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We protect the health of all Canadians.
Environmental public health touches all aspects of our lives, from the air we breathe and the water and food we consume, to the places where we work, live, and play. As environmental public health professionals, we help keep Canadians safe.
Environmental public health professionals support food facilities, including restaurants, food processing facilities, and food service establishments, to ensure food premises maintain a high standard of food safety and sanitation to help prevent food-borne illness. EPHPs support food safety in the following ways:
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Issuing permits or licenses and granting health approvals to facilities that offer food to the public, like restaurants, food trucks, grocery stores, daycares, and nursing homes
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Inspecting food facilities to assess the operational environment and food safety practices
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Following up on complaints and inspecting food facilities to assess food safety
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Offering food safety information and education to operators and members of the public
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Providing guidance on safe food handling practices for special events, markets, bake sales, and other functions
Environmental public health professionals work with health care professionals and the public to limit the spread of communicable diseases and promote infection and disease control. Their work includes:
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Providing education to operators on the prevention of communicable diseases
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Following up on communicable disease cases to mitigate the spread of disease
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Providing education to operators on infection control measures to implement in their facilities to limit spread
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Providing data to inform and advise decision-making during outbreaks
Given their diverse skill set, environmental public health professionals are often deployed in various emergency response situations. In these situations, EPHPs might be called upon for any of the following duties:
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Ensuring emergency reception centres and impacted facilities are operating in a safe manner
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Assessing that there is safe drinking water
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Assessing environmental hazards
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Conducting case and contact management
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Educating and advising the public on the current public health recommendations (for e.g., physical distancing, masking)
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Enforcement of public health legislation
What is
environmental public health?
Environmental public health is a cornerstone of safe, functional, and thriving communities. The work that environmental public health professionals do is essential to keeping our water, food, land, air, and facilities safe.
Environmental public health professionals protect us all through the following activities:
Enforcement of public health legislation
Food safety
Drinking water safety
Recreational water safety
Care Facilities
Special events and festivals
Communicable Disease Control
Emergency response teams
Tobacco control
Air quality
Health promotion
Health hazard management
Join the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors
As the only national association that speaks for environmental public health professionals in Canada (also known as public health inspectors and environmental health officers), CIPHI is integral to advancing public health. CIPHI and its membership continually work to protect the health of all Canadians, advance the environmental and health sciences, and enhance the field of public health inspection.
From employment opportunities to continuing professional development to member benefits, with CIPHI membership you’ll advance your career in environmental public health and build great relationships with your colleagues from across Canada.
Interested in getting the latest news and updates from CIPHI, non-members can subscribe to CIPHI Mailchimp.
Looking for a job as an environmental public health professional?
National Annual Education Conference (AEC)
CIPHI would like to thank everyone who attended the 87th CIPHI National Annual Education Conference in September in beautiful Saint John, New Brunswick. Stayed tuned for more information and updates related to the 2024 CIPHI AEC which will be held in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Conference Page