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- يتم توظيف مسؤول الصحة البيئية أو (EHOs) عادة من قبل الحكومة المحلية أو السلطات الصحية في الولاية وذلك لتقديم المشورة وتطبيق معايير الصحة العامة، إلا أن العديد منهم على أية حال يتم توظيفهم في القطاع الخاص إضافة إلى الجيش. (ar)
- Environmental Health Officers (also known as Public Health Inspectors or Environmental Health Practitioners) are responsible for carrying out measures for protecting public health, including administering and enforcing legislation related to environmental health and providing support to minimize health and safety hazards. Environmental Health Officers keep our water, food, air, land, facilities and other environmental factors (factors external to a person) safe of health hazards, whether biological, chemical or physical. They also address the related factors that impact behaviours. Environmental Health Officers assess and control environmental factors that can potentially affect health, to prevent disease and create health-supportive environments. Environmental determinants of health play a major role in a community’s overall health and well-being, and thus Environmental Health Officers are essential in improving population health outcomes and reducing the burden of disease. Environmental Health Practitioners are multi-skilled in many areas with individuals being highly trained, usually to degree level, and often requiring additional professional training, professional competency assessment and continuing professional development in order to continue to practice in the field.They are involved in a variety of activities, including, but not limited to: conducting public health inspections (e.g., of food facilities, swimming pools, personal service establishments, conveyances, septic systems, wells, water treatment systems, etc.), investigating public health nuisances, developing policies and guidelines, responding to public health emergencies, investigating disease outbreaks, implementing disease control measures, performing health promotion and health education activities, conducting workplace safety assessments and accident investigations. Environmental Health Officers are focused on prevention, consultation, investigation, and education of the community regarding health risks and maintaining a safe environment. EHOs bring to the position an understanding of microbiology, epidemiology, parasitology, chemistry, toxicology, risk assessment, law, environmental science and technology, pest control, food science, the built environment, and other relevant fields. They also have the knowledge and skills for the tracking and control of communicable diseases, investigation of environmental health related incidents and criminal investigations. They therefore must have strong investigative skills and a thorough understanding of the application of legislation related to public health, the built environment, pollution control and workplace safety. Working in partnership with Government Ministries (such as Health, Agriculture and Environment), local municipalities, businesses, community groups, other agencies and individual members of the community, the EHO plays a major role in protecting public health. Other titles that currently exist include environmental health specialist/practitioner/professional, public health officer, health officer, public health inspector, health inspector, and health official. The legal title used will depend on the definitions found in local legislation/jurisdiction.Some past/historic titles include inspector of nuisances, sanitarian, and sanitary inspector. Environmental health professionals are usually employed by local, state or federal health departments to advise on and enforce public health standards. However, many are employed in the private sector, the military and other third sector agencies such as charities and NGOs. (en)
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