Recruitment issues continue in the north

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EHOs played a significant role during the pandemic, making sure businesses were able to open and operate safely while maintaining COVID-19 protocols.

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“There were a number of different roles throughout the pandemic. That was what we particularly focused on over the last two years,” explained Doug Quibell, Regional Manager of Environmental Health at Northern Health “So, they would assist facilities and businesses to stay open in a safe manner.”

Outbreaks of food-borne and water-borne illness, or of communicable disease, adverse water quality result assessments and drinking water system advisories and notices are among the highest priority scenarios for NH Environmental Public Health, and EHOs will work closely with regulated facility operators to focus inspection efforts and resources on higher-risk situations such as where inspections are significantly overdue, or there has been chronic non-compliance with health legislation.

Application processing time for a variety of facilities and permits will take longer than usual, and there will be a reduced frequency of inspections for lower-risk facilities, some of which may be conducted virtually. Vendors seeking application support and approvals are encouraged to connect with Environmental Health as early in the process as possible and to ensure their application packages are complete.

Northern Health continues to actively recruit to EHO vacancies, efforts which include offering incentives, working in partnership with post-secondary institutions to develop affiliation agreements and increase the intake of student EHOs, and developing targeted recruitment campaigns that showcase the opportunities available in Northern BC. NH is also taking a lead role in the development of EHO Analyst positions, who will be able to support the work of certified EHOs. Three of these positions have been created and filled, to date.

Anyone with concerns about matters of public health that affect the general public is still encouraged to contact Environmental Public Health, by phone or email: 250-565-7322 or php@northernhealth.ca. The nature and timing of responses will be prioritized based on an assessment of potential risk to public health.