Roles And Responsibilities Of EHO's (environmental Health Officers)

Question 1

Reasons why food buisnesses are inspected by EHO’s

Answer 1

•Pests cannot contaminate the food
•The food buisness building is in good condition and regularly cleaned
•The food buisness is using HACCP
•Food is safe to eat
•Food handlers are trained in food safety
•Food handlers have good personal hygiene
•Food is stored, handled and cooked hygienically and safely

Question 2

Actions that an EHO can carry out

Answer 2

1.Visit the business without an appointment to carry out an inspection.
2. Ask for evidence of illness (e.g a letter from a doctor) from the person who has made a complaint against a food business.
3. Take food samples away to test for bacteria.
4. Take samples of water, pests, faeces, etc., away to identify and test, and use as evidence.
5. Check that the business is using pest-control equipment, e.g. traps, wire meshes, fly killers.
6. Take photographs/videos of what is seen during an inspection.
7. Look at all the records the business keeps, e.g. staff training, refrigerator temperatures, maintenance of equipment and plumbing, etc.
8.Remove (seize/confiscate) food being sold by the business, because it is unsafe to eat.
9. Tell the business to make hygiene, food safety or other improvements by a certain date.
10. Close the business immediately because it is unsafe for customers to buy food/stay there.

Question 3

Duties of a EHO

Answer 3

Environmental Health Officers also investigate:

• Complaints about a food business

• Outbreaks of infectious disease

• Complaints about poor standards of health and safety in H&C businesses

Question 4

Other duties

Answer 4

Their other duties include:
• Giving evidence to a judge if a business is taken to court for breaking the law
• Granting licences to food businesses
• Deciding the hygiene rating for a food business
• Giving talks at public enquiries, meetings and exhibitions
• Educating and training people about food safety and environmental health

Question 5

What does an EHO do during the inspection of a food business?

Answer 5

•Enter a food business without an appointment for an on-the-spot inspection.
•check the use-by and best-Defore dates on foods being red in the business.
•Take food samples away to test for bacteria
•watch how the food is handled during
storage, preparation, cooking and serving.
•look at all the records the buisness keeps, e.g. staff training, refrigerator temperature, etc.
•take food away if its unsafe to eat.
•tell buisnesses to make improvements by a certain date
•close buisness if its dangerous to customers