MISSION
The mission of the Environmental Health Department is to serve the public, respond to citizens concerns and achieve corrections of violations. The department’s primary objective is the inspection and enforcement of sanitary standards for restaurants, bars, markets, bakeries, schools, hotels, hospital kitchens, day care centers, nursing home kitchens, temporary food events, public swimming pools and on-site sewage systems. Public education, surveillance and voluntary compliance with health laws are primary goals of the department. These activities have direct impact on the health of citizens in our community. Within the City organization, the department has primary oversight responsibilities for the City’s compliance with the Texas Hazard Communication Act.

Following September 11th, the department cooperated with the Amarillo Police Department, the Amarillo Fire Department, the Emergency Management Department and the Public Health Department in the management of reports of bioterrorism events within our community. The Director under the direction of the Health Authority participated in the development of a Community wide bioterrorism plan. The department cross-trains with law enforcement and the fire department and is an active member of the City task force for weapons of mass destruction.

OPERATIONS
The programs within the department are described:

Food Establishment Inspections:
 Unannounced compliance inspections are conducted for locations that provide food to the public. When violations of State Health laws and City ordinances are identified most are corrected on site by management during the inspection. If additional time is needed, the department conducts follow-up inspections to verify the items are corrected. Enforcement actions are taken when voluntary compliance is not achieved. The department currently permits 1,397 food establishments. This department conducts on average 500 compliance inspections each month. Last year 18,932 pounds of food were identified by this department as being unfit for human consumption. The food was voluntarily destroyed.

Nuisance Control:
The Environmental Health Department investigates citizen complaints daily. An average of 90 complaints are investigated, corrected and closed by this department each month. When unsanitary conditions are corrected, citizens are protected from the potential spread of communicable diseases.

Vector Control:
Weather is a key element to the size of the mosquito population in our community each spring and summer. To minimize the aggravation and reduce the risk of exposure to mosquito borne diseases, like West Nile Virus, the department conducts larviciding activities and a space-spraying program. These activities attempt to minimize the number of adult mosquitoes. Over 67,000 acres were treated last year by this department with assistance from the departments of Animal Control and Community Development. The department continued participation in the statewide surveillance program for West Nile Virus by collecting mosquitoes for testing.

Public Swimming Pool Inspection:
Routine inspections on pools and spas open to the public are conducted to document compliance with the standards set forth in State law. If disinfectant levels and pool chemistry are not adequate there is increased risk of disease transmission.

Ambulance Inspections:
City ordinance requires inspection of ambulances. This department verifies the equipment present in ambulances yearly.

On-site Sewage Facilities:
In areas within Amarillo where there is no public sewage system and in both Potter and Randall Counties, this department permits and inspects septic systems.

Hazard Communication Audits:
Our department audits City departments to evaluate the level of compliance with the Texas Hazard Communication Act. We are a reference department for City departments that have questions or need specific training or information. We provide training to City supervisors to educate them how to comply with this State law. This law also provides details to the Fire Department so they can pre-plan for fires and chemical emergencies.

Weapons of Mass Destruction and Bioterrorism:
The Health Authority for the Amarillo-Bi-City-County Health District continues planning for occurrence of these terrorist acts. The preparation involves coordinating the requirements of the Metropolitan Medical Response System. The primary focus of the MMRS program is to develop or enhance existing emergency preparedness systems to effectively respond to a public health crisis, especially a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) event. Through preparation and coordination, local law enforcement, fire, hazmat, emergency medical services, hospitals, public health, and other "first response" personnel plan to more effectively respond in the first 48 hours of a public health crisis. The Environmental Health Department received assignments onto subcommittees and received training in the National Incident Management System to prepare to manage a bioterrorism attack. The department is participating in plan development and is the Community Services Division/Health District representative for the administrative terrorism strike team.

Environmental Health Educational Program Highlights

Monthly we teach a food service class that illustrates common violations identified by our Sanitarians during routine inspections. We explain why these violations are a potential risk to their customers and how to avoid common mistakes. We speak to civic groups, Environmental Health classes at Amarillo College and high school vocational educational classes.