This is field work inspecting personal care facilities such as rooming houses, boarding homes, shelters, institutional care facilities and other residential buildings for conformance with housing and fire codes and related ordinances to insure the health, welfare and safety of the residents of the facility. Employees may function as a lead worker for a group of lower level inspectors or may be assigned to the inspection of dwellings for use in relocating persons and families from unsuitable housing.

This class is differentiated from the next lower level by the complexity of the buildings/structures and the uses of the facilities inspected. Significant aspects of the work are citing violations and explaining code and ordinance requirements, the nature of violations and requirements to achieve compliance to property owners, operators, landlords, tenants, and administrators of forums of original jurisdiction. Work is performed under the supervision of an inspection or housing supervisor.

ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be approved for class.)

• Positions must perform field work inspecting rooming houses, boarding homes, institutional care facilities, shelters and other residential buildings for conformance to codes and related ordinances.
• Positions must be located in the Department of Licenses and Inspections or Office of Emergency Shelter and Services.

Both Specialties

• Receives lists of homes to be inspected; proceeds to site; shows proper identification to operator, manager or owner; reviews records with owner or manager to determine number of persons and their ages, the physical conditions of the persons living at the home, and number of trained supervisory personnel; reviews fire drill records; ascertains the type of services rendered to residents such as medical care, food delivery, and social and recreational programs; decides proper categorization of establishment; inspects facilities for conformance to codes, standards and ordinances such as the Philadelphia Housing and Fire Prevention Codes, National Fire Prevention Association, and Building Officials and Code Administrators standards; refers conditions not coming under their jurisdiction to the appropriate departmental, interdepartmental or other governmental unit; participates with these units in enforcing housing and fire codes and related ordinances and regulations.
• Inspects fire exits, insures that they are clean, unobstructed, illuminated and that signs are properly displayed; checks storage and utility areas for fire hazards and Fire Department inspection tags; determines that stairways are equipped with self-closing doors and are fire safe; ascertains that other sections of the building have required fire resistant materials; locates all extinguishers and insures that there is a sufficient number for each floor, that they are in working condition and are properly mounted; insures operation of fire safety equipment; inspects smoking and public assembly areas to insure conformance to housing and fire codes.
• Tests fire alarm systems; notifies monitoring agency of a test; sets-off alarm; checks with monitoring agency to ascertain if the alarm signal registers; checks fire safety system certifications; makes visual check of components; insures alarm system can be heard in all areas; checks that smoke and heat detecting equipment has been installed in required locations.
• Inspects residence for exposed electrical wiring, poor lighting, unsanitary conditions, broken plaster and functional utilities; records nature and location of violation in inspection reports; lists and describes violation of specific codes and ordinances; refers cases not within jurisdiction to appropriate inspectional staff; conducts follow-up inspections.
• Discusses violations and conditions with operators, managers and owners; explains nature and seriousness of violation(s); explains appeal procedures and how to apply for variances to the code.
• Testifies at administrative hearings and in court on code violations and conditions found during an inspection; may photograph areas of premises not meeting codes.
• Performs related work as required.

Bilingual Specialty

• Performs the duties shown above with members of the English language speaking and designated non-English language speaking populations.

KNOWLEDGE OF:

• housing and fire codes and related ordinances as they apply to rooming and boarding houses, old age homes and residential care facilities.
• the functions of departmental, inter-departmental and other governmental agencies related to enforcing the housing and fire prevention codes and related ordinances and regulations.
• the methods and techniques of dealing with the general public.
• inspectional methods and techniques.
• photographic work of limited complexity.

ABILITY TO:

• ascertain facts through observations, interviews and inspections.
• enforce codes, ordinances and regulations firmly, tactfully and impartially.
• communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates and the general public.
• make the proper recommendations concerning the course of action based on facts uncovered.
• make accurate arithmetic computations.
• maintain records and prepare reports.
• speak and understand English and the designated non-English language for the bilingual specialty.

Both Specialties

EDUCATION:
• Education equivalent to completion of the twelfth school grade.

  AND

  GENERAL EXPERIENCE:

• Two years of field inspectional or investigational work gathering facts by inquiry, observation and examination.

  AND

  SPECIFIC EXPERIENCE:

• One year of experience inspecting houses, other residential buildings and/or residential day care facilities for conformance with housing and fire codes and related ordinances and citing violations of these codes.

Or any combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Personnel Department that has included the specific experience.

Additional Requirement for the Bilingual Specialty

• Sufficient training and/or experience to be able to converse effectively in English and the designated non-English language.