Environmental Health Specialist
Full-time 6 hours ago Full Job Description Job Description Under general supervision of the Environmental Health Team Supervisor, engages in inspection and enforcement actions to protect public health and the quality of the natural environment and to prevent the occurrence of public health nuisances and public health hazards resulting from contamination of drinking water supplies.
Enforces Ottawa County and Michigan Public Health Code regulations and codes governing the design, installation, location and operation of residential water supplies and on-site sanitary sewage disposal systems.
Essential Job Functions The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
Conducts inspections of proposed and pre-existing wells, water supplies, and sewage treatment/disposal systems in residences, campgrounds, migrant labor camps, daycares, schools, and other facilities to ensure compliance and that systems are maintained in a safe and sanitary manner Prepares written inspection reports detailing observed noncompliances in existing onsite water supplies and/or sewage disposal systems, as well as deficiencies in engineering designs and specifications for corrections or new systems.
Prepares written reports on variables including:
soil permeability, groundwater elevation, topography, floodplain elevations, available area, isolation requirements and other factors which may affect the design, location, construction and operation of a residential water supply or an onsite sewage disposal system for land parcels proposing the use of a residential water supplies and/or onsite sewage disposal systems.
Collects, prepares and packages well water samples, surface water samples, soil samples, and other samples and specimens for laboratory analysis.
Consults with owners, developers, builders, engineers, septic system installers, and others to discuss the results of site evaluations and required modifications to proposed designs or existing water supplies or sewage disposal systems.
Determines the suitability of proposed sites and approves or denies permit applications.
Responds to complaints involving nuisance conditions, rodent and insect control, general sanitation, sewage overflows, and contamination of public drains, waterways, beaches and other sites.
With authorization, initiates enforcement actions against property owners who fail to repair or correct deficiencies in residential water supplies and/or onsite sewage systems, abate rodent and insect infestations, and/or correct other public health hazards in accordance with corrective plans and schedules developed by the employee.
Conducts investigations to trace the source of drinking water contamination and discharged sewage.
Prepares a variety of informational, educational and presentation media and delivers presentations to community and business groups, property developers, civil engineering and construction management contractors, residential building contractors, and other audiences.
Performs other functions as assigned.
Required Education, Training and Experience Bachelor's degree in Environmental Health, Environmental Science, Hydrology, Sanitary Engineering, Biology or other related field from an accredited college or university is required.
At least one year of progressively responsible experience as an environmental technician or specialist is required.
Licenses and Certifications:
Must possess and maintain valid State of Michigan driver's license.
Individuals in this position are required to provide their own transportation to provide services to clients throughout the county.
Valid certification as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) or a Registered Sanitarian (RS) is highly preferred.
Additional Requirements and Information Required Knowledge and Skills:
Thorough working knowledge of environmental health regulations, including requirements for construction of sewage disposal systems.
Thorough working knowledge of disease vector identification and control, and waterborne illnesses and prevention thereof.
Ability to read and interpret blueprints, construction plans, engineering diagrams and specifications and as-built drawings in order to evaluate compliance of planned and completed residential water supplies and/or on-site sewage facility construction.
Good working knowledge of water and soil sampling procedures and testing techniques.
Good working knowledge of the principles, practices and protocols for conducting inspections and investigations, as well as gathering and preserving evidence in the course thereof.
Good working knowledge of the principles and practices of epidemiology.
Good working knowledge of basic principles of geology, hydrogeology and hydrology.
Working knowledge of professional and ethical practice standards.
Computer literacy, including good user knowledge of word-processing, spreadsheet and database management applications software, GIS and Internet search engines.
Good organizational skills and ability to prioritize the workload.
Good verbal and written communications skills, including the ability to present information to large groups.
Ability to interact positively with patients, co-workers, health care and human service practitioners and the general community from widely diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and with varying levels of interpersonal and communications skills.
Physical Requirements:
Must possess sufficient mobility with or without assistive devices to access all areas, features, fixtures and/furnishings of sites during inspections.
Must have sufficient visual acuity with or without corrective lenses to visually inspect wellheads, drainage fields, septic tanks, and other on-site system components.
Must be able to descend to and ascend from ground/floor level to take measurements and to inspect wells, septic tanks, storage basins, settling ponds and system features.
Must have sufficient strength and mobility in shoulders, elbows and wrists to employ augers to collect site soil samples.
Must have sufficient strength and mobility in shoulders, elbows and wrists to employ metal probing rods to locate septic tanks, drain fields, and other underground infrastructure.
Must be able to tolerate exposure to inclement weather.
Must be able to tolerate exposure to dirt, dust, pollen, particulates and other airborne contaminants.
Must be able move and setup inspection equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.
Working Conditions:
Work is performed in the office and in the field at sites throughout Ottawa County, including individual owner-occupied dwellings, rental units, site condominiums, campgrounds, migrant labor camps, beachfront areas, and other sites.
Inspection of onsite sanitary sewage disposal systems entails potential exposure to human wastes, bloodborne pathogens, and other disease vectors.
Investigation of complaints concerning public health hazards and public health nuisances involves risk of exposure to vermin, insects and other potentially disease-carrying pests.
Disclaimer:
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee.
Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
Ottawa County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
Enforces Ottawa County and Michigan Public Health Code regulations and codes governing the design, installation, location and operation of residential water supplies and on-site sanitary sewage disposal systems.
Essential Job Functions The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following:
Conducts inspections of proposed and pre-existing wells, water supplies, and sewage treatment/disposal systems in residences, campgrounds, migrant labor camps, daycares, schools, and other facilities to ensure compliance and that systems are maintained in a safe and sanitary manner Prepares written inspection reports detailing observed noncompliances in existing onsite water supplies and/or sewage disposal systems, as well as deficiencies in engineering designs and specifications for corrections or new systems.
Prepares written reports on variables including:
soil permeability, groundwater elevation, topography, floodplain elevations, available area, isolation requirements and other factors which may affect the design, location, construction and operation of a residential water supply or an onsite sewage disposal system for land parcels proposing the use of a residential water supplies and/or onsite sewage disposal systems.
Collects, prepares and packages well water samples, surface water samples, soil samples, and other samples and specimens for laboratory analysis.
Consults with owners, developers, builders, engineers, septic system installers, and others to discuss the results of site evaluations and required modifications to proposed designs or existing water supplies or sewage disposal systems.
Determines the suitability of proposed sites and approves or denies permit applications.
Responds to complaints involving nuisance conditions, rodent and insect control, general sanitation, sewage overflows, and contamination of public drains, waterways, beaches and other sites.
With authorization, initiates enforcement actions against property owners who fail to repair or correct deficiencies in residential water supplies and/or onsite sewage systems, abate rodent and insect infestations, and/or correct other public health hazards in accordance with corrective plans and schedules developed by the employee.
Conducts investigations to trace the source of drinking water contamination and discharged sewage.
Prepares a variety of informational, educational and presentation media and delivers presentations to community and business groups, property developers, civil engineering and construction management contractors, residential building contractors, and other audiences.
Performs other functions as assigned.
Required Education, Training and Experience Bachelor's degree in Environmental Health, Environmental Science, Hydrology, Sanitary Engineering, Biology or other related field from an accredited college or university is required.
At least one year of progressively responsible experience as an environmental technician or specialist is required.
Licenses and Certifications:
Must possess and maintain valid State of Michigan driver's license.
Individuals in this position are required to provide their own transportation to provide services to clients throughout the county.
Valid certification as a Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) or a Registered Sanitarian (RS) is highly preferred.
Additional Requirements and Information Required Knowledge and Skills:
Thorough working knowledge of environmental health regulations, including requirements for construction of sewage disposal systems.
Thorough working knowledge of disease vector identification and control, and waterborne illnesses and prevention thereof.
Ability to read and interpret blueprints, construction plans, engineering diagrams and specifications and as-built drawings in order to evaluate compliance of planned and completed residential water supplies and/or on-site sewage facility construction.
Good working knowledge of water and soil sampling procedures and testing techniques.
Good working knowledge of the principles, practices and protocols for conducting inspections and investigations, as well as gathering and preserving evidence in the course thereof.
Good working knowledge of the principles and practices of epidemiology.
Good working knowledge of basic principles of geology, hydrogeology and hydrology.
Working knowledge of professional and ethical practice standards.
Computer literacy, including good user knowledge of word-processing, spreadsheet and database management applications software, GIS and Internet search engines.
Good organizational skills and ability to prioritize the workload.
Good verbal and written communications skills, including the ability to present information to large groups.
Ability to interact positively with patients, co-workers, health care and human service practitioners and the general community from widely diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and with varying levels of interpersonal and communications skills.
Physical Requirements:
Must possess sufficient mobility with or without assistive devices to access all areas, features, fixtures and/furnishings of sites during inspections.
Must have sufficient visual acuity with or without corrective lenses to visually inspect wellheads, drainage fields, septic tanks, and other on-site system components.
Must be able to descend to and ascend from ground/floor level to take measurements and to inspect wells, septic tanks, storage basins, settling ponds and system features.
Must have sufficient strength and mobility in shoulders, elbows and wrists to employ augers to collect site soil samples.
Must have sufficient strength and mobility in shoulders, elbows and wrists to employ metal probing rods to locate septic tanks, drain fields, and other underground infrastructure.
Must be able to tolerate exposure to inclement weather.
Must be able to tolerate exposure to dirt, dust, pollen, particulates and other airborne contaminants.
Must be able move and setup inspection equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.
Working Conditions:
Work is performed in the office and in the field at sites throughout Ottawa County, including individual owner-occupied dwellings, rental units, site condominiums, campgrounds, migrant labor camps, beachfront areas, and other sites.
Inspection of onsite sanitary sewage disposal systems entails potential exposure to human wastes, bloodborne pathogens, and other disease vectors.
Investigation of complaints concerning public health hazards and public health nuisances involves risk of exposure to vermin, insects and other potentially disease-carrying pests.
Disclaimer:
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee.
Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
Ottawa County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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