Careers

Public Health Technician

Broome County

Posted 7/17/2024

Responsibilities

Work Location: 225 Front Street, Binghamton, NY 13905 – Will visit locations throughout Broome County

Job Summary: This technical position exists in the Health Department and involves responsibility for assisting Public Health Sanitarians and Engineers in carrying out the various elements of prevention and control programs affecting public health. Employees in this class are responsible for making inspections and carrying out specialized phases of the Environmental Health Program in a municipal health department or other agency. Duties involve gathering information and data for use by Public Health Engineers and Sanitarians in determining compliance with local and State Sanitary Code requirements. Employees in this class are also responsible for assisting with the emergency preparedness and response program by providing assistance when necessary. The work is performed under general supervision of either a Public Health Sanitarian or Engineer, who reviews reports and provides advisory assistance as necessary. Supervision is not a responsibility of this position. Does related work as required.

Typical Work Activities:

Performs routine and follow-up inspections of sanitary conditions of camps, hotels, lodging and boarding houses and other premises including public or individual water supplies and sewage disposal, air pollution, public health nuisance complaints and other general sanitation;
Performs routine and follow-up inspections of swimming pools and beaches, food service establishments, tobacco vendors and other various facilities to determine compliance with local and State Sanitary Code requirements;
Collects samples of drinking water for laboratory analysis to determine organic, inorganic and bacterial contamination;
Participates in enforcement proceedings including testifying at hearings; Performs animal bite investigations, as well as interviews persons involved and advises on procedures to follow and issues notice of violation where applicable;
Performs routine and follow-up inspections of public health nuisances such as mosquito and fly breeding places, rodent harborages, and related matters and advises local officials and the public of corrective measures;
Performs soil tests, including visual observation of soil type, texture, strata and physical test of soil permeability;
Inspects sites and advises home owners on design of home sewage systems depending on varying soil conditions;
Maintains records and completes inspection reports related to the work;
Aids home owners, local officials and commercial operators on proper sanitary operations of wells, pumps and water source protection;
May collect and deliver suspect diseased animals to State laboratories for analysis;
Provides training and education regarding programs to permitted and non-permitted facilities, and the general public;
Responsible for organizing and inventorying supplies associated with applicable programs;
May perform emergency preparedness duties prior, during and after a natural or manmade disaster.

Required Skills & Essential Knowledge:

Working knowledge of the principles and practices related to proper environmental public health inspection techniques;
Working knowledge of applicable provisions of the State Sanitary Code relating to environmental public health inspections;
Working knowledge of general principles of biology, chemistry and general science;
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with the public;
Ability to understand and interpret written material;
Ability to read maps and drawings;
Ability to solve arithmetic problems related to environmental public health inspections;
Ability to prepare accurate reports;
Skill in health inspection techniques;
Willingness to work outdoors under all weather and terrain conditions;
Willingness to respond to emergencies at other than normally scheduled work hours.

Minimum Qualification

A) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered two-year college or university with an Associate’s Degree including a minimum of 15 semester credit hours in the natural sciences of which not more than six (6) credit hours may be in the applied sciences, and have satisfactorily completed a public health training course approved by the State Health Department within two years of appointment; OR
B) Satisfactory completion of 60 semester credit hours of academic education at a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university including a minimum of 15 semester credit hours in natural sciences of which not more than six (6) credit hours may be in the applied sciences and have satisfactorily completed a public health training course approved by the State Health Department within two years of appointment.

*Per Section 11.121 of the New York State Department of Health Codes, Rules and Regulations (NYSDOHCRR).

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: Certain assignments made to employees in this class will require reasonable access to transportation to meet field work requirements made in the ordinary course of business in a timely and efficient manner.

Salary: $20.51/hr