Back to Careers Public Health Inspectors Do More Than You Think • Why not consider a career as a Public Health Inspector? Environmental Public Health Week runs from January 15 to January 21, 2007, and serves to recognize the hard work of environmental public health professionals and the importance of environmental health across the country. But what is the role of an environmental public health professional? When you think about what a public health inspector does, probably what most readily comes to mind is the inspection of food in places like restaurants, bakeries and stores. But, if you think that's all they do - just because this part of their job receives the most attention - then you may be surprised to learn about the many ways their work contributes to protecting our health. Public health inspectors are highly trained individuals whose training generally includes a four-year university degree in Environmental Health followed by certification by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors. To become nationally certified, public health inspectors must complete a field training practicum, submit a number of reports and pass the Institute's exam. Some inspectors have additional training in areas such as biology, toxicology and epidemiology. As mentioned, most know of the important job inspectors at public health units have in reducing the risk of foodborne illnesses, which can cause stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, vomiting, and in some rare cases, kidney failure and death. In fact, they inspect food establishments of all kinds (e.g. restaurants, supermarkets, bakeries, food takeouts, cafeterias, food manufacturers and food warehouses) on a regular basis. But who also keeps you safe whenever you use water - whether it's for drinking, cooking, cleaning or recreation? Who helps to make sure it doesn't become contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites or chemicals, and that recreational water is safe for swimming? Public health inspectors do. They work with public and private water suppliers and the Ministry of the Environment to help ensure the safety of drinking water, which can come from groundwater sources, such as aquifers, or surface waters like lakes and rivers. They also inspect water used for recreational purposes since lakes, rivers, swimming pools and other water venues can become contaminated from various human activities. Who helps to protect the air you breathe in bars, restaurants, hotels, businesses, stores and other indoor areas from the dangers of second-hand smoke? Who assists in protecting teens from seductive, behind-the-counter advertising that promotes smoking, an addiction that kills 16,000 Ontarians annually? Once again, public health inspectors, along with other tobacco enforcement officers, enforce the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, the Ontario government's new progressive legislation that came into effect on May 31, 2006. They visit enclosed public places and enclosed workplaces in their area to help ensure that the Act is being enforced. They also get involved in checking stores where tobacco products are sold to ensure there are no Power Walls - the colorful advertising displays that are geared to attracting teens to buy cigarettes. And who helps to protect you and your family when you're outdoors and have an unexpected encounter with an animal or insect - one that could lead to contracting such diseases as rabies, West Nile virus or Lyme disease. There, once more, is the public health inspector who investigates all reported bite incidents and can help to determine whether the bite victim is at risk of contracting rabies. If bitten by an unknown and aggressive animal, there is always the possibility of rabies, a viral disease transmitted from any mammal to another mammal. Quick action is needed since the virus is often fatal. Depending on where you live in the province, public health inspectors are also involved in protecting you from West Nile virus by: Conducting larviciding which prevents larvae from maturing into adult mosquitoes Collecting and submitting dead birds for testing, and trapping and submitting adult mosquitoes for testing Investigating possible human cases of West Nile virus Identifying areas where the virus is prominent. Public health inspectors are also involved in inspecting daycares, nursing homes, barber shops, salons and tattoo parlours. Many also investigate outbreaks of diseases such as Legionella, SARS, meningitis, whooping cough, chicken pox and hepatitis B infections. And, in carrying out all their responsibilities, public health inspectors also put a priority on educating the public, as well as business operators, about how to protect themselves and their clients from infectious diseases. When you stop to think about it, you can see that public health inspectors help protect not only the food we eat - but also the water we drink, the air we breathe as well as make the outdoors safe and enjoyable. Submitted by the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit 613-345-5685.