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

warzecj@dhfs.state.wi.uswarzecj@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??

Examples to ConsiderExamples to Consider

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Clandestine Drug Lab

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