Harrison County Health Department

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

The environmental health program is a mandated state program that is administered at  the local level by the local health department.

All local jurisdictions that fall under the Core Public Health Contract are required to regulate the environmental activities below, following  the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services guidelines.

Harrison County environmental services include regular inspections of restaurants, childcare facilities, schools, taverns, lodging facilities, grocery stores, convenience stores, catering facilities, senior centers, temporary food stands, and on-site sewage systems.  The county currently has approximately 60 food establishments, 10 childcare facilities, and 5 lodging facilities.  There were 86 food establishment inspections, 13 childcare facility inspections, 10 lodging establishment inspections, and 0 on-site sewage inspections in 2008.

Complaint investigations are also an important part of environmental health.  Such complaints include unsanitary food establishments, hazardous on-site sewage systems, and unsanitary lodging establishments.  Every complaint made to the Harrison County Health Department is investigated by the appropriate staff member.

The Health Department is also mandated to inspect truck wrecks that contain food for human consumption, as well as disasters (i.e. fire, flood, power outage, etc.).  The health department is required to respond to such events and stay on the site until all the food products are in a secure location.  This may require extended hours and usually takes more than one day.  There was one truck wreck in 2008.

The local environmental program also provides technical assistance to the citizens of Harrison County.  The program is able to answer questions pertaining to boil orders, private water testing, radon levels, mold remediation, and food recalls.

Cori Nichols
Environmental Public Health Specialist