A day in the life of an Environmental Health Officer may include processing applications, conducting routine inspections, providing education and complaint investigation in these areas:
- food businesses (fixed, mobile and temporary food businesses, markets and water carriers)
- personal appearance services (fixed and mobile)
- public/private swimming pools
- rental accommodation (shared facilities)
- commercial camping and caravan parks
- temporary entertainment events (music festivals)
- environmentally relevant activities (industry)
- entertainment venues.
Complaint investigations may include mosquitoes, food safety, rats and mice, light nuisance, noise nuisance, odour nuisance, minor water pollution, asbestos, litter and illegal dumping, paint overspray, smoke nuisance, hoarding and squalor and private drinking water supplies (rainwater tanks).
Your Council environmental health department may provide the following services:
- food handlers training course
- immunisation clinics for general public
- school immunisation campaigns
- disaster management (welfare).
Environmental Health Officers are authorised under local and state legislation to:
- enter any premises or other place, make an inspection and take samples
- stop, detain and search any vehicle
- require a person to produce any licence, registration, permit, approval, certificate or other documentation
- require a person to state their full name and address and ask for verification
- question any person and require answers
- seize and detain any articles or equipment
- open containers and packages
- take photographs, video, other images and audio
- request assistance from a competent person
- use such force that is reasonably necessary.