By Cecilia Nasmith

The Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit is supporting the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspector's national awareness campaign by highlighting the work of its own 16 Public Health Inspectors in the County of Northumberland, City of Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton County.

The announcement described their work as diverse and proactive in preventing potential illness.

“Whether inspecting that food is safe to eat, checking that water is safe to drink and use, ensuring environmental hazards do not pose a health risk, supporting case and contract tracing for different diseases, or educating and enforcing the changing restrictions during COVID-19, the daily work of Public Health Inspectors is varied but often goes unnoticed,” it stated.

As Medical Officer of Health Dr. Natalie Bocking put it, “Your health is their business.

“In a constantly changing environment, Public Health Inspectors are the first line of defense against many different diseases and ailments that can affect people's health.”

Dr. Bocking acknowledged this work may fly under the radar because their proactive work prevents adverse events, from unsafe restaurant conditions to the outbreak of an illness.

“Prevention and promotion are the name of the game, and Public Health Inspectors do their jobs expertly and effectively,” she said in the press release.

“They do this in many different ways whether reducing the risk of food-borne illness, promoting food-handler skills, checking that small water-drinking systems work properly, helping rural residents keep their well water safe, following up on animal-bite incidents to prevent rabies, and ensuring it's safe to get a haircut, manicure, pedicure or tattoo.”

The health unit shared some statistics to flesh out the list.

These Public Health Inspectors respond to some 600 animal-bite incidents each year, and also conduct animal-bite investigations and ensure vaccine is available to those who may have been exposed to rabies.

In 2019 – prior to the COVID-19 pandemic – they inspected 1,137 low-, medium- and high-risk restaurants and food premises to ensure they followed safe food practices and all food regulations.

They conduct regular inspections on such personal-care settings as beauty salons and tattoo studios as well as recreational water facilities (including 98 public pools, 15 public whirlpools and nearly 50 beaches).

They carry out inspections on 650 small drinking-water systems that serve restaurants, marinas, golf courses, churches, seasonal trailer parks and summer camps, and other facilities.

They also conduct regular checks of child-care facilities, nursing homes, rest and retirement homes, group homes, migrant farm-worker accommodations, funeral homes, tanning salons, shelters and children's recreational camps.

HKPR Public Health Inspectors were redeployed during the pandemic to assist with pandemic response. In 2021, they fielded hundreds of calls about changing regulations and also investigated dozens of complaints – leading to 34 charges for various COVID-19 infractions.

Looking ahead, they will monitor for local incidents of vector-borne diseases (like West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease), offering prevention tips to help people avoid mosquitoes and ticks that can spread the illnesses.

And in the event of disasters, environmental risks and health hazards, they stand ready to respond and assist with recovery.