 |
SICK & WELL
HEALTH CARE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PROMOTING
HEALTHY LIVING
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PREVENTING
DISEASE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ABOUT US
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inspections
Wilkes County Environmental Health is responsible for protecting the public’s health by ensuring that our public’s
environments are free from disease-causing agents. Perhaps the most well-known of these responsibilities is the
restaurant inspections; but Environmental Health also regularly inspects food stands, meat/ seafood markets, school
/ hospital and nursing home lunchrooms, residential care facilities, rest homes, nursing homes, hospitals, child care
centers, hotels/ lodging facilities, summer camps, and public swimming pools. Water testing, lead poisoning,
outbreak investigations and other complaint investigations are performed on an as-needed basis.
Environmental Health is governed by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
DENR sets laws and rules concerning protection of the environment and the environment’s impact on the public’s health.
Locally, Environmental Health enforces DENR’s regulations by keeping the environment free from disease-causing germs.
Education is an important part of the environmental health program. Environmental Health Specialists provide educational
opportunities for restaurant employees through the ServSafe course. The series of classes focuses on food inspection,
handling and safety. Those who pass the final exam earn 2 points to be added on to the total restaurant inspection
score. Environmental Health also provides education to the public on any of the regulations Environmental Health
supports as well as on food handling, air quality, disease transmission and prevention, vector control and matters
related to solid and hazardous wastes. Educational workshops and programs can be provided to schools, churches,
civic groups and the community at large.
Restaurant Inspections
Restaurants are inspected at least four times a year. Environmental Health Specialists enforce the North Carolina
rules and regulations governing the sanitation of restaurant and other foodhandling establishments. Some examples
of these regulations are as follows:
- All food must come from an approved source.
- Food must be handled properly from the time it leaves the delivery vehicle to the time it is served.
- Food must be kept at proper temperatures during receiving, storage, preparation, and cooking. It must never be reserved.
- The kitchen, dining area, and lavatories must be in good repair.
- The kitchen, including utensils such as pots, silverware, plates, and cutting boards, must be clean and sanitized properly.
- Water must come from an approved and pressurized source. Required temperatures must be met.
- Personnel must practice good hygiene, including proper hand washing habits and clean clothing. They should not work while ill.
Additionally, sewage disposal, restroom facilities, pest control, cleaning and construction of floors, walls, and
ceilings, lighting and ventilation are routinely checked during inspections.
Points are taken for each regulated item not performed properly on the official inspection form.
Each item not performed to code is reviewed with the owner / operator of the restaurant. Once an inspection
is complete the points for each item are added up and the total score is the grade. The grade card is posted
where it can be easily seen by the public. All establishments are required by law to keep their grade card
posted. Any establishment failing to score at least 70% will have its permit revoked immediately. The most
recent grades for Wilkes County restaurants are posted online
here.
Childcare Center Inspections
Childcare centers are inspected at least once every six months. Inspections may be conducted at any
childcare facility as often as necessary to ensure compliance with state sanitation standards. Child care
centers are rated Superior, Approved, Provisional, or Disapproved based on a demerit-score grading system.
During an inspection, Environmental Health Specialists check for temperatures, handling, and preparation of
food; diapering and diaper changing facilities; safety and cleanliness of indoor and outdoor toys and equipment,
furniture, beds, cots, linen; hand washing of staff and children; lighting and heating/ cooling environment, and
hot water temperatures at sinks that are accessible to children. Points, called “demerits” are taken away for
each item not up to code on the official inspection form (link to the form). Each demerit is reviewed with the
owner/ operator of the restaurant. The grade card is posted where it can be easily seen by the public. All
establishments are required by law to keep their grade card posted.
Lodging Inspections
Lodging facilities are inspected once a year. The facility must be clean and in good repair. Special attention is
paid to water temperatures, laundry rooms, and ice machines. Hotels and motels may serve prepackaged food,
such as donuts and bagels. To serve other meals they must obtain a foodhandling permit. Bed & Breakfast
type places are permitted to serve breakfasts only depending on their bed capacity.
Pool / Recreational Waters Inspections
There are two different types of pools: year round and seasonal. Year round pools are open from January 1 through
December 31 each year. Year round pools have two inspections a year. Seasonal pools are open from April 1
through October 31. Seasonal pools have one inspection a year while it is in use. Environmental Health Specialists
look for temperature, filtration, pH and the levels of chemicals in the water at each inspection as well as safety
hazards. There is an annual fee for the permit to operate a pool or other recreational water (such as a hot tub or
wading pool) and the permit must be renewed every year.
Drinking Water Testing
Many residents depend on private wells for their water supply. Wilkes County Health Department can test a sample,
usually for a fee, when there is an unexplained illness or if the water tastes or smells bad. An Environmental Health
Specialist collects the sample and sends it to the Environmental Sciences Section of the State Laboratory of Public
Health in Raleigh. The most common tests run are for bacterial and chemical analysis.
The Total Coliform test is the best indicator of whether or not water is contaminated with bacteria. The coliform
bacteria tested for are Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Citrobacter, and Eshericihia. The fecal coliform subgroup of total
coliform is a better indicator of disease-causing bacteria in the water. If fecal coliforms are present, the water has
recently been contaminated with bacteria from the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals. If total coliforms are
present in the sample, the water is unsafe to drink. If fecal coliforms are present, not only is the drinking water
unsafe, but it also could cause diarrheal disease.
Water can also be tested for chemicals. The most common tests run on water samples are for the levels of alkalinity,
arsenic, calcium, chloride, copper, fluoride, hardness, lead, iron, magnesium, manganese, nitrates, pesticides,
petroleum, pH, fluoride, zinc.
Lead Poisoning Investigation
Environmental Health Specialists perform lead poisoning investigations when a child under six years of age has an
elevated blood lead level. Healthcare providers are asked to test all children under six years of age for high blood
lead levels for early detection. Lead poisoning in children can cause learning problems, headaches, anemia, hearing
loss, upset stomach, loss of energy, poor appetite and (in very high levels) coma or death. Lead can be found in
certain paints, water, soil, traditional medicines, old mini-blinds and certain hobbies and crafts materials.
Environmental Health Specialists investigate the environments of children with high blood levels to try to find the
source of lead in the child’s environment. When a source of lead is found, Environmental Health Specialists work
with the parents or guardians to remove the source of the lead poisoning. Educational opportunities for the public
are also available on lead risk and reduction.
Outbreak Investigation
Communicable diseases which may be spread by food, water or sanitation are reported to our office for follow- up.
If a large number of people become ill with a disease an investigation is conducted by the Wilkes County Health
Department Epi-Team to try to determine the cause. Environmental Health is an integral part of the Epi-Team.
Complaint Investigation
Environmental Health is responsible for investigating complaints received from the public against food and / or lodging
establishments. To register a complaint, you may call (336) 651-7530.
Download Forms
Application for Food Service Establishment
http://www.wilkeshealth.com/protection/forms/Application_for_Food_Service_Establishment.pdf
(583kb)
Temporary Event Permitting Process
http://www.wilkeshealth.com/protection/forms/Temporary_Event_Permitting_Process.pdf
(58kb)
Temporary Food Establishments
http://www.wilkeshealth.com/protection/forms/Temporary_Food_Establishments.pdf
(53kb)
Temporary Food Service Permit
http://www.wilkeshealth.com/protection/forms/Temporary_Food_Service_Permit.pdf
(60kb)
Temporary Foodstand Evaluation
http://www.wilkeshealth.com/protection/forms/Temporary_Foodstand_Evaluation.pdf
(58kb)
* For a complete list of rules that govern Environmental Health please visit
http://www.deh.enr.state.nc.us/ehs/rules.htm
** Existing wastewater systems may be recertified or reused. Existing wastewater systems no longer being used for the
originally designed purpose may be reused for other purposes. Reuse generally occurs in a mobile home park where a
new or updated home is replaced. Evaluation and approval for these other types of uses must be conducted by Environmental
Health Specialists.
|
|
|
