Defining the Emergency Response Roles of

Environmental Health Specialists in Northwest Ohio

Aaron Otis, M.P.H., R.S.Northwest Ohio Region Public Health Coordinator

Toledo-Lucas County Health Department

Niki Lemin, M.S., R.S.Program Manager

Center for Public Health Preparedness Office of Workforce Development

School of Public HealthThe Ohio State University

Project Overview

Problem Statement

Involvement of environmental health specialists during emergency response is low in Northwest Ohio.

Program Goal

Increase the involvement of Northwest Ohio environmental health specialists during emergencies.

A L L E N

A U G L A IZ E

D E F IA N C EE R IE

F U L T O N

H A N C O C K

H E N R Y

H U R O N

L U C A S

M E R C E R

O T T A W A

P A U L D IN G

P U T N A M

S A N D U S K Y

S E N E C A

V A N W E R T

W IL L IA M S

W O O D

Behavior Over Time

Non-public health agencies making public health decisions

Environmental health involvement

KEY

VARIABLES

TIME

Current Mental Models This is someone else’s responsibility, let them do it. I want to be involved, but I don’t know what to do. We don’t have the personnel, time or funding to be

involved. There are other programs that need our attention.

Environmental health is not involved in

emergency response activities.

Non-public health agencies make public health

decisions, due to the lack of environmental health

involvement.

R

Shifting the Burden

Methodology• Develop a list of

emergency response roles.

• Develop a survey tool.

• Distribute a survey. • Define the role.

Anticipated Results• A well-rounded, all-

hazards definition. • Respondents would

identify food safety, potable water, sewage, solid waste and vector control.

• Respondents would not identify hazardous materials, building assessments, and outbreak investigations.

What We Found Is…

90%

10%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Yes No

80 (44%) of 183 surveys were returned.

Should EHS be involved Should EHS be involved in emergency in emergency

response?response?

18%

3%

11%11%

29%29%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Not

Slight

ly

Somew

hat

Mod

erat

ely

Highly

Don't K

now

How involved are EHS?How involved are EHS?

What is Your Discipline?

6%0%1%

73%

6%

19%

5%0%

10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

Regist

ered

San

itaria

n

Regist

ered

Nur

se

Firefig

hter

EMT

Law E

nfor

cem

ent

Emer

genc

y Mgm

t

Oth

er

Level of Involvement37%

30%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

Not Slightly Somewhat Moderately Highly Don't Know

EHS

Personal

43 EHS Responded

When Would You Expect EHS Involvement?

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

Diseas

e O

utbr

eak

Biolog

ical I

ncide

nt

Floodin

g

Haz M

at

Mas

s Cas

ualty

Torna

do

Power

Out

age

Earth

quak

e

Radio

logica

l Incid

ent

Terro

rist E

vent

(WM

D)

Terro

rist T

hrea

tFire

Potential• food safety (96%) • drinking water (94%) • waste water (92%)• public education (90%) • solid waste (86%) • epidemiology (85%)• vector control (78%)• public information (72%)• health & safety officer

(65%)

Current• food safety (86%) • public education (69%)• drinking water (68%)• epidemiology (64%)• public information (58%)• waste water (57%)• solid waste (54%)

EHS Functions

Potential EHS Roles74%74%

61%65%

69%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

Reasons for EHS not being more involved:

“Lack of support &

leadership.”

“Public health is not a first

responder.”

“Lack of funding.” “Lack of

training.”

“It’s not my job.”

Conclusions

• EHS do want to be involved.

• A system of training, policies, procedures, practices, and processes is needed.

• Concepts must be implemented.

• More research is needed on this subject.

• Environmental health must be at the planning table with other responders.

Future Steps

• Provide the health jurisdictions with a defined role.

• Develop policies, procedures, practices, training and exercises.

• Conduct a statewide survey.

Thank You!

Questions?