PUBLIC HEALTH SANITARIAN (SPANISH SPEAKING) 2103

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS

Under general supervision, an employee in this class is involved in the operation of one or more phases of the County environmental health program, which does not involve public health engineering. The incumbent conducts inspections of large industrial plants, business establishments, food service establishments, new construction, installations of x-ray machines, new wells and private sewage systems in order to enforce laws and regulations in the New York State Public Health Law and Environmental Conservation Law, the New York State Sanitary Code and the Suffolk County Sanitary Code. The incumbent assists Public Health Sanitarian Trainees and may supervise their work. Work differs from that of a Public Health Sanitarian in that the incumbent is also responsible for communicating in Spanish. Work is supervised by a technical supervisor within the Environmental Quality Division or the Public Health Division of the Department of Health Services through conferences or written reports. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES

Conducts investigations and prepares reports on housing, camps, temporary residences, swimming pools, sanitary landfills and x-ray installations;

Carries out inspections of food service establishments, bathing beaches, toxic material storage facilities and public water supplies;

Communicates in Spanish when necessary with owners, employees or other representatives of restaurants or other establishments governed by the public health laws and sanitary code.;

Assists in developing and conducting water resource and air pollution studies;

Inspects and investigates the installation of lateral public sewers, large private sewage disposal and private water supply systems, and evaluates the operation of small sewage and industrial waste treatment plants;

Confers and cooperates with representatives of other local, state and federal health agencies;

Assists and supervises the field work of a small number of Public Health Sanitarian Trainees;

Prepares reports and recommendations concerning health surveys, studies, inspections and investigations of business concerns, industrial plants and other large establishments governed by the public health laws and sanitary code, including those related to enforcement actions;

Collects water, food and other samples for laboratory examination.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGES, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

Good knowledge of the principles, practices and techniques of environmental sanitation; good knowledge of the New York State Public Health Law, Environmental Conservation Law, New York State and Suffolk County Sanitary Codes; ability to enforce regulations and laws tactfully, firmly and impartially; ability to make technical inspections and investigations and to arrive at independent decisions on the basis of such inspections and investigation; ability to express oneself clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing in both the English and Spanish language; physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

OPEN COMPETITIVE

Graduation from a college with federally-authorized accreditation or registration by NY State with a Bachelor’s Degree including, or supplemented by, a minimum of thirty (30) credit hours in the natural sciences, of which not more than twelve (12) credit hours are in the applied sciences, and one (1) year of experience in the enforcement of environmental or public health laws and regulations.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENT

There will be a qualifying Spanish language examination.

Candidates must satisfactorily complete the Basic Environmental Health Course (BEHC), the required training course approved by the New York State Department of Health, within the first two (2) years of employment in the public health sanitarian series as per Section 11.111 (a) of the New York State Department of Health Laws and Regulations.

At the time of appointment, and during employment in this title, employees will be required to possess a valid license to operate a motor vehicle in New York State.

1/1/2015

SUFFOLK COUNTY

Competitive

Review 7/23/15