Environmental Health



	Environmental Health Staff Arbovirus Surveillance Biomedical Waste Body Piercing Drinking Water Food Service Group Care Indoor Air Migrant Labor On-Site Sewage Treatment Rabies Control Rodent Control Swimming Pools Tanning Facilities One Stop Permitting Arbovirus Surveillance The Osceola County Health Department monitors the activity of St. Louis Encephalitis and other arthropod borne viruses, through sentinel flocks. There are approximately 8 – 10 chicken flocks located in strategic locations across the county. Trained County Health Personnel routinely draw blood from these flocks, to be analyzed for the presence of arthropod borne viruses. If present, other agencies are properly notified to combat mosquito population, and to take proper precautions. Biomedical Waste The Department of Health oversees biomedical waste to assure proper identification, segregation, containment storage, and labeling of biomedical waste. Any items soiled by body fluids, such as blood and blood products, are considered to be contaminated waste and must be disposed of in accordance with state regulations. Authority: Chapter 381.006 Florida Statutes Chapter 64E-16 Florida Administrative Code Body Piercing The Health Department prescribes minimum safety and sanitation standards related to the to the operation of body piercing salons. The purpose for permitting salons, is to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public from the spread of infectious diseases. Authority: Chapter 381.0075 Florida Statutes Chapter 64E-19 Florida Administrative Code Drinking Water Quality Water systems serving greater than 25 people or has 15 service connections are regulated by the Department of Environmental Protection. Other water systems less than 25 people or less than 15 service connections are permitted and inspected by the Osceola County Health Department. The system operators/owners sample for bacteria quarterly and lead/nitrate every 3 to 5 years. Owners of private wells (single family dwellings) are encouraged to sample their water annually. The cost at the Osceola County Health Department is $20.00 for bacteria. Chemicals can be tested, but the prices vary. Osceola County Health Department conducts the Super Act Program, Wells within ¼ mile and other public wells within ½ mile of known (historic) leaky underground storage tanks (gasoline) are tested annually for pollution from petroleum products. Chapter 64E-8 Florida Administrative Code Well Construction In May of 1999 the Osceola County Health Department signed delegation contracts with Water Management Districts to issue permits for drilling, abandonment, and repairs of wells. The services provided include lot evaluation for the required setbacks from possible pollution sources, permit issuance and inspections. Wells for new single family dwellings must be sampled for bacteria prior to issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy. Osceola County has three orange grove areas to which Ethylene Dibromide (careinogen) was applied. These areas are Old Lake Wilson Road, Nora Tyson Road and Jones Road. Wells should not be drilled in these areas. If they are, special drilling methods should be utilized and the water must be tested for E.D.B.. See Osceola County Health Department for specific details. Well Permitting Regulatory Rules & Statutes Food Service Program Although Environmental Health is no longer responsible for the inspection of restaurants, it maintains responsibility for regulation and inspection of other food service facilities. Facilities that are inspected include public and private school cafeterias, bars and lounges that serve no food, civic and fraternal club kitchens, and the food service operations in hospitals, nursing homes, jails, child care centers, and in group and residential homes. Environmental Health conducts regular inspections that assure that required sanitary standards are maintained to minimize the occurrence of food-related illness. Regular inspections ensure that each establishment is properly designed, built and equipped for its intended purpose; has a safe water supply and waste disposal system; obtains food supplies from approved sources; and maintains food free from contamination and at safe temperatures. Environmental Health also responds to foodborne, and waterborne illnesses in relationship to any food outlet, or facility that supplies food or water to the public. We conduct joint inspections with the governing regulators to determine possible contamination and measures to prevent future outbreaks. Authority: Chapter 64E-11 Group Care Facilities This program provides basic safety and sanitation inspections for facilities such as, assisted living facilities, childcare facilities, public and private schools, foster homes, and other related health care facilities. Each facility must comply with minimum standards relating to the protection of health, safety and well being of those using these facilities. Authority: Schools Chapter 64E-13 Florida Administrative Code Residential Facilities Chapter 64E-12 Florida Administrative Code Child Care Chapter 65C-22 Florida Administrative Code Public Buildings Chapter 64E-10 Florida Administrative Code Foster Homes Chapter 65C-13 Florida Administrative Code Indoor Air In 1985 the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act. The purpose for this legislation is to protect the public health, comfort, and environment by creating areas in public places that are to be free from tobacco smoke, using a uniform statewide code. This prohibits smoking within a government building, and requires that a person may not smoke in a public place, except in a designated smoking area. Authority: Chapter 386.201-212Florida Statutes Migrant Labor Environmental Health Services conducts regular inspections to ensure that each establishment meets minimum sanitation and health standards related to construction, operation, maintenance, and that the facility has a safe water supply and sewage disposal system. Minimum standards are prescribed to protect the health and safety of persons residing in migrant labor housing. Authority: Chapter 381.006 Florida Statutes Chapter 64E-14 Florida Administrative Code Onsite Sewage Treatment & Disposal This includes septic systems, aerobic treatment units and engineered designed performance based systems. A variety of services are provided including lot evaluations, soil testing, permit issuance and inspections. The above applies to new systems, repairs, modifications, and abandonment of old tanks. Septic systems located in industrial manufacturing zones or systems used by these type businesses are inspected annually and tested, if necessary, to prevent pollution by toxic chemicals. The Onsite Waste Water Maintenance Pamphlet is available at the Osceola County Health Department. A video Protecting Florida’s Water: Proper Septic Tank System Use and Maintenance is also available at the Osceola County Health Department and your local library. OSTDS Forms Selecting Your Drainfield and Contractor: After receiving the construction permit the health department recommends that you get three (3) bids. There are different drainfield products on the market. You can choose between rock, plastic chambers, Styrofoam product and bundles of plastic pipe. Rock is the standard and these other products have been rated more efficient then rock and the resultant drainfield is smaller than rock. Make sure you ask the contractor which drainfield product he plans to install A few words of caution on contracts are as follows: Make sure the contract covers all phases of the entire job; Do not sign any open-ended contracts such as; Trucking away extra dirt or debris could be an additional cost; Hauling in extra sand could be an additional cost, etc. Rabies Control Environmental Health Services coordinates with local agencies to create an effective rabies control program. Rabies is a deadly disease that can be prevented, but not cured. The virus attacks the nerves and brain tissue of warm-blooded animals including humans. Persons who have experienced an animal bite should: Immediately scrub the wound with lots of soap and running water for five to ten minutes. Try to get a complete description of the animal and determine where it is so that animal control can pick it up for quarantine or rabies testing. Go to your family doctor or the nearest emergency room. Prophylactic treatment to prevent rabies may be required if the animal cannot be located and tested, or if the animal is tested and found to be rabid. Call the Osceola County Animal Control or Osceola County Health Department. The animal will either be quarantined for ten days (if it is a dog, cat or ferret) or be sacrificed and tested for rabies. If you kill the animal, be careful not to damage the head and avoid further contact with the animal even though it is dead. Rodent Control Environmental Health does investigate complaints on rodent harborage. When a complaint is received in writing a trained staff member will investigate premises for rodents and favorable conditions for feeding and harboring. If complaint is valid, the owner will be given information and assistance to eliminate the rodents. Authority: Chapter 381 & 386Florida Statutes Swimming Pools Swimming pools, water parks, and bathing places are sources of year around family enjoyment in Florida, and the perfect place to cool off on the hot summer days. Unfortunately they can also be sources of waterborne disease such as E. Coli, and Cyrpto. The use of Chlorine is effective against many diseases, but when pools become overcrowded the chlorine level can be reduced rapidly. The responsibility of the Osceola County Health Department is to inspect twice a year, monitoring water quality, disinfection, cross-connections, and filtration, among other things. The regulation of public pools is considered important by the Health Department for the prevention of disease, sanitary nuisances, and accidents in which the health and safety of an individual may be threatened or impaired. Authority: Chapter 64E-9 Florida Administrative Code Tanning Facilities The responsibility of the Osceola County Health Department is to minimize the risks involved in tanning beds. This is done by performing inspections twice a year, to assure that the facility is clean and sanitary, also to make sure equipment is properly working and maintained. Authority: Chapter 381.89 Florida Statutes Florida Administrative Code 64E-17 (Free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the files.)