Environmental Health Specialist (All Levels)

Description

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES
This is professional environmental health work in the promotion of public health through education, surveillance, consultation, inspection, and enforcement of State, local, and Federal environmental health laws and regulations. Employees are responsible for the performance of professional environmental health services through the application of principals of Epidemiology, Environmental Health Science, and Public Health Law. Work is performed under the direction and supervision of an Environmental Health Supervisor in the Public Health Department.
DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS
Employees are involved in educating the public on environmental health issues, inspections, and enforcing state, local, and federal laws relating to the environment in either Food, Lodging, Institutions and Swimming Pools (FLISP) or Water Quality and Onsite Wastewater Programs.

• Public contact may be through telephone calls, written correspondence, personal visits with clients or their agents in the office and in the field.
• Conducts inspections of well sites, installation of well casing, emplacement of well grout, final well head completion, well repairs and well abandonment.
• Conducts inspections of new and repaired conventional and advanced technology septic tank systems.
• Determines sanitation grades. Conducts inspections of food service establishments , meat markets, lodging, institutional food service, swimming pools, water parks, child care facilities, nursing homes, local confinement facilities and residential care facilities.
• Conducts soil evaluations on single family residences, multiple family residences, commercial facilities, bedroom additions and sub-divisions, to determine their suitability for on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems.
• Designs sub-surface wastewater disposal systems.
• Visits sites to determine facility is being constructed according to the approved plans and/or to approve altered or non-submitted plans.
• Participates in Epidemiology investigations.
• Sets up computer applications for services, writes permits, sends letters and other correspondence, completes daily, weekly, and monthly forms, documents and maintains service files and makes appropriate data entries.
• Participates in public health educational programs with schools, realtors, and developers.
• Assists in the training of trainee employees assuring consistent field quality control.
• Monitors and conducts investigations of proper disposal of hazardous materials.
• Performs related duties as required.

• Public contact may be through telephone calls, written correspondence, personal visits with clients or their agents in the office and in the field.
• Conducts inspections of well sites, installation of well casing, emplacement of well grout, final well head completion, well repairs and well abandonment.
• Conducts inspections of new and repaired conventional and advanced technology septic tank systems.
• Determines sanitation grades. Conducts inspections of food service establishments , meat markets, lodging, institutional food service, swimming pools, water parks, child care facilities, nursing homes, local confinement facilities and residential care facilities.
• Conducts soil evaluations on single family residences, multiple family residences, commercial facilities, bedroom additions and sub-divisions, to determine their suitability for on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems.
• Designs sub-surface wastewater disposal systems.
• Visits sites to determine facility is being constructed according to the approved plans and/or to approve altered or non-submitted plans.
• Participates in Epidemiology investigations.
• Sets up computer applications for services, writes permits, sends letters and other correspondence, completes daily, weekly, and monthly forms, documents and maintains service files and makes appropriate data entries.
• Participates in public health educational programs with schools, realtors, and developers.
• Assists in the training of trainee employees assuring consistent field quality control.
• Monitors and conducts investigations of proper disposal of hazardous materials.
• Performs related duties as required.

• Working knowledge of environmental health laws, rules, and procedures, as well as a complete understanding of the concepts of public health law.
• 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 concerns.
• Working knowledge of environmental health laws, rules, and procedures, as well as complete understanding of the concepts of public health law.
• Knowledge of microbiology, biology, chemistry, food science, epidemiology, soil science, entomology, and basic engineering technology as applied to environmental health practices.
• Working knowledge of inspection methods and investigation techniques as applied in environmental health issues.
• 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 contacts while enforcing public health laws and regulations.
• Ability to motivate and educate business and property owners and the 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.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the public.
• Ability to present information orally or in report form.

Environmental Health Program Specialist

Full Pay Range: $56,426-$89,125

($27.12-$42.84/hour)

• Graduation from a four-year college or university with 30 semester hours of course work in the physical or biological sciences; OR, Master's degree in environmental health from a program which is accredited by the National Accreditation Council for Environmental Health Curricula of the National Environmental Health Association.
• AND, Registration as an Environmental Health Specialist by the NC State Board of Environmental Health Specialist Examiners.
• AND, Minimum of 3 years of experience as an Environmental Health Specialist

Environmental Health Specialist

Full Pay Range: $52,735-$83,295

($25.35-$40.04/hour)

• Graduation from a four-year college or university with 30 semester hours of course work in the physical or biological sciences; OR, Master's degree in environmental health from a program which is accredited by the National Accreditation Council for Environmental Health Curricula of the National Environmental Health Association.
• AND, Registration as an Environmental Health Specialist by the NC State Board of Environmental Health Specialist Examiners.

Environmental Health Specialist Trainee

Full Pay Range: $46,060-$72,753

($22.14-$34.97/hour)

• Graduation from a four-year college or university with 30 semester hours of course work in the physical or biological sciences; OR, Master's degree in environmental health from a program which is accredited by the National Accreditation Council for Environmental Health Curricula of the National Environmental Health Association.
• Eligible to be registered as an Environmental Health Specialist Intern by the NC State Board of Environmental Health Specialist Examiners.

Physical Demands and Work Conditions
Sits, walks, stands, climbs, kneels during a workday. Must be able to physically perform the basic life support functions of walking, fingering, grasping, talking, and hearing.
Periodically, may be required to lift up to 50 pounds of force occasionally, and up to 20 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds of force constantly to move objects.
Must have the visual acuity to record observations, to read and analyze, to prepare data and figures and to access and input environmental health findings into a computer terminal.
Employee is subject to both inside and outside environmental conditions. Employee is subject to noise, dust, rain, snow, mud, sewage and odors from biological substance spills. Exposure to dangers encountered around heavy equipment and rough, and uneven terrain.

Driving is Essential
Driving is an essential requirement of this position whether driving a County owned or personal vehicle to conduct county business. Motor Vehicle Reports may be verified for valid driver's license and that the driving record is compatible with the county's driving criteria.
If a personal vehicle is operated for county business proper insurance is maintained as per Guilford County's vehicle use policy.

Special Note
This generic class description gives an overview of the job class, its essential job functions and recommended job requirements. However, for each individual position assigned to this class, there is available a completed job description with physical abilities checklist which can be reviewed before initiating a selection process. They can provide additional detailed information on which to base various personnel actions and can assist management in making legal defensible personnel decisions.