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Health inspectors recognized nationally

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit News Release ******************** Environmental Public Health Week, held January 19th to 25th, is a national event held annually by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI) to recognize the



North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
News Release

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Environmental Public Health Week, held January 19th to 25th, is a national event held annually by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI) to recognize the work of Canada’s certified Public Health Inspectors.

In the North Bay and Parry Sound areas, local Public Health Inspectors have been in the media spotlight more than usual since the fall of 2008 as they worked to protect the public during the Listeriosis outbreak and the E.coli outbreak.

“A basic cornerstone of a healthy population is the protection of the public from environmental hazards that affect our daily lives.” says Mike Duncan, Manager of Environmental Health for the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit. “The work of public health inspectors can sometimes go unnoticed by the public unless a crisis arises which brings attention to the work of these health professionals.”

Environmental Public Health Inspectors working for the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit proactively protect the health of the public across the district by applying provincial public health protection standards in a variety of community settings. For example, in 2008, Environmental Public Health Inspectors in the North Bay and Parry Sound area conducted:

• 1,330 restaurant inspections
• 79 public pool inspections
• 28 public spa inspections
• 238 animal bite investigations
• 136 complaint investigations
• 170 community special event consultations
• 66 investigations of adverse water quality reported from public water systems

Public Health Inspectors are highly trained individuals whose training generally includes a four-year university degree in Environmental Health followed by certification by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors. To become nationally certified, public health inspectors must complete a field training practicum, submit a number of field reports and pass the Institute’s oral exam. Some inspectors have additional training in areas such as biology, toxicology and epidemiology.

More information about the work of Environmental Public Health Inspectors is available online at www.ciphi.ca. or by contacting the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit at (705) 474-1400 or toll free at 1-800-563-2808.

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