Careers

PUBLIC HEALTH SANITARIAN I

Albany County

Posted 1/12/2025

Responsibilities

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: This is technical work involving responsibility for assisting higher level 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. Duties involve gathering information for use by higher level Public Health Sanitarians and Engineers in determining compliance with local and state Sanitary Code requirements. The work is performed under general supervision of either a higher level technical or professional employee who reviews reports and provides advisory assistance as necessary. Supervision over the work of others is not usually a responsibility of employees in this class. Does related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

Performs routine and follow-up inspections of sanitary conditions of camps, hotels and other premises including semi-public or individual water supplies and sewage disposal devices, refuse disposal, air pollution, public health nuisance complaints and general sanitation;
Performs routine and follow-up inspections of swimming pools and beaches to determine compliance with local and state Sanitary Code requirements;
Performs routine and follow-up inspections of restaurants and public eating places, including activities pertaining to food handling and storage, food service, dishwashing and disinfecting of dishes and utensils;
Performs routine and follow-up inspections of public health nuisances, rodent and pest harborages and related matters and advises local officials of corrective measures;
Collects drinking water samples for chlorine content, pH, hardness, alkalinity testing and organic, inorganic and bacterial contamination testing;
Inspects sites and advises homeowners on design of home sewage systems depending on varying soil conditions;
Advises homeowners on bat and rodent control, including bat and rodent exclusion methods;
May collect and deliver suspected diseased animals to State laboratories for analysis;
Aids homeowners, local officials and commercial operators on proper sanitary operation of wells, pumps and water sources protection;
Maintains records and completes inspection reports related to the work.
Performs routine and follow-up investigations on physician-initiated disease-related referrals related to lead exposure, gathering samples for testing and facilitate, coordinate and monitor corrective actions;
Complies information and data which is entered into computed data bases;
Assists other personnel in obtaining information and administering programs, answers telephones, faxes information and correspondence, photocopies, attends meetings, assists with training of students from local schools, colleges and hospital programs on public health practices;
Travels to and from office to visit regulated and unregulated facilities.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

Working knowledge of basic principles and practices related to proper environmental public health inspection techniques;
Working knowledge of applicable provisions of the State Sanitary Code related to environmental public health inspections;
Working knowledge of general principles of microbiology, chemistry and general science;
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with the public;
Ability to understand and interpret written material;
Ability to solve arithmetic problems related to environmental public health inspections;
Ability to prepare accurate reports;
Skill in health inspection techniques;
Physical condition commensurate with the demands of the position.

Minimum Qualification

Completion of at least sixty (60) credit hours of academic education at a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university, including a minimum of twelve (12) credit hours in the Physical and/or Biological Sciences.