Environmental Health Specialist

Under the general supervision of the building official, performs professional work in a program of environmental health. The emphasis at this level is on the application of general environmental health practices and techniques and consists of field and office work including dissemination of public information and the fostering of improved community and environmental health.

Examples of Duties  Other duties may be assigned.

 

Review plans and inspect all restaurants, schools, taverns, retail food stores, churches and any other food establishments for food and health violations to ascertain compliance with rules and regulations of food service sanitation for the State of Illinois Department of Public Health.

Inspect housing as necessary for conformance with established standards of environmental sanitation.

Issue and revoke licenses as required.

At the request of the State of Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, inspect day and night care centers and nursing homes to ascertain compliance with licensing standards for the State of Illinois.

Complete activity reports and records of inspections, investigations and correspondence.

Collect, using prescribed methods, environmental samples as required.

Participate in making recommendations relative to the protection and disinfection of private water supplies and swimming pools.

Investigate complaints involving possible sanitary violations, offer advice on solutions, conduct follow-up inspections.

Participate in epidemiological surveys including, but not limited to, food borne illness outbreaks seeking unhealthful conditions and methods of control and correction.

Investigate unhealthy or alleged unhealthy conditions and participate in making recommendations for control programs involving abatement procedures.

Bachelor’s degree in environmental health or related field supplemented by courses in environmental health and two (2) years of experience in the environmental health field; or any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. 

Licensed Environmental Health Practitioner in the State of Illinois; valid Illinois driver’s license or equivalent.

Proficient knowledge of environmental health practices and techniques; of the laws and regulations that impact the work performed; knowledge of methods of environmental sample collection; of unhealthy conditions; and of occupational hazards and safety precautions of the work.

Skill in public and employee relations; completing inspections in a timely manner; preparing professional reports, records of inspections and any related written correspondence; collecting environmental samples; explaining codes to a variety of audiences; and using Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel.

Ability to review plans, perform technical inspections and make corrective recommendations; establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, officials and the general public; express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; and explain, interpret and enforce codes, regulations and ordinances in a firm, tactful and impartial manner.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit; use hands and fingers to handle, feel or operate tools or testing equipment; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; and smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. The employee is frequently exposed to outside weather conditions, cold temperatures in freezers and hot cooking equipment and surfaces. Employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.