health officer orientation environmental health august 13 th and 14 th, 2007 chuck warzecha – beoh...
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Health Officer Health Officer OrientationOrientation
Environmental Environmental HealthHealthAugust 13August 13thth and 14 and 14thth, 2007, 2007
Chuck Warzecha – BEOHChuck Warzecha – BEOH608-264-9880608-264-9880
[email protected]@dhfs.state.wi.us
Environmental Environmental HealthHealth
Things or conditions outside Things or conditions outside your body that can affect your body that can affect your health.your health.
Part of Public HealthPart of Public Health
Environmental HealthEnvironmental Health
Mitigating Human Health HazardsMitigating Human Health Hazards Preventing Human Health HazardsPreventing Human Health Hazards Promoting Safe and Healthy Promoting Safe and Healthy
EnvironmentsEnvironments
Environmental Health Environmental Health IssuesIssues
ArsenicArsenic RadonRadon RabiesRabies HgHg Bed BugsBed Bugs The In-lawsThe In-laws Burying Burying
Relatives Relatives (in the (in the yard)yard)
SmokeSmoke LandspreLandspre
adingading Drug Drug
LabsLabs NeighborNeighbor
ss MoldMold Burn Burn
BarrelsBarrels Trash Trash
houseshouses PesticidesPesticides AsbestosAsbestos
PCBsPCBs RabiesRabies TiresTires Tornado Tornado
cleanupcleanup Outdoor Outdoor
wood boilerswood boilers PaperworkPaperwork E. coliE. coli FloodingFlooding COCO GarbageGarbage
Animal Animal issuesissues
HoardinHoardingg
ManureManure Tire Tire
FiresFires BlastomBlastom
ycosisycosis OdorsOdors BatsBats BeachesBeaches DustDust SpillsSpills NitrateNitrate
DefinitionsDefinitions
Human Health Hazards – 254.01(2)Human Health Hazards – 254.01(2) “Human health hazard” means a “Human health hazard” means a substance, activity or condition that substance, activity or condition that is known to have the potential to is known to have the potential to cause acute or chronic illness or cause acute or chronic illness or death if exposure to the substance, death if exposure to the substance, activity or condition is not abated.activity or condition is not abated.
Proposed ModificationsProposed Modifications
254.01 254.01 (2) (2) “Human health hazard” “Human health hazard” means a substance, activity or means a substance, activity or condition that is known to have the condition that is known to have the potential to cause acute or chronic potential to cause acute or chronic illness, to endanger life, to generate illness, to endanger life, to generate or spread infectious diseases, or or spread infectious diseases, or otherwise injuriously to affect the otherwise injuriously to affect the health of the public.health of the public.
Other TermsOther Terms
Urgent, Imminent, etc.Urgent, Imminent, etc. Public NuisancePublic Nuisance Private Nuisance Private Nuisance Sensitive PopulationsSensitive Populations
Structure for HHHsStructure for HHHs
Chapter 254 – Environmental Health Chapter 254 – Environmental Health StatuteStatute
Local HHH OrdinancesLocal HHH Ordinances Policies and Procedures ManualsPolicies and Procedures Manuals
Many other Federal, State, and Many other Federal, State, and Local AuthoritiesLocal Authorities
Essential Environmental Essential Environmental Health ServicesHealth Services
AssessmentAssessment
1.1. Monitor environmental and health Monitor environmental and health status to identify community status to identify community environmental health problems environmental health problems
2.2. Diagnose and investigate Diagnose and investigate environmental health problems and environmental health problems and health hazards in the community health hazards in the community
Essential Environmental Essential Environmental Health ServicesHealth Services
Policy DevelopmentPolicy Development
3.3. Inform, educate and empower people Inform, educate and empower people about environmental health issues about environmental health issues
4.4. Mobilize community partnerships to Mobilize community partnerships to identify and solve environmental identify and solve environmental health problems health problems
5.5. Develop policies and plans that Develop policies and plans that support individual and community support individual and community environmental health efforts environmental health efforts
Essential Environmental Essential Environmental Health ServicesHealth Services
AssuranceAssurance
6.6. Enforce laws and regulations that Enforce laws and regulations that protect health and ensure safety protect health and ensure safety
7.7. Link people to needed Link people to needed environmental health services and environmental health services and assure the provision of assure the provision of environmental health services environmental health services when otherwise unavailable when otherwise unavailable
Essential Environmental Essential Environmental Health ServicesHealth Services
Assurance - ContinuedAssurance - Continued
8.8. Assure a competent environmental Assure a competent environmental health workforce health workforce
9.9. Evaluate the effectiveness, accessibility Evaluate the effectiveness, accessibility and quality of personal and population-and quality of personal and population-based environmental health services based environmental health services
10.10. Conduct research for new insights and Conduct research for new insights and innovative solutions to environmental innovative solutions to environmental health problems and issueshealth problems and issues
Who’s responsibilityWho’s responsibility
Health officer is responsible for Health officer is responsible for addressing HHHsaddressing HHHs
But many others also have that But many others also have that responsibility depending upon the issueresponsibility depending upon the issue
The question is better rephrased as “Who The question is better rephrased as “Who is the appropriate party to respond?”is the appropriate party to respond?”
In cases where another program has more In cases where another program has more specific authority, they should respond.specific authority, they should respond. Public water supply – DNR, failing septic – Public water supply – DNR, failing septic –
depends on agent status, etc.depends on agent status, etc.
What must be handled by What must be handled by an EH Professional?an EH Professional?
Ideally all Human Health Hazards Ideally all Human Health Hazards would be addressed by an would be addressed by an Environmental Health ProfessionalEnvironmental Health Professional
The reality is that we don’t have The reality is that we don’t have sufficient EH workforce in each local sufficient EH workforce in each local health departmenthealth department
Then What?Then What?
Suggested Short-term Suggested Short-term ApproachApproach
Cope as best you can on simple Cope as best you can on simple issues with existing staff (keep track issues with existing staff (keep track of these activities and the time they of these activities and the time they take).take).
Ask for advice and assistance fromAsk for advice and assistance from DPH Regional OfficeDPH Regional Office BEOH in MadisonBEOH in Madison Neighboring countiesNeighboring counties Other agenciesOther agencies
Longer-term ApproachLonger-term Approach
Work to develop EH capacityWork to develop EH capacity Consider agent programs Consider agent programs
(DHFS,DATCP,DNR, Commerce)(DHFS,DATCP,DNR, Commerce) Develop consortiaDevelop consortia Talk with neighboring jurisdictions Talk with neighboring jurisdictions
about mutual aid options for extreme about mutual aid options for extreme situationssituations
Other ideas?Other ideas? DPH is also looking at other optionsDPH is also looking at other options
Local PrioritiesLocal Priorities
What do you need to address?What do you need to address? What can you expect others to What can you expect others to
address?address? What can you expect the caller to What can you expect the caller to
address themselves?address themselves? What should you document and What should you document and filefile??