Environmental Health helps protect human health by addressing issues such as food safety, drinking water quality, pest control, contaminants, compliance inspections related to tobacco sales, and any other factors in the environment that might impact human health.
The Department’s Environmental Health Program is carried out by Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) and support staff located in Hay River, Inuvik, and Yellowknife. The EHOs are certified public health inspectors through the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors (CIPHI), and are delegated powers as Public Health Officers by the Chief Public Health officer under the NWT Public Health Act.
EHOs spend most of their time working in these areas:
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Rabies Preventions (animal bite investigation) |
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Personal Service Establishment Inspections (hair stylist/barber, tattooist, piercers, massage therapists, etc.) |
Tobacco Control Act Inspections (inspections of tobacco retailers for compliance with the legislation) |
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Communicable Disease – foodborne (E. coli, Salmonella, etc.) and Vector borne (West Nile Virus, Malaria, etc.) diseases |
Food Establishment Permits (Annual/Seasonal/Temporary), and Personal Services Establishment |