4J45
PAY RANGE: EP17
(Bilingual)
(General)
GENERAL DEFINITION
This is environmental investigative health work at the full performance level. Employees in this class function as lead technical sanitarians in an environmental health district, or for a specialized water quality or tobacco control program, or serve in a staff capacity in the central environmental health program office. Employees coordinate the activities of lower-level sanitarians and perform complex environmental health inspections. Employees perform a variety of administrative and technical environmental health program assignments, and employees may rotate through central program office and district assignments. Employees perform inspections to identify hazards and examine conditions as they affect public health in such areas as food protection, institutional sanitation and safety, hazardous materials, solid and infectious waste handling and disposal practice, vector control, lead poisoning, healthy home evaluations, water potability, tobacco control or environmental health. Explaining and interpreting public health code regulations to business owners, institutional administrators and the general public is a significant aspect of the work.
Work is performed under the general supervision of a technical superior. Work involves physical effort and some disagreeable aspects.
ALLOCATING FACTORS: (The following conditions must be met for a position to be allocated to this class.)
1. Positions must perform full performance level environmental investigative health work in the Health Department.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES OF WORK (ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY)
BILINGUAL SPECIALTY
Performs the duties described below with English language speaking and designated non-English speaking populations.
BOTH SPECIALTIES
Assists supervisor in coordinating and reviewing the activities of lower level sanitarians and seasonal employees; participates in training new staff in all aspects of environmental health; reviews inspection reports completed by lower level sanitarians and recommends action for all cases of non-compliance; accompanies lower level sanitarians on complex inspections and investigations as needed; schedules and conducts re-inspections as required; performs supervisory duties in the absence of the Sanitarian Supervisor.
Enforces public health emergency response such as epidemics or pandemics in the area of environmental health investigation and response; provides technical direction to lower level sanitarians with tracking, reporting, and evaluation of surveillance and control programs.
Sets up traps to capture nuisance creatures; responds to residential rat complaints; investigates animal bites; obtains specimens from animals in order to test for living organisms that can transmit infectious pathogens from animals to humans; checks for vector problems in buildings to be demolished or excavated.
Conducts comprehensive inspections and checks equipment, operating procedures and plans in beauty and barber shops, tattoo parlors, body art and piercing establishments, nursing homes, hospitals, paint stores for the presence/sale of lead paint, and other institutions throughout the City, which include infectious waste handling and cross contamination control of infectious materials, food service, patient and secured housing areas; notes health violations such as unclean equipment and surroundings, improper storage of food or medical supplies, or the presence of rodents of other vectors; informs proper officials of the steps necessary to correct unsafe or unhealthful conditions; conducts healthy home inspections where safety concerns are identified within residences; arranges for re-inspection of cited violations; issues warnings or tickets to individuals regarding public nuisances or violations of public health ordinances; assesses retail store space for determination of the ratio of healthy to unhealthy foods available; coordinates inspectional and compliance activities with other governmental agencies.
Conducts foodborne disease investigations; obtains food histories; inspects facility for conformance to regulations; collects food samples for laboratory analysis; reviews and analyzes food handling procedures; prepares report on findings.
Reviews plans for new structures or renovations to existing structures housing food preparation, storage or serving facilities; checks plans for proper type, placement and installation of equipment and utilities, appropriate use of materials, and other areas as required by health code and departmental standards; explains code requirements to architects, builders and proprietors.
Conducts comprehensive inspections of facilities, as assigned, for presence of lead in potable water outlets; performs on-site testing of potable water outlets to determine levels of lead; devises sampling and investigative methods to determine type of lead contaminants in order to plan remediation; reviews alternate interim sources of drinking water supply for adherence to appropriate drinking water regulations; investigates discrepancies, irregularities and anomalies in testing data; oversees compliance with appropriate federal, state and local drinking water and public health regulations if required by work assignment.
Maintains electronic records of inspections in database and address files for all positive lead cases; arranges appointments for subsequent medical treatment through coordination with parents and the various medical providers; conducts risk assessments and reviews reports of other program inspectors regarding the findings of home inspections; recommends cases for abatement and/or enforcement; reviews completed abatement work for compliance; periodically inspects paint stores for the presence/sale of lead paint; completes healthy home evaluations where safety concerns are identified within residences; may appear in court on behalf of the city for non-compliance cases.
Performs special studies and investigations of specific areas within an environmental health program as directed; prepares statistical, graphic and narrative reports of survey results
Represents superiors in meetings and conferences; serves as liaison between environmental health program administration and officers of various federal and state public health agencies and local interest groups.
Communicates with establishment operators and public; explains violations and the methods needed to correct them based on the requirements of the City health code; provides information to the public regarding health problems or concerns.
Meets with business owners and institutional administrators to explain health code requirements; represents the City in environmental health related cases of a critical or sensitive nature; issues warnings or tickets to individuals regarding public nuisances or violations of public health ordinances; appears in court to give information on nature and extent of violations in litigated cases of non-compliance.
Prepares a variety of oral and computer-based reports.
Performs related work as required.
Tobacco Control Assignment
Ensures business compliance with local tobacco laws; performs tobacco retail education, outreach and enforcement activities across the Department of Public Health and with other City agencies and with the establishment owners; makes recommendations on business exemption from local tobacco sales laws; prepares reports and presentations for City and state agencies, public health stakeholders, and the public regarding tobacco enforcement.
Performs related work as required.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES
BOTH SPECIALTIES
KNOWLEDGE OF:
· the federal and state environmental laws and regulations applicable to environmental health
· the laws, rules, regulations applicable to the Health and Administrative codes related to environmental health ordinances
· the methods, principles and techniques of environmental health
· the objectives of public health regulatory activities
· the principles of public health engineering
· the methods and techniques of environmental health field inspections
· the basic principles of bacteriology and laboratory practices as related to the analysis of food, and food products
· the federal, state and local regulations relating to lead in water systems
· the methods and techniques of inspecting potable water outlets
· tobacco products available for sale and their health effects for the Tobacco Control Assignment only
· the practices and techniques used to reduce illness and injury caused by home health and safety hazards
· the regulations governing operation and conduct of tattoo and body piercing establishments
· maintenance and calibrated pesticide application equipment if required by work assignment
· evaluation and implementation of comprehensive integrated pest management plans for City agencies if required by assignment
SKILL IN:
· reviewing complex environmental data and information for completeness and accuracy
· the use of database, word processing and spreadsheet applications
· communicating with diverse audiences, including City departments, members of the community and small business owners
· knowledge and awareness of cultural sensitivities without assigning value to difference(s)
ABILITY TO:
· coordinate and review the inspectional work of lower level environmental health personnel
· read and interpret architectural plans, designs and specifications for technical feasibility regarding environmental health concerns
· enforce regulations with firmness and tact
· conduct and summarize all aspects of investigations
· coordinate the design of pest and pesticide training for all internal and external agencies and organizations
· maintain satisfactory relationships with operators of establishments inspected, associates and officers of other governmental health organizations
· use computers and learn software applications pertinent to job assignment
· prepare clear and concise reports and make sound recommendations
· present ideas effectively, both orally and in writing
• effectively communicate and articulate information by speaking, reading and writing fluently in the designated non-English language and English language for the bilingual specialty
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE (The following statement represents the minimum training and experience standards which will be used to admit or reject applicants for tests. Applications submitted by candidates for this class will be reviewed based on training and experience requirements as approved on 7/21.)
EDUCATION:
Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university with major course work in dairy or food technology, environmental, agricultural, life or physical science, public health or any bachelor’s degree with 30 semester hours in any combination of the above.
.
AND
EXPERIENCE:
One year of experience as a Public Health Sanitarian, inspecting a variety of establishments for conformance to public health regulations and codes, or coordinating permitting and enforcement activities for compliance with local tobacco laws.
Any combination of education and experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources, which has included the completion of a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
NOTE: Any Bachelor’s degree and one year of experience as a Public Health Sanitarian may substitute for the required coursework.
NOTE: This note does not apply to career advancement or in-position promotion. Registration as a Sanitarian with the Commonwealth Board for Registration of Sanitarians or equivalent registration from another state or the National Environmental Health Association may be substituted for one year of experience.
NOTE: Selective Factor Certification may be utilized, as needed, to fill specific positions. In accordance with Civil Service Regulation 11.032 – Selective Factor Certification – the appointing authority may request certification of eligible candidates with the required degree, specific experience and/or registration to fill specific positions in this class. Certification to fill such positions will be made from the two highest-ranking eligible candidates on the eligible list who possess the specified degrees, experience and/or registration.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENT FOR THE BILINGUAL SPECIALTY
Sufficient training and/or experience to be able to understand and speak fluently and clearly in English and the designated non-English language.
PHYSICAL AND MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
Ability to physically perform the duties and to work in the environmental conditions required of a position in this class.
LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS, AND/OR CERTIFICATES
Possession of a current certificate as either a Certified Public Applicator or a Registered Pesticide Applicator from the Department of Agriculture of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania if required by work assignment.
Possession of a current certificate as a Lead Inspector and Risk Assessor by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania if required by work assignment for the bilingual and general specialties, and within six months of appointment for the water quality specialty.
Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator's license as issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania prior to appointment and during tenure of employment as a Sanitarian Specialist.
Spec. Revised - 4/98
Spec. Revision: CSC - 04/07; Ad. Board - 05/07
Spec. Revision: CSC – 4/15; Ad. Board – 4/15
Revision: CSC – 11/15; Ad. Board – 12/15
Latest Spec. Revision and change in pay rate: CSC – 6/21; Ad. Board – 7/21
KH