Environmental Health Programs

The environmental health programs are conducted by state registered sanitarians who are responsible for the state mandated programs and our own local programs.

1. Retail Food Establishments (RFE) and Food Service Operations (FSO): License Application

We issue licenses, review plans and inspect each retail food establishment and food service operation two times each year for compliance with our Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code.

2. Public Health Nuisance Complaints:

We investigate all reported public health nuisance complaints, issuing orders for abatement if necessary.

3. Animal Bites:

We investigate all reported animal bites following all rabies control procedures as spelled out in our rabies control regulation and as required by state law. Dogs and cats are quarantined for ten days and rabies vaccinations are verified or obtained before releasing these animals from quarantine. All other animals are sacrificed and sent to the state laboratory for examination of rabies.

4. Schools:

We inspect school grounds and buildings twice a year and the cafeterias three times a year.

5. Swimming Pools and Spas:

We issue permits and inspect seasonal pools and spas twice a month and indoor pools and spas once a month checking the water chemistry each time.

Local Programs

1. Food Sampling Program:

Another program unique to health departments in Ohio is a routine food sampling program. We collect samples quarterly of cold, ready-to-eat foods that have been prepared or handled in some way by a restaurant or retail food store. The samples are analyzed at a laboratory for coliform bacteria and standard plate counts. The results are compared to guidelines prepared by the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Those that are significantly in excess of the guidelines are notified that the samples indicated fecal contamination and/or temperature abuse. The information also helps the sanitarians when they return for an inspection. The program has been very well received by the restaurants and the stores since the results most often demonstrate that they are serving wholesome food products.

2. Servsafe® Food Safety System Training

    Servsafe® Training for Managers - Class Description and Registration Form
          Classes offered twice/year:   July and January
    

     Servsafe® 4-hour Employee Training Classes are Offered in English or in Spanish
           English Class-
           Spanish Class- Scheduled Aug.26, 2004 - Class Description and Registration Form en inglés

3.  Mercury Thermometer Exchange Program
Catch the Fever


4.  Homeowners Guide to Mosquito Control    

5. Hotels/Motels:

We issue permits and inspect each hotel and motel in Springdale once a year for compliance with our local regulation.

6. Nuisance Animal Control:  List of Animals the City will Pick up Free Of Charge.

The City of Springdale employs a licensed professional animal trapper to remove wild animals from residences and businesses when they become nuisances by damaging property or becoming potential health threats.

7. CreekWater Sampling:

We periodically take water samples from the creeks in Springdale to examine for certain chemical pollutants. Also, we recently concluded a two year program of taking water samples from the creeks and examining them for fecal coliform. With the data from these samples we issued warnings to the public to stay out of the creeks for at least two days after moderate to heavy rainstorms.