What are the responsibilities and job description for the Public Health Inspector position at Tulsa Health Department?
The following functions represent the majority of the duties performed by the position, but is not meant to be all-inclusive or prevent other duties from being assigned when necessary.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Conducts physical inspection of food establishments and existing or proposed businesses using prescribed compliance review procedures. Collects samples or data, operates field testing equipment, and conducts tests for interpretive analysis. Prepares technical and non-technical reports and maintains records of investigative activities. Prepares required documentation for review prior to submission to state or federal agencies.
- Evaluates the condition of food processing facilities relative to food safety and food defense; assists operators with food labeling and processing technologies in manufactured and retail food establishments.
- Provides food safety instruction to food establishment representatives on proper methods of personal hygiene and food sanitation.
- Investigates complaints, writes enforcement letters, and submits related documentation to local, state, and federal agencies. Participates in licensure and certification programs.
- Makes recommendations concerning remedial actions to correct environmental health problems. Initiates with supervisor assistance, enforcement procedures related to environmental health programs. With supervisory assistance, recommends compliance actions such as formal warnings, fines, license suspensions, or closure. Conducts follow-up activities to monitor progress toward correcting conditions.
- Interprets applicable regulations/ordinances to determine compliance or appropriate corrective measures to be taken.
- Provides routine technical assistance to industry, community groups, and others regarding environmental health programs. Solicits cooperation in promoting sound environmental/public health practices.
- Reviews plans for proposed food and institutional facilities and assists with conducting epidemiological investigations.
- Completes required training in support of the duties and responsibilities of this position.
- Other duties as assigned, including those required to fulfill activities in support of public health emergency operations.
- Assists with the provision of food safety program orientation to medical and nursing students.
Education –Bachelor’s degree in physical, natural, or biological science, public health, environmental health, environmental science, or related field is required with a minimum of thirty (30) semester hours in natural, physical or biological sciences, public health and/or environmental health.
Experience - No experience required.
Skills - Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are required in the operation and maintenance of monitoring and detection equipment. Good oral and written communication skills are required to effectively present information. Material resource skills are required to operate audio-visual equipment, including a laptop computer and digital camera. Active listening and negotiation skills when dealing with the public, and effective communication skills.
Bilingual (Spanish/English) preferred.
Licenses - Registered with the Sanitarian Advisory Council, Oklahoma State Department of Health, or be eligible for registration. Eligible incumbents must take and pass the Sanitarian-in-Training examination and successfully complete reading assignments and online training curriculum for this position.
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:
Internal contact with laboratory personnel regarding sample analyses; with the legal department regarding potential legal actions and compliance with regulations; and with other environmental staff, specialists, supervisors, and management regarding compliance and work information.
External contact with citizens regarding complaints and communication of compliance requirements, builders, engineers, architects, attorneys, equipment vendors and establishment owners/operators regarding consumer problems; with specific departments within the city, county, state or federal agencies on compliance in areas of shared responsibility; and with food establishment representative diplomacy.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY/ACCOUNTABILITY:
Direct Supervision– None.
Indirect Supervision– None.
Budget/Money/Material – Responsible for assigned equipment, license applications, and following money handling policies.
Reports to –Environmental Field Supervisor, Food Protection Services.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS
Stamina - The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
Climbing: Ability to ascend and descend stairs utilizing legs, hands and arms.
Balancing: Capable of movement from one place to the other and maintenance of body equilibrium.
Stooping, Kneeling, Crouching, Crawling: Ability to bend spine at waist, bend legs at the knees and move on hands, knees and feet.
Reaching: Ability to extend arm(s) up and out.
Manual and Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects and use fingers for operational needs such as typing and quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Standing: Ability to stand for extended periods of time.
Sitting: Ability to sit for extended periods of time.
Walking: Ability to move on foot for an extended period of time.
Pushing/Pulling: Ability to use arms and/or hands to move objects to and from the body.
Lifting: Ability to move/transfer objects up to 50 pounds occasionally and 10 pounds regularly.
Talking: Ability to communicate by use of the spoken word.
Hearing: Ability to identify sounds in order to receive information.
Visual acuity: Ability to perform activities that require close visual acuity such as analyzing data. Must also have the visual acuity to operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment.
Working conditions: Environmental conditions will fluctuate as this position has activities that occur inside and outside. Individual may be exposed to extreme weather conditions such as heat (above 100 degrees) and cold (below 32 degrees). Individual will occasionally be exposed to chemical and safety hazards as well as stressful situations during inspections. Individual is exposed to atmospheric conditions such as fumes, odors, dust, etc.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
Must maintain THD record confidentiality according to HIPAA regulations.
Must possess ability and willingness to perform job-related travel.
Must be able to respond to emergency situations within an hour of receiving notification.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Tulsa City-County Health Department will require all applicants and incumbents at this level to be eligible for registration as a Sanitarian-In-Training. Registration shall be with the Department of Registration, Oklahoma State Department of Health, provided in 59 O.S., Section 1150.7, which states in part:
A. Applicants for certificate of registration as a sanitarian or environmental specialist shall be approved for registration by the Council upon compliance with the following:
1. Have two (2) years of postgraduate, full-time experience working in the fields of public health or environmental protection.
2. Have a four-year bachelor’s degree with a major in public health, environmental health, science, physical science, natural science, biological science, agricultural science, or equivalent, from an accredited college or university with at least thirty (30) semester hours of work in physical, natural and biological sciences, public health and/or environmental health or environmental protection or both environmental health and environmental protection.
3. Pass an examination prescribed by the Council, demonstrating knowledge and understanding of the principles of sanitation and of the physical, biological and environmental sciences.
4. Pay applicable examination and registration fees.
B. Upon compliance with subsection A … the Commissioner shall issue a certificate of registration as a registered professional sanitarian or registered professional environmental specialist….
Added by Laws 1988, c. 225, § 18. Amended by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 296, eff. July 1, 1993. Renumbered from Title 63, § 1-2202 by Laws 1993, c. 145, § 360, eff. July 1, 1993. Amended by Laws 1995, c. 91, § 7, eff. Nov. 1, 1995.
FLSA Status: Exempt