ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER

Job Title: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER

Reports To: SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER

Ministry/Department

MINISTRY OF HEALTH – REGIONS

Job ID: T0509

Date Revised: 2012-07-26

Purpose: To assist in the promotion and maintenance of a high standard of environmental health by preventing and limiting the spread of communicable diseases.

Key Outputs: Planned and organised environmental health programmes and activities in collaboration with the Local Sanitary Authorities.

Range of Activities:

– Supervise and control the functions of Health Assistants under his/her jurisdiction to promote better environmental
health in districts.
– Inspect all house lots within the district by checking on surface, vegetation, drainage, solid and liquid waste disposal,
sewage disposal, water supply, mosquito and fly breedings, nuisances, conditions of buildings, roof gutters.
– Investigate and reinspect all complaints and defects on all house lots to observe and record whether or not defective
works have been remedied in accordance with the public health ordinance Chapter 145.
– Control building operations, re-erections, and/or alterations in the districts by advising and assisting applicants to
prepare building applications for approval by the Local Sanitary Authority.
– Take legal proceedings against defaulters for breaches/infringements against the Public Health Ordinance and the
Food and Drug Act by prosecuting in the Courts.
– Attend Local Authority meetings in the capacity as officer of the Local Sanitary Authority and ex-official member
participating in their deliberations to give of his/her knowledge and expertise in the field of environmental health.
– Attend/organise and conduct workshops, seminars in the community and give talks or lectures to schools, community
groups and organisations on environmental health issues.
– Direct and control the training of student Environmental Health Officer on field assignments.

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience:

– An Associate Degree for Environmental Health Officers from the University of Guyana PLUS the successful
completion of the Environmental Health Assistants Training Course (One year Certificate for Environmental Health
Assistant).

A Diploma from the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health for Public Health Inspectors.

Decision Making, Problem Solving and Impact on Results: The job holder has the Public Health Laws and Regulations, and Food and Drug Laws and Regulations, but still have to use his tact, to give advice and guidance in environmental matters. Impact on results can be measured by the correct approach, judgement and decision made, re-environmental health matters and the state and health of the community.

Resource Management: The incumbent supervises Environmental Health Assistants in the performance of their duties and Environmental Health Officer trainees on field assignments. The incumbent is not a budget holder.

Communications: The job holder communicates with the Senior Environmental Health Assistant.

Working Conditions: The job holder spends over 80% of the time in the field and 20% in the office.

Prepared By: SENIOR PERSONNEL OFFICER

Checked By: PRINCIPAL PERSONNEL OFFICER