field. Three years of progressive health and  environmental field experience required. Bilingual skills in English and Navajo language preferred. Must maintain a valid unrestricted and insurable driver’s license. Must successfully pass a background investigation and maintain suitable requirements for a Child Care position. This position is considered as a Child Care position, which requires a satisfactory background check investigation and is subject to the requirements of the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act, as amended (henceforth referred as the ICPFVP Act).

Knowledge, Skills, Ability:

• Knowledge of applicable federal, Tribal, state, county and local laws, regulations, and requirements on public health and environmental health.
• Knowledge of the concepts, principals, methods, and techniques of environmental health and injury prevention.
• Knowledge of Life Safety Code and ability to review and interpret blueprints/plans of institutional facilities for health hazards control as well as related standards.
• Knowledge required to recognize potential health hazards associated with various operations and processes at facilities surveyed.
• Knowledge required to recommend effective measures to reduce or eliminate environmentally related diseases or injuries in facilities.
• Knowledge of Injury Prevention practices and strategies.
• Knowledge of Food Safety principles in accordance with the current Navajo Nation Food Safety Code, and the current USDA Food Code and the interrelation of both.
• Knowledge of the goals and practices of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Car Seat Recommendation for Children. 
• Knowledge of the techniques, methods, and equipment used to collect specimens for testing and identification.
• Knowledge of and ability the prepare Environmental Site Assessments.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of injury prevention.
• Knowledge of strong work ethics in the workplace.
• Knowledge of basic application of confidentiality.
• Knowledge of basic computer skills, e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Skill and proficiency in Navajo culture, tradition and belief particular to Public Health and Environmental Health principles. 
• Skill in record and data management.
• Ability to evaluate and provide input to policies and procedures.
• Ability to guide and lead a team.
• Ability to determine situational outcome based on critical-thinking assessment.
• Ability to attain certification as a Child Passenger Car Seat technician
• Ability to establish network of professional stakeholders and to work collaboratively for the ultimate benefit of the WIHCC, Inc. Service Area population.
• Ability to coordinate with Incident Command Team utilizing situational leadership skills. 
• Ability to manage crisis and delegate to appropriate personnel, particularly in the event of an emergency or crisis.
• Ability to exercise independent and sound, safe judgment.
• Ability to work independently and meet strict time lines.
• Ability to provide detailed regulatory interpretation of NNOSHA, federal and state OSHA regulations, and NFPA.
• Ability to compile data and transfer to report format identifying trends, and other statistical data.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with the individuals of varying social and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to exercise excellent interpersonal skills consistently.
• Ability to be dependable in attendance and job performance.
• Ability to meet attendance, overtime (if necessary), and other reliability requirements of the job.
• Ability to accept and learn from feedback.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to provide exemplary customer service at all times.
• Ability to interact positively with others and possess great interpersonal skills.
• Ability to multitask and perform well under pressure.
• Ability to have self-confidence.
• Ability to be a great team player.
• Ability to accept and learn from supervisor/peer critique.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of the organization.

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly is required to walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee frequently is required to taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.   

Work Environment:

Work is performed in an office setting or outdoor work environment with a moderate noise level. Work environment may involve exposure to physical risks, such as blood borne pathogens and operating dangerous equipment or working with chemicals. Evening and/or weekend work may be required. Extended hours and irregular shifts may be required.

As required by P.L. 93-638, absolute preference will be given to qualified Navajo applicants.  If there is no qualified Navajo applicant, preference will be given to qualified American Indian applicants.