Our Environmental Health Division’s
programs impacts the health and
well-being of Sandusky County residents.
Our programs are devoted to making sure our health, food, water, air,
and soil are safe.
The health department is
required to investigate all reported dog, cat, ferret, or any other
animal that is commonly known to transit rabies. The animal’s owner will
be notified of quarantine requirements. After quarantine, a veterinarian
must examine the animal to determine good health and update its rabies
vaccination.
If the bite involves a wild or stray animal, the animal may be
euthanized and inspected by the Ohio Department of Health for rabies.
This division licenses and inspects all businesses involved in
retail food sales in Sandusky County, with the exception of Bellevue
City. These businesses include restaurants, groceries, schools,
carry-outs, food booths at festivals, vending machines, food trailers,
drug stores and retail stores. Also, we investigate complaints and
possible food-borne disease outbreaks. Our inspections are based on the
Uniform Retail Ohio Food Safety Code, which was implemented on March 1,
2001.
Nuisances may include garbage and refuse complaints, housing
problems, air quality issues, insect and rodent infestations, lead
abatement and sewage system failures. Orders are inspected upon
complaint and issued to attain compliance. Upon receipt of complaint,
investigations are made concerning public health issues such as improper
garbage storage and disposal, unsafe housing, rodents, and failed sewage
systems. Orders are issued to attain compliance.
This program involves permitting and
inspecting for household sewage systems of 1, 2 and 3 family dwellings.
Inspections include location, type and installation of new, replacement
and altered systems. Additional inspections include new surveys for
possible building sites, sewage nuisance complaints, and annual aeration
sewage system monitoring. Existing sewage systems are inspected for real
estate transactions. Private sewage system contractors are registered to
do work in Sandusky County.
Sandusky County Environmental
Health division inspects and permits private water systems. Inspections
include location, installation, and safety of the drinking water. Water
samples are taken upon request to identify possible contaminants in
private water systems including; bacteria, minerals, etc. The state of
Ohio has a register of private water system contractors.
Inspections of public swimming pools and
spas include safe water parameters, safety equipment, filtering
equipment, disinfection equipment, turnover rates, water temperature
,drains and signage.
Campgrounds and resident camp inspections
include spacing, nuisances, swimming beaches and pools, safety and first
aid, living quarters, food services, sewage, and water.
Local schools are inspected twice a year
to ensure a safe and healthy environment. Inspections include general
safety, proper storage and handling of lac chemicals, pest control,
indoor air quality, playground safety, and proper food handling in the
kitchen. School inspections include cafeteria, playground equipment,
lighting, water systems, sewage, building conditions, health and safety
issues.
This program annually licenses and
inspects solid waste facilities to assure compliance with Ohio Revised
Code section 3734 and is annually surveyed and approved by the Ohio
Environmental Protection Agency. Active landfills, closed landfills,
transfer stations, construction/demolition sites, infectious waste
treatment facilities, large generators of infectious waste, scrap tire
generators, compost sites and open dumping must be inspected.
Our division licenses tattoo and body
piercing establishments. Inspections include equipment, site,
sterilization equipment and methods, and required paperwork.
Information and consultation is provided for
insects and rodents that transmit diseases. Information is available on
mosquitoes, rats, and ticks. Testing is provided for ticks that can carry
Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and for mosquitoes that carry
encephalitis.
