Environmental Health Specialist – Onsite Septic Division - Morgan County Government

Incumbent serves as Environmental Health Specialist for the Morgan County Health Department, responsible for conducting routine and emergency inspections of various sites, evaluating compliance with sanitation requirements, and disseminating information on public health issues.

DUTIES: 

There are two main divisions in the EHS program in Morgan County: Foods Division and Onsite Septic Division.

EHS Foods Division:

This position performs risk-based inspections of retail food establishments to ensure they are meeting local, state and federal codes and regulations through education, regulation, and enforcement. The aim is to reduce foodborne illness by focusing on reduction of contributing factors and assisting operators in achieving managerial control of foodborne illness risk factors. The EHS ensures compliance through routine and follow-up inspections, as well as following protocols for enforcement of non-compliance.

This EHS reviews plans for food establishments, educates managers and owners, and holds training sessions for food service employees and owners. The EHS provides technical reports of inspection outcomes, discusses concerns with managers and owners to correct violations and determine corrective actions.

The EHS obtains and maintains a comprehensive knowledge of local and national food codes and changes pertaining to these codes, as well as the Public Health Reasons for these codes.

This position investigates foodborne illness outbreaks and clearly communicates findings in reports and to affected parties. The EHS works with the IDOH to stop foodborne illness outbreaks. The EHS collects and sends samples to IDOH for testing and/or analysis.

This EHS inspects temporary retail foods, farmer’s markets, and mobile food establishments; they also inspect food establishments after emergency closure to determine fitness for reopening. This may include operations outside of normal business hours.

EHS Onsite Septic Division:

The EHS performs inspections of onsite waste/septic disposal systems, including categorization of soil tests, creation of packets for proposed septic systems, review of submitted plans, and visits to sites of proposed septic systems and final inspections of installed systems.

This position works with homeowners and septic installers to ensure onsite systems are built/installed to current code and in compliance with state and local regulations.

The EHS performs follow-up visits as necessary, documents all steps, and maintains files. This may include collaboration with IDOH officials on problematic sites, systems, and commercial systems.

The EHS tests all installers for competency and distributes a list of registered installers to the public, coordinates installer meetings, and provides building inspectors with status information for issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.

This position locates information regarding specific onsite disposal systems when requested by the public and disseminates information as requested. They also assess existing onsite systems for the purpose of remodeling or additions to the property.

These duties may be assigned to either of the two main divisions of EHS:

Ensures compliance with Rental Housing Ordinance, including inspecting rental housing units, and working with Building Inspectors, Child and Adult Protection Services, Community Action Program (CAP), and Sheriff/Police and Fire departments to ensure safety of the public and citizens.

Inspects public and semi-public swimming pools to ensure compliance with State codes and County ordinances, including investigating complaints.

Ensures compliance of Illegal Dumping Ordinance, including investigating complaints, and assisting IDEM with complaints against illegal dumping, spills, and open burning.

Inspects Tattoo Parlors and Body-Piercing establishments to ensure compliance with State codes and County ordinances, including investigating complaints.

Enforces rabies laws, including transporting animal samples to IDOH laboratories as needed, and documenting and reporting lab findings to those affected.

Inspects complaints of Smoking Ban as requested by Alcohol and Tobacco Commission (ATC).

Performs a variety of vector control duties, including educating and advising on vector issues.

Educates the public and performs outreach activities, including fielding calls regarding mold, bed bugs, and asbestos, providing standing water and failed septic system information, attending septic installer training meetings, conducting food training for food employees and farmer’s market vendors, and providing training/lectures to various community groups.

Participates in public health emergency preparedness exercises and in response to public health emergencies as directed.

Provides expert testimony to obtain court orders to inspect, clean, or vacate properties when compliance is not obtainable by any other means, following court and Department protocols.

Performs related duties as assigned.

I.   JOB REQUIREMENTS: 

Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Ecology, Public Health, Environmental Science, or closely related field, and minimum of one (1) year of experience in Public Health field or related discipline preferred.  

Possession of and/or ability to obtain and maintain certifications in Certified Pool Operator, NIMS, IOWPA, FDA Certified Retail Food Inspector, Lead Inspector, Risk Assessor, Presby Environmental, and/or Advanced Treatment Leach field certification.

Ability to meet all County hiring requirements, including passage of a drug test.

Thorough knowledge of and ability to make practical applications of standard policies and practices of the Morgan County Health Department, including inspections, educating the public, and assessing systems.

Working knowledge of standard office policies and procedures with computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, email, internet, and Department-specific software systems, including Microsoft 365 Apps, Teams, SharePoint, and ability to apply such knowledge to a variety of interrelated processes, tasks, and operations.

Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling and punctuation, and ability to prepare correspondence, and detailed written reports as required.

Knowledge of standard filing systems and ability to create and maintain Department files.

Ability to operate standard office equipment, such as computer, calculator, telephone, scanner, and printer.

Ability to operate instruments and equipment, such as elevation laser, tape measure, soil probe, pool test kits, thermometer, pH meter, test strips, and black light.

Ability to write and edit technical reports and advise citizens according to Department policy.

Ability to plan and deliver public speaking presentations.

Ability to comprehend and properly use informational documents, including, but not limited to, State codes for foods, pools, septic systems, housing, local ordinances, and product manuals.

Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing with co-workers, other County departments, IDOH, IDEM, ATC, Purdue Extension office, building inspectors, Child and Adult Protective Services, Community Action Program, various Sheriff/Police, and fire departments, business owners and managers, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.

Ability to critically think, including explaining, demonstrating, and explaining well-established policies, procedures and standards.

Ability to provide public access to or maintain confidentiality of Department information and records according to state requirements.

Shall comply with all employer and Department policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.

Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including occasional encounters with difficult/distraught persons.

Ability to understand, memorize, retain, and carry out oral and written instructions and present findings in oral or written form.

Ability to compute and perform arithmetic calculations.

Ability to analyze data to discover facts or develop concepts or interpretations.

Ability to work alone with minimum supervision and with others in a team environment, often amidst frequent distractions, interruptions, and time constraints, and on several tasks at the same time.

Ability to provide expert testimony to obtain court orders to inspect, clean, or vacate properties when compliance is not obtainable by any other means and follow court and Department protocols.

Ability to occasionally work weekends and evening hours and respond to emergencies as needed.

Ability to occasionally travel out of town for conferences, activities, and/or events.

Possession of a valid driver’s license and demonstrated safe driving record.

II.   DIFFICULTY OF WORK: 

Incumbent performs a wide range of duties which involve consideration of many variables.  Majority of duties are performed within clear and well-defined guidelines that are applied to specific tasks.  Incumbent exercises judgment when inspecting food establishments, businesses, and septic systems, evaluating compliance with sanitation requirements, and determining appropriate action for non-compliance.

III.   RESPONSIBILITY:

Incumbent enforces sanitation requirements, including requesting Board of Health hearings or closing establishments as deemed appropriate.  Assignments are guided by broad policies and/or general objectives.  The purpose and desired results of incumbent's work are known, and work is periodically reviewed for compliance with legal requirements and effect on Department policy.  Incumbent regularly makes decisions in absence of policy, subject only to guidance from supervisor.

IV.   PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

Incumbent maintains frequent contact with co-workers, other County departments, IDOH, IDEM, ATC, Purdue Extension office, building inspectors, Child and Adult Protective Services, Community Action Program, various Sheriff/Polic, and fire departments, business owners and managers, and the public for purposes of ensuring compliance with Health Department requirements, and rendering service.

Incumbent reports directly to Director.

V.   PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:  

Incumbent performs majority of duties in a standard office setting, in a vehicle, and indoors/outdoors at sites, involving sitting/walking at will, standing for long periods, keyboarding, lifting/carrying objects weighing more than 50 pounds, pushing/pulling objects, crouching/kneeling, bending, reaching, close/far vision, color/depth perception, handling/grasping/fingering objects, hearing sounds/communication, speaking clearly, and driving.  Incumbent performs inspections in extreme or hot temperatures, in wet/icy surroundings, working near fumes and sanitizing and cleaning chemicals, steam smoke, grease, strong odors, insects, vermin, in low light, confined areas. Incumbent maintains considerable contact with the public and may be exposed to violent/irate individuals while closing public health hazards.  Incumbent is regularly exposed to normal health hazards associated with public health inspections for which universal health precautions must be followed including wearing PPE and obtaining certain vaccinations such as Tdap, Hepatitis A and B, to ensure safety of self and others.  

Incumbent occasionally is required to work weekends and evening hours, and occasionally responds to emergencies.  Incumbent occasionally required to travel out of town for conferences, activities, and events.