The role duties of Environmental Health at the specific functional areas.

                           Roles/responsibilities applying to specific functional areas


Roles/responsibilities Jurisdictional and local issues

Food Safety

Relates to enforcing the Food Standards Code (FSC) as reflected in Food Acts. This includes food hygiene/handling, food
standards (composition), labelling, food premises and equipment

• Implementing HACCP to identify hazards, manage risks and assess effectiveness
of controls
• Implement recall procedures
• Monitor and investigate contamination events and foodborne illness
• Implement outbreak management plans
• Provide food safety education and training
• Manage chain of custody
• Research emerging and culturally specific foods (including those not covered by
the FSC) to identify and assess risks
• Evaluate effectiveness of enforcement activities


Jurisdictional and local issues:


• In most jurisdictions EHOs
will be eligible to become
food safety auditors. This will
be an additional, optional role
accredited against the NFSA
standards. Not all auditors will
be required to audit all risk
levels.

• A number of jurisdictions
are about to extend auditing
requirements to vulnerable
populations and caterers
(3.3.1, Food Standards Code).

• In WA EHOs are responsible
for meat, dairy, horticulture.

• In NSW the majority of local
governments cover retail and
food service. Three have elected
to manage food safety for
manufacturers and wholesalers.


Notifiable conditions/infection control

Includes identifying and responding to notifiable conditions; taking action to minimise infection risks; collecting health information;
responding to public health emergencies

Communicable disease control
• Provide information and advice on preventative strategies, risk management and
outbreak management
• Collect evidence and conduct research e.g. outbreak tracing; preventative
strategies
• Develop preventative strategies and procedures
• Participate in developing pandemic response plans

Jurisdictional and local issues;

• Qld EHOs conduct facility
audits.
• In SA EHOs investigate
outbreaks to identify the level
of risk posed (ie. Infectious
organisms that are routinely
present in the environment
but only occasionally produce
symptomatic health disease
e.g. Q fever, Murray River
encephalitis). Other states
require EHOs to do limited
investigation, often under
direction.

Microbial control in air and water handling systems: Applies to cooling
towers and warm water systems

• Identify/report high risk systems
• Inspect maintenance and service logs and records
• Review planning applications and impose relevant conditions
• Conduct inspections (either routine or in response to complaint) to identify
hazards and assess risk

Immunisation

• Research and assess public health issues and trends to develop immunisation
programs and campaigns
• Co-ordinate service clinics (e.g. community; schools)
• Develop and implement quality assurance to monitor vaccine type, cold chain
management, administrative records, waste disposal (sharps)
• Provide promotional information and advice

Jurisdictional and local issues:

• In Tasmania immunisation clinics
can extend to workplaces.

Personal services: high risk, skin penetration

• Research and assess safety and risks associated with services, processes and
waste management
• Assess new/unfamiliar range of personal services and related practices and
equipment used
• Provide advice/education to public and service providers

Brothels, parlours

• Enter and inspect general sanitation
• Confirm nature of service is consistent with licencing
• Review/enforce development control plan provisions
• Provide information on STDs

Jurisdictional and local issues;

• EHO responsibilities for
brothels varies between
jurisdictions.
• In Victoria EHOs interview
employees about medical
records, safety of equipment
and personal safety.

Vector control: Relates primarily to mosquitoes

• Conduct inspections of equipment (e.g. tanks, vessels) and breeding locations
• Identify conditions conducive to breeding and take action to remove/reduce
breeding grounds
• Identify species and determine/implement response plans
• Conduct public information campaigns (strong emphasis)
• Prepare vector monitoring and management plans (relates to land use planning)

Pest Control: can include directly eliminating or minimising pests/insects
(if licensed)

• Plan and conduct inspections to identify public health hazards and assess risks
• Review/research science on pest-related hazards and risks related control
measures
• Check application rates etc (sample for spray drift)
• Develop/review pest management plans
• Identify pests and provide advice on appropriate methods of control

Jurisdictional and local issues:

• In some jurisdictions EHOs are
responsible for technician OHS
in addition to public safety.

Animal management (may include birds)

• Identify and control potential environmental and human risks related to keeping
of birds and animals
• Review planning requests and siting of animal facilities (e.g. racing stables, chook
sheds)
• Inspect conditions including husbandry, animal hoarding, sanitary standards
• Develop/enforce animal management programs/plans
• Manage animal disposal (can include routine and emergency response e.g. mass
poultry disposal)

Water management

Relates to water suppliers: property; water quality; vehicles; tanks. It can also include monitoring water fluoridation and other
treatment methods.

Potable water

• Assess and develop conditions to manage risk in water supplier applications
• Review water supplier reports
• Inspect/act on complaints
• Communicate water quality advisories to public
• Specify, interpret and respond to test results
• Enforce orders to close water supply; restrict or prevent use
• Provide advice on drinking water standards and water treatment methods
• Undertake research to identify hazards and appropriate control methods of
         control

Jurisdictional and local issues;

• Recycled water (either potable
or recreational) is an emerging
area that is likely to be covered
by EHOs.
• Some aspects of water
management are more
complex in rural and remote
environments that are not
serviced by reticulated water
systems, e.g. irrigation water
being plumbed into domestic
systems due to water shortages.
• In Tasmania EHOs also carry
out sampling/surveillance/
monitoring of reticulated
supplies.

Swimming pools and spas
• Assess, approve and monitor facilities
• Carry out inspections and enforcement re property, facilities and water quality
• Communicate water quality advisories to public
• Specify, interpret and respond to test results
• Enforce orders to close or restrict access to facility
• Provide advice on water quality standards and treatment methods
• Undertake research to identify hazards and determine appropriate methods of
control

Alternative water supplies relates to water recycling and reuse
• Assess health hazards and risks associated with recycled water
• Provide advice on appropriate methods and applications of recycled water

• Conduct research and design information campaigns

Natural and artificial water bodies
• Monitor water quality
• Communicate water quality advisories to public
• Specify, interpret and respond to test results
• Enforce orders to close/restrict access to water body
• Identify and investigate pollution e.g. blue green algae, fish kills
• Investigate pollution sources
• Research and determine remedial action

• Provide advice on water treatment methods

Jurisdictional and local issues;

• In some jurisdictions EHOs are
also responsible for restricting
or preventing taking or
harvesting of fish or shellfish
from given body of water in
response to sample analysis.
• Extent of responsibility
for natural water bodies
varies depending on level of
devolution of responsibility
for environmental protection.
In a number of jurisdictions
responsibilities are shared

between departments.

Environmental protection
Relates to identifying and managing factors that can cause environmental harm and promoting best practice environmental
management responses

Waste water management: Relates to domestic effluent and grey water
treatment and disposal systems serving single or multiple dwellings

• Assess and approve applications for communal/decentralised wastewater
collection, treatment and reuse systems
• Assess and approve extensions to communal/decentralised wastewater
schemes (e.g. Private/Council owned systems)
• Oversee effluent disposal from septic tanks and manage related infrastructure
• Investigate effluent overflows
• Develop waste water management plans and assess land suitability
• Inspect and test equipment
• Interpret test results (bacterial and chemical)
• Decommission wastewater treatment systems

• Provide advice on use and treatment of reclaimed wate
r• Advise/liaise with enviro/water authorities and technical specialists such as soil
technicians
• Research new/developing systems (e.g. new technologies; shared waste water
facilities

Solid waste management
• Establish and assess conditions for treating and storing solid waste
• Assess suitability of waste handling sites
• Analyse waste streams; assess options for management, develop recycling
policies/programs
• Assess suitability of alternative waste treatment systems – manage associated
issues – noise, vermin, dust, odour etc
• Manage waste facilities and/or service contracts

Control of pollution and hazardous substances: liquids, chemicals, fumes,
odours, waste, animals, noise, smoke, dust both domestic and commercial
pollution (except for licensed/high risk commercial activities)
• Investigate/follow up complaints e.g. bins, litter, sharps disposal, illegal dumping
including dumping of hazardous waste, environmentally sensitive (may be
registered or licensed) activities
• Facilitate negotiated outcomes (e.g. between neighbours in domestic settings)
• Identify, sample, oversee/arrange for risk removal/control e.g. disposal of
damaged asbestos
• Communicate nature and level of risk
• Use measuring equipment (e.g. noise meters), commission and assess technical
expert advice
• Take a range of samples e.g. air, soil, sand, rock, water, other solids/liquids
• Identify and provide advice on appropriate action to remove, reduce or manage
health risks associated with pollution and hazardous substances including
rehabilitation of contaminated sites
• Conduct/advise on trauma site clean ups e.g. to remove biohazards associated
with human waste or remains
• Monitor and investigate health trends e.g. elevated blood lead levels
• Provide advice and develop information campaigns to communicate risks and
promote appropriate behaviours
• Liaise with/notify appropriate authorities
• Conduct research to support risk management in emerging areas

e.g. clandestine laboratories

Jurisdictional and local issues;

• Responsibility varies depending
on level of devolution of
responsibility for environmental
protection. In a number of
jurisdictions responsibilities are
shared between departments. In
some jurisdictions (Qld) dealing
with asbestos related issues is a

disputed area.

Radiation
• Check x-ray machines; solaria, disposal of smoke detectors, exit signs etc

• Provide advice on safe use of appliances such as microwaves 

Jurisdictional and local issues;

• Limited role, not applicable in
NSW. EHOs require a basic
understanding of related

hazards and risk

By laws enforcement: itinerant vendors; standing vehicles; footpath dining
• Respond to complaints
• Manage conflict
• Facilitate negotiated outcomes
• Varies according to local government legislation / regulations

Planning: Development
Relates to assessment of planning applications to support sustainable use, and development of land and identify any potential
impact on human health

Land use
• Participate in developing and reviewing planning schemes to identify
environmental health issues and support healthy planning decisions e.g. bike
paths, walking tracks, shaded areas etc
• Assess public health impact of development proposals e.g. noise, run off,
sediment/erosion control, traffic movement (on construction site), suitability for
use, amenity, wastewater management/reuse, emissions, vector control
• Recommend mitigation strategies/options

• Advise options for rehabilitating/managing contaminated sites 

Jurisdictional and local issues;

• In WA, NSW, Qld EHOs need
to consider development
impact on release of acid into
water bodies. Requires testing

for acid sulphate soils.

Cemeteries, crematoriums and mortuaries
• Inspect preparation rooms, equipment and apparatus in mortuaries, crematories
and cemeteries e.g. waste disposal, drainage, fitout, sanitary conditions,
refrigeration, screening
• Advise on disposal of human remains including site location

• Oversee exhumations (under direction)

Jurisdictional and local issues;

• Responsibility varies between
jurisdictions and is less relevant
in city/metro roles. Applies
to most country/regional

environments EHOs.

Mass events and festivals
• Assess applications for events – co-ordinate across multiple planning issues/
experts and agencies e.g. certification of structures, noise, sanitation/sewerage,
food safety, disabled access, public safety, link to emergency planning, waste
management, first aid; shade

• Confirm appropriate insurance cover

Structures/buildings, accommodation
Applies to rooming houses, motels, caravan parks, licensed premises, backpacker accommodation, supported accommodation,
school camps

Assess and approve or recommend on applications for use
• Check compliance with requirements e.g. structure, maintenance, water supply,
drinking water, waste disposal, basic fire safety, discharge of sewage and waste
water, refuse receptacles and disposal, toilet and bathing facilities, disabled
access, room size, ventilation
• Direct remedial action e.g. require person clean or disinfect a place, structure
or thing, control insects/pests, demolish or repair property, stop using a place
for a given purpose or time

• Take action e.g. restrict access or evacuate


Jurisdictional and local issues:

• In SA EHOs administer the
Supported Residential Facilities
Act 1992. EHOs are responsible
for facilitating/co-ordinating
interagency inspections,
assessments and licensing of
supported residential facilities.
The Act covers resident
rights, standards of care
(review care plans including
extension of care options,
admin of medication, nutrition),
assessment of facilities at
risk of insolvency, negligence,
whether a person is a fit and
proper person to hold a licence,
facilitation and resolution
of disputes between facility
(proprietor) and residents.
This is a shared responsibility
with Dept of Families and

Communities SA.

Tobacco
Relates to health promotion by discouraging smoking. Includes sale, labelling, packing, advertising and reduction in exposure to
tobacco
• Monitor compliance with tobacco retailing and advertising legislation
• Issue warnings to children re smoking, check proof of age documents
• Monitor behaviour compliance in smoke free areas
• Conduct surveillance and enforce legislative requirements, prepare
prosecutions
• Undertake education and health promotion activities on tobacco related
health risks


Jurisdictional and local issues:

• Extent of responsibility varies
         and may be enforced by others


Control of drugs and poisons
Relates to the manufacture, packaging and labelling, sale, supply, possession, handling or use of certain poisons, drugs, devices
etc. Includes storage, containers, labelling, transport
• Inspect retail outlets
• Assess/grant permits and certain approvals (limited)
• Check storage of toxic substances
• Manage/participate in recalls
• Investigate matters of public concern related to use of controlled and
prescribed drugs, complementary medicines etc

• In emergency remove and/or destroy a poison

Jurisdictional and local issues:

• Only applicable to Qld.

References:

- http://www.health.gov.au/