Environmental Health
& Hygiene
Program Coordinator – Stewart Inness
P: 08 8971 9315 | M: 0458 164 899 | E:
stewart.inness@kwhb.com.au
Environmental health practice covers the assessment, correction, control and prevention of environmental factors that can adversely affect health, as well as the enhancement of those aspects of the environment that can improve human health.
An Environmental Health Officer’s main responsibilities are to:
1. Provide support and on site training for Environmental Health Workers
2. Work with Environmental Health Workers, public health staff, community members and others to identify, investigate and find appropriate solutions to environmental health problems
3. Monitor compliance with the Public Health Act, Food Act and related legislation
4. Identify, monitor and control insects and pests
5. Provide community education and advice
There is a lot of evidence to support the point of view that the major health improvements in the 20th Century (particularly for children) have come about as a result of improvements in health engineering and health infrastructure.
People's ability to put into practice healthy living practices (like washing themselves, their bedding and their children) relates either directly or indirectly to having health hardware or health infrastructure that works.
There are ten accepted healthy living practices which are listed according to their likely importance to improving people's health status:
1. Washing people
2. Washing clothes/bedding
3. Removing waste
4. Improving nutrition
5. Reducing crowding
6. Separating of dogs and children
7. Controlling dust
8. Temperature control
9. Reducing trauma
10. Controlling insects and pests
