Jurisdictional Class:
Competitive
Adopted: 10/20/05
Amended: 8/20/08; 4/22/10
DISTINGUISHING
FEATURES OF THE CLASS:
The work involves responsibility for performing a variety of
field tests and activities to support Public Health Sanitarians and Engineers
who carry 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
agency. Duties involve gathering
information and data for use by Public Health Engineers and Sanitarians in
determining compliance with state and local 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. Does related work as
required.
TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: (Illustrative only)
Performs routine and follow‑up inspections of sanitary conditions of camps, hotels, lodging and boarding houses, swimming pools, beaches and other premises including public or individual water supplies and sewage disposal to determine compliance with state and local and 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;
Investigates
air pollution, public health nuisances and general sanitation complaints;
Performs animal bite investigations, 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 suspected diseased animals to State laboratories for
analysis;
FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE,
SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Working knowledge of environmental health principles,
sanitation regulations and modern inspection methods;
Working knowledge of applicable provisions of the State Sanitary Code relating to environmental public health inspections;
Working
knowledge of natural science and mathematics;
Skill
in health inspection techniques;
Ability
to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others;
PUBLIC HEALTH TECHNICIAN Page
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Ability
to organize and maintain accurate records and files;
Ability
to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others;
Ability
to read maps and drawings;
Ability
to solve arithmetic problems related to environmental public health inspections;
Physical
condition commensurate with the demands of the position.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Either:
(a) Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees with an Associate’s degree or higher including a minimum of 15 semester credit hours in the natural sciences, of which not more than 6 credit hours may be in the applied sciences; or
(b) Satisfactory completion of 60 semester credit hours of academic education at a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university or one accredited by the New York State Board of Regents to grant degrees including a minimum of 15 semester credit hours in the natural sciences, of which not more than 6 credit hours may be in the applied sciences.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
1. Appointees
to this title must satisfactorily complete a public health training course
approved by the NYS Health Department within two years of appointment.
2. Possession of a valid