Class Specification: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SPECIALIST II
ITEM NUMBER: 5671
APPROVAL DATE: 10/06/2003
DEFINITION:
Enforces environmental health and consumer protection laws by making inspections, conducting investigations, and taking appropriate enforcement action.
CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS:
Positions allocable to this class work independently in either a general or a specialized Environmental Management Program under the administrative and technical direction of higher-level environmental health staff. Incumbents plan and implement the more complex as well as routine investigations and inspections of food serving establishments, food markets, school cafeterias, school buildings, mobile home parks, recreational facilities, public assembly areas, and dwellings in order to detect unhealthy conditions; incumbents also conduct investigations of potential consumer fraud relating to misrepresentation of food. These positions function independently in the field and have legal authority to initiate emergency action when the public health or safety is endangered or to issue citations which are reviewed after issuance.
EXAMPLES OF DUTIES:
Conducts periodic inspections of food establishments and restaurants to ensure legal compliance and to promote environment health by making observations to see that food is unadulterated, properly labeled, refrigerated, stored, handled, and protected from contaminants.
Reviews and observes utensil washing and sanitizing procedures by testing water temperatures and cleaning agents and facilities to ensure that these meet Federal, State, and local legal requirements.
Ensures that food equipment such as stoves, refrigerators, and other cooking equipment and appliances are clean and in good repair and takes appropriate enforcement action; completes reports of areas in violation.
Investigates complaints concerning the infestation of rodents and insects by looking for evidence of infestation such as telltale signs and avenues of entry, placing poisons, recommending corrective measures, and taking appropriate enforcement action.
Conducts periodic inspections and investigates complaints concerning the improper disposal of garbage, rubbish, and sewage and other unsanitary conditions in building, multiple and single family dwellings, and retail food or other establishments by conducting inspections of premises for adequate disposal facilities, such as covered bins to prevent insect and rodent infestation; recommends corrective measures and takes appropriate enforcement action.
Conducts specialized technical inspections and investigations to prevent and control consumer fraud in the retail marketing and sale of food under public health laws and regulations concerned with adulteration, mislabeling, and false advertising of food; meets with concerned parties to discuss correction of deficiencies and to obtain compliance through appropriate enforcement action.
Initiates and participates in prosecution of environmental health cases of non-compliance with public health laws and regulations by completing investigation reports, securing evidence, taking and collecting photographs, and preparing cases for prosecution, initiating and attending office hearings, and conferring with city or the District Attorney.
Participates in communicable disease investigations related to environmental health.
Ensures that establishments being inspected have obtained a current public health license or permit: ensures that establishments receive and post a grade/score card.
Maintains rapport with community organizations and may serve as a member of the organization's formal structure to provide guidance on environmental health related problems.
May testify in court as the investigating officer for the Department of Health Services.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:
Certificate as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist issued by the California State Department of Health Services.
A valid California Class C Driver License is required to carry out job-related essential functions.
PHYSICAL CLASS:
3 - Moderate.
