What are the responsibilities and job description for the Environmental Health Specialist (Food & Lodging/Lead) position at Nash County?
A. PRIMARY PURPOSE OF ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT:
Childhood lead poisoning is a preventable environmental health problem. Elevated blood lead levels can cause physical and mental delays and damage. The Childhood lead poisoning prevention program enforces applicable state laws with the intent of protecting children from exposure to environmental lead hazards.
B. Primary Purpose of Position:
The Primary purpose for the Environmental Health Specialist is to interpret and enforce the rules, regulations and general statutes set forth by North Carolina, and the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources in Childhood lead poisoning prevention. The Environmental Health Specialist will also maintain the files, provide educational information to the public, accommodate proper requests for public information and provide required monitoring and inspections. The position may also enforce Food and Lodging, Sewage Treatment and Disposal laws and rules established by the state and the Division of Environmental Health and the Nash County well ordinance. Food and Lodging responsibilities may include inspecting facilities that require compliance with public health laws such as restaurants, food stands, mobile food units, push carts, public and private school lunch rooms, educational food service, institution kitchens, catered nutrition sites, nutrition sites for the elderly, lodging facilities, bed and breakfast homes and inns, summer camps, public swimming pools, child day cares, tattoo parlors, school buildings, nursing homes, and hospitals, investigate reported cases of foodborne illness and other public health concerns and complaints and file written reports of the investigations. Sewage treatment and disposal and well program responsibilities will include evaluating applications and permitting or denying on-site wastewater applications and private water supply wells, follow up consultations, and inspections.
Work Schedule
The typical work week for an Environmental Health Specialist is from 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m., Monday through Friday. Occasionally work is completed after 5:00p.m. due to inspections of establishments open after 5p.m., special events, classes attended or taught, outbreak response, all hazard response, natural disaster response or other unusual event.10% It is the responsibility of the Environmental Health Specialist to perform required investigations and related activities as prescribed by Division of Environmental Health for Lead laws and rules. Careful coordination is required with property owners, residents, and the Division of Environmental Health staff, since inspections and investigations are performed jointly. Careful documentation is required of actions and responses in childhood lead. Contact with the Office of the Attorney General is necessary.
10% It is the responsibility of the Environmental Health Specialist to respond to public information requests, maintain the lead files, and to document activities and update lead files and State electronic lead records as needed. The Environmental Health Specialist acts as the department Authorized Lead Agent and as a liaison with the State Regional Lead Specialist.
65% Perform on-site duties in areas of county as described in the On-site Environmental Health Specialist job description. Interpret and enforce policies, rules and regulations and general statutes set forth by the Division of Environmental Health and by the Nash County Health Department.
10% Office work consists of general correspondence, record keeping and issuing permits for the on-site wastewater and well programs.
3% Maintain required training and education as required by the NC State Board of Environmental Health Specialists Examiners and the Division of Environmental Health to maintain required registration and authorizations. Attend training seminars and meeting; participate webinars; refer to literature pertaining to Environmental Health for professional development.
1% Perform Food and Lodging duties as described in the Food and Lodging Health Specialist job description. Interpret and enforce policies, rules and regulations and general statutes set forth by the Division of Environmental Health and by the Nash County Health Department.
1% Occasionally participation in speaking with small civic and community groups concerning environmental and public health matters.
OTHER POSITION CHARACTERISTICS
Accuracy Required in Work:
Precision and accuracy are required such as: Converting units of lead levels in sample results, measuring sample areas, calculating points and demerits on inspection forms, calculating sewage flow rates and nitrification requirements, measuring setbacks and measuring annular space in a bore hole. Decisions have a direct effect on the health of individuals and groups of people. Decisions have financial impact on business, property owners, and contractors. Therefore, accuracy is an essential for an Environmental Health Program Specialist.
Consequence of Error:
Improper actions and decisions could result in the development of unhealthy environmental conditions which could cause lead exposure, public nuisances or the spread of communicable diseases. Decisions made during inspections could cause financial loss to business.
Instruction Provided to Employee:
Instructions are usually general in nature, given as needed. When unusual circumstances involving complex or controversial issues arise, instructions may be more detailed. Specific information may be provided verbally or in written form. The specialist may have to pursue instruction directly from other sources, such as state staff.
Guides, Regulations, Policies and References Used by Employee:
Rules Governing the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
NCAC 18A .1900 N.C. laws and Rules for Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems
15A NCAC 02C .0301 et seq. N.C. Rules for Permitting and Inspection of Private Drinking Water wells
15A NCAC 18A .3800 et seq. N.C. Private Drinking Water Well Sampling Rules
NCAC 02C .0102, .0107, .0108, .0110 through .0114, .0116, and .0117 N.C. Rules for Well Construction Standards
Nash County Well Ordinance
Munsell Soil Color Chart
NCAC 18A .1000 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Summer Camps
NCAC 18A .1600 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Residential Care Facilities.
NCAC 18A Rules Governing the Sanitation of Child Daycare Facilities
NCAC 18A .3500 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Primative Camps
NCAC 18A .2500 Rules Governing Public Swimming Pools
NCAC 18A .3000 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Bed& Breakfast Inns
NCAC 18A .2200 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Bed& Breakfast Homes
NCAC 18A .2400 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Public, Private, & Religious Schools
NCAC 18A .1300 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Hospitals, Nursing and Rest Homes, Sanitariums, and Educations and other Institutions.
NCAC 18A .1500 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Local Confinement Facilities
NCAC 18A .1800 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Lodging Establishments
NCAC 18A .2600 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Restaurants and other Foodhandling Establishments
NCAC 18A .3200 Rules Governing Tattooing
NCAC 18A .1700 Rules Governing the Sanitation and Protection Of Water Supplies
NCAC 18A .3300 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Adult Day Service Facility
General Statute 130A-496 Smoking prohibited in restaurants and bars
North Carolina Food Code Manual
N.C. Public Health and Related Laws
Division of Environmental Heatlh guidance emails, memos and position statements
Nash County Environmental Health Policies and Procedures
Supervision Received by Employee:
Written and verbal instruction from the Environmental Health Supervisor are common. Work receives some limited technical review that is typically accomplished after the work is completed or during projects while acting in an advisory role.
Variety of Purposes of Personal Contacts:
Frequent contact will include Local and State officials, contractors, developers, the general public, property owners, local interest groups and managers of various businesses. Examples of these contacts include: Media, Attorneys, Engineers, Architects, Soil Scientists, sales representatives, Fire Inspectors, Building Inspectors and health care providers. Most contacts will be consultation on applicable laws and rules. Some will be associated with enforcement actions.
Physical Effort:
Require physical exertion each day such as standing for extended periods of time, bending, stooping, lifting, walking, reaching, and moving equipment and utensils .
Work Environment and Conditions:
Require physical exertion each day such as bending, stooping, lifting, walking, and talking. The employee will have to walk across various types of terrain, auger or drill holes in the ground, probe, evaluate soil, enter homes of the general public, and perform inspections. Inspections will include walking over lose soil, on irregular surfaces, stepping in and out of trenches and closely examining objects at or below ground level. Soil borings are about three (3) inches in diameter, four (4) feet deep and dug with a manual auger tool. Employees will be lifting well lids for inspections weighing in excess of 100 lbs. The Position requires frequently probing in soil to locate objects. Work includes exposure to the outdoor elements for periods of time. Employees are exposed to potential physical, chemical and biological hazards such as moving machines, hot grease and surfaces, chlorine, lead, radiation and communicable diseases. Tension or stress during or after inspections or other regulatory action is not uncommon.
Machines, Tools, Instruments, Equipment and materials used:
Calculator Architectural Blueprints
Architects scale Sanitizer/chemical test strips
Light meter Maximum registering thermometer/tape
Flashlight Engineer’s Scale
Thermometers Tape measure
Pool Test Kit Color charts
Soil Auger X-ray Fluorescence Analyzer
Lead wipes Sample containers
GPS equipment Soil probe
Visual Attention, Mental Concentration and Manipulative Skills:
Position requires good near and distant vision for office and outdoor work. Also, good color vision is required to distinguish certain hues, chromas, and values of soil colors for descriptive purposes. Mental concentration must be adequate for working in time frames, enduring frequent interruptions by visitors, operators, contractors, applicants and phone calls, performing detailed drawings and keeping detailed documentation. There is considerable evaluation, assimilation and decision making with the public on issues that are financially and emotionally sensitive. Manipulative skills require ability to operate items listed above in item number 9 and for hand textural analysis of soil samples. The art of persuasion is used extensively in dealing with clients.
Safety for Others:
Environmental Health Specialists should be attentive to safety of others.
Dynamics of Work:
Changes and additions in State laws and rules affect duties of Environmental Health Specialists. Change of business owners and managers can affect work dynamics. Changes or loss of Environmental Health Staff or organizations changes can affect the work load of each specialist.
Working knowledge of environmental health laws, rules, and procedures. As well as a complete understanding of the concepts of public health law. Practical knowledge of microbiology, biology, chemistry, food science, epidemiology, soil science, entomology, and basic engineering technology as applies to environmental health practices. General knowledge of community resources. Working knowledge of the responsibilities of other agencies involved in environmental health work. Working knowledge of the interrelationship between socio-economic factors and environmental health concerns. Working knowledge of the design of on-site waste water treatment systems, food sanitation, foodborne diseases, communicable diseases, vector control, protection of water supplies, solid waste management, and institutional supplies, solid waste management, and institutional sanitation. Working knowledge of inspection methods and investigation techniques as applied in environmental health. Ability to analyze and comprehend a wide variety of technical and administrative regulations, records, and reports. Ability to exercise sound judgment and deal tactfully with a wide range of public contracts while enforcing public health laws and regulations. Ability to motivate and educate business and property owners and the consuming public in matters related to protecting and promoting public health. Ability to present formal environmental health training programs. Ability to develop and express ideas and opinions concisely, comprehensively, and clearly in oral and written form. Ability to independently plan and schedule work activities. Ability to apply environmental health knowledge and techniques in the investigation of environmental health problems.MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Graduation from an accredited baccalaureate or postgraduate degree program with a minimum of 30 semester hours or its equivalent in the physical or biological sciences and two years of experience in the field of environmental health practice; or a graduation from a baccalaureate or postgraduate degree program that is accredited by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC) and a minimum of one year of experience in the field of environmental health practice.
License or Certification Required: Must be eligible to meet the requirements for registration or license as an Environmental Health Specialist as outlined in Article 4, Chapter 90A of the NC General Statutes.
Administering the Trainee Appointment: Appointee must be eligible for registration and apply for registration as an Environmental Health Specialist Intern within 60 days of employment. Employee may remain registered as an Environmental Health Specialist Intern until registration as an Environmental Health Specialist or up to three years, whichever comes first.
Preference may be given to applicants who are a currently Registered Environmental Health Specialist.
Childhood lead poisoning is a preventable environmental health problem. Elevated blood lead levels can cause physical and mental delays and damage. The Childhood lead poisoning prevention program enforces applicable state laws with the intent of protecting children from exposure to environmental lead hazards.
B. Primary Purpose of Position:
The Primary purpose for the Environmental Health Specialist is to interpret and enforce the rules, regulations and general statutes set forth by North Carolina, and the Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources in Childhood lead poisoning prevention. The Environmental Health Specialist will also maintain the files, provide educational information to the public, accommodate proper requests for public information and provide required monitoring and inspections. The position may also enforce Food and Lodging, Sewage Treatment and Disposal laws and rules established by the state and the Division of Environmental Health and the Nash County well ordinance. Food and Lodging responsibilities may include inspecting facilities that require compliance with public health laws such as restaurants, food stands, mobile food units, push carts, public and private school lunch rooms, educational food service, institution kitchens, catered nutrition sites, nutrition sites for the elderly, lodging facilities, bed and breakfast homes and inns, summer camps, public swimming pools, child day cares, tattoo parlors, school buildings, nursing homes, and hospitals, investigate reported cases of foodborne illness and other public health concerns and complaints and file written reports of the investigations. Sewage treatment and disposal and well program responsibilities will include evaluating applications and permitting or denying on-site wastewater applications and private water supply wells, follow up consultations, and inspections.
Work Schedule
The typical work week for an Environmental Health Specialist is from 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m., Monday through Friday. Occasionally work is completed after 5:00p.m. due to inspections of establishments open after 5p.m., special events, classes attended or taught, outbreak response, all hazard response, natural disaster response or other unusual event.10% It is the responsibility of the Environmental Health Specialist to perform required investigations and related activities as prescribed by Division of Environmental Health for Lead laws and rules. Careful coordination is required with property owners, residents, and the Division of Environmental Health staff, since inspections and investigations are performed jointly. Careful documentation is required of actions and responses in childhood lead. Contact with the Office of the Attorney General is necessary.
10% It is the responsibility of the Environmental Health Specialist to respond to public information requests, maintain the lead files, and to document activities and update lead files and State electronic lead records as needed. The Environmental Health Specialist acts as the department Authorized Lead Agent and as a liaison with the State Regional Lead Specialist.
65% Perform on-site duties in areas of county as described in the On-site Environmental Health Specialist job description. Interpret and enforce policies, rules and regulations and general statutes set forth by the Division of Environmental Health and by the Nash County Health Department.
10% Office work consists of general correspondence, record keeping and issuing permits for the on-site wastewater and well programs.
3% Maintain required training and education as required by the NC State Board of Environmental Health Specialists Examiners and the Division of Environmental Health to maintain required registration and authorizations. Attend training seminars and meeting; participate webinars; refer to literature pertaining to Environmental Health for professional development.
1% Perform Food and Lodging duties as described in the Food and Lodging Health Specialist job description. Interpret and enforce policies, rules and regulations and general statutes set forth by the Division of Environmental Health and by the Nash County Health Department.
1% Occasionally participation in speaking with small civic and community groups concerning environmental and public health matters.
OTHER POSITION CHARACTERISTICS
Accuracy Required in Work:
Precision and accuracy are required such as: Converting units of lead levels in sample results, measuring sample areas, calculating points and demerits on inspection forms, calculating sewage flow rates and nitrification requirements, measuring setbacks and measuring annular space in a bore hole. Decisions have a direct effect on the health of individuals and groups of people. Decisions have financial impact on business, property owners, and contractors. Therefore, accuracy is an essential for an Environmental Health Program Specialist.
Consequence of Error:
Improper actions and decisions could result in the development of unhealthy environmental conditions which could cause lead exposure, public nuisances or the spread of communicable diseases. Decisions made during inspections could cause financial loss to business.
Instruction Provided to Employee:
Instructions are usually general in nature, given as needed. When unusual circumstances involving complex or controversial issues arise, instructions may be more detailed. Specific information may be provided verbally or in written form. The specialist may have to pursue instruction directly from other sources, such as state staff.
Guides, Regulations, Policies and References Used by Employee:
Rules Governing the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program
NCAC 18A .1900 N.C. laws and Rules for Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems
15A NCAC 02C .0301 et seq. N.C. Rules for Permitting and Inspection of Private Drinking Water wells
15A NCAC 18A .3800 et seq. N.C. Private Drinking Water Well Sampling Rules
NCAC 02C .0102, .0107, .0108, .0110 through .0114, .0116, and .0117 N.C. Rules for Well Construction Standards
Nash County Well Ordinance
Munsell Soil Color Chart
NCAC 18A .1000 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Summer Camps
NCAC 18A .1600 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Residential Care Facilities.
NCAC 18A Rules Governing the Sanitation of Child Daycare Facilities
NCAC 18A .3500 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Primative Camps
NCAC 18A .2500 Rules Governing Public Swimming Pools
NCAC 18A .3000 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Bed& Breakfast Inns
NCAC 18A .2200 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Bed& Breakfast Homes
NCAC 18A .2400 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Public, Private, & Religious Schools
NCAC 18A .1300 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Hospitals, Nursing and Rest Homes, Sanitariums, and Educations and other Institutions.
NCAC 18A .1500 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Local Confinement Facilities
NCAC 18A .1800 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Lodging Establishments
NCAC 18A .2600 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Restaurants and other Foodhandling Establishments
NCAC 18A .3200 Rules Governing Tattooing
NCAC 18A .1700 Rules Governing the Sanitation and Protection Of Water Supplies
NCAC 18A .3300 Rules Governing the Sanitation of Adult Day Service Facility
General Statute 130A-496 Smoking prohibited in restaurants and bars
North Carolina Food Code Manual
N.C. Public Health and Related Laws
Division of Environmental Heatlh guidance emails, memos and position statements
Nash County Environmental Health Policies and Procedures
Supervision Received by Employee:
Written and verbal instruction from the Environmental Health Supervisor are common. Work receives some limited technical review that is typically accomplished after the work is completed or during projects while acting in an advisory role.
Variety of Purposes of Personal Contacts:
Frequent contact will include Local and State officials, contractors, developers, the general public, property owners, local interest groups and managers of various businesses. Examples of these contacts include: Media, Attorneys, Engineers, Architects, Soil Scientists, sales representatives, Fire Inspectors, Building Inspectors and health care providers. Most contacts will be consultation on applicable laws and rules. Some will be associated with enforcement actions.
Physical Effort:
Require physical exertion each day such as standing for extended periods of time, bending, stooping, lifting, walking, reaching, and moving equipment and utensils .
Work Environment and Conditions:
Require physical exertion each day such as bending, stooping, lifting, walking, and talking. The employee will have to walk across various types of terrain, auger or drill holes in the ground, probe, evaluate soil, enter homes of the general public, and perform inspections. Inspections will include walking over lose soil, on irregular surfaces, stepping in and out of trenches and closely examining objects at or below ground level. Soil borings are about three (3) inches in diameter, four (4) feet deep and dug with a manual auger tool. Employees will be lifting well lids for inspections weighing in excess of 100 lbs. The Position requires frequently probing in soil to locate objects. Work includes exposure to the outdoor elements for periods of time. Employees are exposed to potential physical, chemical and biological hazards such as moving machines, hot grease and surfaces, chlorine, lead, radiation and communicable diseases. Tension or stress during or after inspections or other regulatory action is not uncommon.
Machines, Tools, Instruments, Equipment and materials used:
Calculator Architectural Blueprints
Architects scale Sanitizer/chemical test strips
Light meter Maximum registering thermometer/tape
Flashlight Engineer’s Scale
Thermometers Tape measure
Pool Test Kit Color charts
Soil Auger X-ray Fluorescence Analyzer
Lead wipes Sample containers
GPS equipment Soil probe
Visual Attention, Mental Concentration and Manipulative Skills:
Position requires good near and distant vision for office and outdoor work. Also, good color vision is required to distinguish certain hues, chromas, and values of soil colors for descriptive purposes. Mental concentration must be adequate for working in time frames, enduring frequent interruptions by visitors, operators, contractors, applicants and phone calls, performing detailed drawings and keeping detailed documentation. There is considerable evaluation, assimilation and decision making with the public on issues that are financially and emotionally sensitive. Manipulative skills require ability to operate items listed above in item number 9 and for hand textural analysis of soil samples. The art of persuasion is used extensively in dealing with clients.
Safety for Others:
Environmental Health Specialists should be attentive to safety of others.
Dynamics of Work:
Changes and additions in State laws and rules affect duties of Environmental Health Specialists. Change of business owners and managers can affect work dynamics. Changes or loss of Environmental Health Staff or organizations changes can affect the work load of each specialist.
Working knowledge of environmental health laws, rules, and procedures. As well as a complete understanding of the concepts of public health law. Practical knowledge of microbiology, biology, chemistry, food science, epidemiology, soil science, entomology, and basic engineering technology as applies to environmental health practices. General knowledge of community resources. Working knowledge of the responsibilities of other agencies involved in environmental health work. Working knowledge of the interrelationship between socio-economic factors and environmental health concerns. Working knowledge of the design of on-site waste water treatment systems, food sanitation, foodborne diseases, communicable diseases, vector control, protection of water supplies, solid waste management, and institutional supplies, solid waste management, and institutional sanitation. Working knowledge of inspection methods and investigation techniques as applied in environmental health. Ability to analyze and comprehend a wide variety of technical and administrative regulations, records, and reports. Ability to exercise sound judgment and deal tactfully with a wide range of public contracts while enforcing public health laws and regulations. Ability to motivate and educate business and property owners and the consuming public in matters related to protecting and promoting public health. Ability to present formal environmental health training programs. Ability to develop and express ideas and opinions concisely, comprehensively, and clearly in oral and written form. Ability to independently plan and schedule work activities. Ability to apply environmental health knowledge and techniques in the investigation of environmental health problems.MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Graduation from an accredited baccalaureate or postgraduate degree program with a minimum of 30 semester hours or its equivalent in the physical or biological sciences and two years of experience in the field of environmental health practice; or a graduation from a baccalaureate or postgraduate degree program that is accredited by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC) and a minimum of one year of experience in the field of environmental health practice.
License or Certification Required: Must be eligible to meet the requirements for registration or license as an Environmental Health Specialist as outlined in Article 4, Chapter 90A of the NC General Statutes.
Administering the Trainee Appointment: Appointee must be eligible for registration and apply for registration as an Environmental Health Specialist Intern within 60 days of employment. Employee may remain registered as an Environmental Health Specialist Intern until registration as an Environmental Health Specialist or up to three years, whichever comes first.
Preference may be given to applicants who are a currently Registered Environmental Health Specialist.
Salary : $52,356
