Environmental health

[edit] Introduction

Environmental health is concerned with physical, chemical and biological factors that impact on health. It is aimed at preventing disease and creating healthy environments.

[edit] Environmental health professionals

The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health are the professional body for environmental and public health and safety. The broad roles of environmental health practitioners can be categorised as:

[edit] Environmental protection

Implementing UK and European laws in relation to air, water, noise, contaminated land and so on. In relation to air pollution control and air quality management, audits and action plans may be undertaken to identify and rectify any problems. The management of noise is a key role within neighbourhood noise disputes.

[edit] Food safety

Ensuring food is stored, handled, prepared and served in a hygienic and safe way:

• Inspections of food businesses.
• Advising businesses and schools on food regulation and hygiene improvement.
• Investigating food complaints.
• Investigating food poisoning cases.
• Issuing hazard warnings if outbreaks occur.

[edit] Health and safety

Offering advice about health and safety in the workplace, safeguarding employees and the public, carrying out visits and inspections looking into health and safety incidents.

[edit] Housing

Monitoring housing standards within rental properties to ensure they are a suitable standard to live in and inspecting facilities such as fire escape routes, smoke alarms, sanitation and so on. If necessary, enforcement action will be taken to secure improvements.

[edit] Public health

Working alongside doctors, health visitors and dieticians to help protect and promote better public health. Human health can be affected by the environment we live in, the job we undertake, the food we consume and the lifestyle we live, as well as diseases.

[edit] Local authority environmental health

Local authority environmental health services are generally administered by the local authority which has a range of responsibilities and the power to prosecute and enforce regulations and legislation.

Typical areas of responsibility include:

• Food hygiene and safety.
• Control of infectious disease.
• Health and safety at work.
• Pollution control.
• Animal welfare.
• Pest control.
• Private water supplies.
• Private sector housing.
• Health promotion.

[edit] Find out more

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki.

• Building regulations.
• CDM.
• Construction dust.
• Contaminated land.
• Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005.
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH).
• Designing to reduce the chemical, biological and radiological vulnerability of new buildings (IP 7/15).
• Ergonomics in construction.
• First aider.
• Health and Safety Executive.
• Health and safety inspector.
• Health and safety.
• Human comfort in buildings.
• Local authority.
• Manual handling.
• Noise nuisance.
• Pollution.
• Reporting accidents and injuries on construction sites.
• Wellbeing.
• Work at height regulations.

[edit] External references

• Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
• Food Standards Agency.
• Public health England.