In a world that expects to drink safe water, eat food that doesn’t cause disease, and go out to dinner at a restaurant that isn’t covered in filth, there is perhaps no position more essential than that of the public health inspector. Despite their large numbers and significant amount of education, plenty of misconceptions remain about what exactly a public health inspector job description and how they manage to find a role in ensuring the public’s overall continued good health and safety.
The Stereotype: Public Health Inspector as Restaurant Quality Control
Perhaps the most visible role for the public health inspector is that of the restaurant investigator, holding establishments accountable for their cleanliness and the freshness of their food. This is actually a very serious business, and one that has major implications on the public every time they choose to dine out instead of making a meal in the kitchen. If the health inspector isn’t satisfied with what they see during an inspection, they are well within their rights to document the business’ failings, report it to a state or federal health board, and actually close the restaurant immediately.
The health inspector will then enforce accountability for the local health code, making sure the business fixes all of its problems and meets all guidelines before it can so much as think of opening the doors.
Beyond the Stereotype: Other Areas of Work for Public Health Inspectors
Restaurant inspections are associated most closely with public health inspectors because of the public displays of restaurant approval that greet most customers when they walk in. A bevy of reality shows dedicated to restaurant quality and cleanliness have only served to further enforce this stereotype. The public health inspector, though, deals with quite a few more responsibilities on a daily basis that go well beyond restaurant inspections.
Depending on their job title and background, public health inspectors are instrumental in ensuring the safety of numerous items:
1. Drinking Water
Public health inspectors with a strong background in microbiology and infectious disease are almost always on the scene when it comes to inspecting, certifying, or punishing water treatment facilities for their work. They’ll test water for bacteria and other pollutants and, if they find something objectionable, they can actually request the plant be shut down, overhauled, subject to new management, and otherwise improved to protect the public.
2. Disaster Relief
A major disaster can wreak havoc on consumer health in a number of ways. Floods can turn homes into hotbeds of mold and mildew. Earthquakes or hurricanes can contaminate drinking water with everything from natural gas to human garbage. The local environment can present serious concerns after major incidents like these, and it’s up to the public health inspector to discern what those risks are, how people in the affected area should change their habits, and what needs to be done to restore good health to the area.
3. Health Policy Implementation
Smoking in restaurants? Public health inspectors work to eliminate that. Mandated health insurance coverage? Public health inspectors notify customers of the requirement and get them onboard. When it comes to alerting both the public and the business community about health policy, health risks, and changes to enforcement, health inspectors are almost always on the front-lines.
A Broad Position for Good Health
Public health inspectors have a hand in ensuring the safety of virtually every food, beverage, and community in the developed world. It’s a big position that goes well beyond the bounds of the local take-out joint or sit-down restaurant, and one that’s only growing in scope over time.