Environmental Health Division

Environmental Health Division

The Environmental Health has the responsibility for enforcing all city ordinances and state statutes relating to environmental health issues in Youngstown.

Services/Programs

Rabies Vaccination Picture

Animal Bites-The goal of this program is to prevent or reduce the incidence of rabies. Animal bites frequently require multiple visits to quarantine the offending animal and to verify the health and immunization status of the animals.

Charity Burial Program-This program provides burial services for those individuals who have died in Youngstown and whose bodies have remained unclaimed or whose families are indigent. At present there are fixed amounts provided for these services, as following: stillbirths-$50.00, live births to 10 years-$150.00, 10 years to adult-$300.00.

Foodborne Disease Investigation-A foodborne disease outbreak is identified when two or more persons have the same disease or have similar symptoms and there is a common food which has been ingested by such persons. In some outbreaks, one reported case constitutes an outbreak, i.e. botulism. When such reports come into the Board offices, they are noted and an investigation is started. Interviews are held, suspect foods are identified and by statistical methods or by laboratory methods can be confirmed or presumed to be the cause of the outbreak.

Grocery Stores- Stores are checked regularly for cleanliness, outdated or damaged merchandise, temperature control and product handling.

Correctional Facilities- The Mahoning County Jail, Misdemeanor Facility and the Corrections Corporation of America, (CCA) private prison are all inspected for cleanliness, maintenance and repair of the buildings. The food handling practices in the kitchen, cleanliness and food temperatures are also inspected.

Environmental Health

Hospitals - Youngstown’s three hospitals are regularly inspected for cleanliness, repair and maintenance, and food service. In addition, the facilities on each floor unit are monitored to assure that refrigeration temperatures are with in limits and that any food items prepared in the hospital kitchen are kept separate from those brought in by staff or families of patients.

Nuisances - In order to maintain neighborhood integrity and standards, response to complaints ranging from high grass, to trash in yards or odors caused by accumulated animal droppings, is necessary. These complaints often require multiple visits to ascertain the problem, issue orders to take care of the situation and check to be sure the problem has been corrected.

Restaurants - The Health District’s involvement starts before the restaurant is built or before any work is started on a building to be remodeled. Plans are submitted with menus and equipment lists. The plans are reviewed with an eye toward the menu to assure that the flow of work on a menu item can be handled safely. Equipment requirement, number and use of sinks, and surface finishes are also checked at this time.

Much of the time spent in inspecting restaurants is used in educating operators and staff. All violations are explained and ways to correct the violations are explored.

Under Ohio law, restaurants are to be inspected according to their designated class.

Class of Restaurant	Type of food served	Inspected per year
Class 1 Restaurant	Microwave pre-packaged food	Once
Class 2 Restaurant	Cook and serve foods	Twice
Class 3 Restaurant	Serves hazardous food, ie.: Sushi, raw eggs, or caters to high risk clients ie.: hospitals, nursing homes or caterers.	Three inspections with one of those being a *CCP inspection.

*Critical Control Point inspection involves analyzing recipes and tracking potentially hazardous foods from the loading dock to the table, to assure all food is safe and wholesome.

Mobile food service trailers- are handled much the same way as other restaurants with the same inspections requirements as a Class I restaurant. Vending operations are very similar to restaurants. Temperature monitoring, cleanliness, and food handling procedures are examined to assure the safest methods are followed.

Rodent Control - The rodent control staff makes visits to educate, consult and bait for rats. The Rodent Control Educator is state licensed to handle the rodenticides used in this program.

Schools - Schools are inspected twice each year to insure that the facilities are clean and in good repair, in order not to hinder the learning experience. At this time, the cafeterias are also inspected.

Swimming Pools & Spas - Swimming pools are inspected on a routine basis to assure that the pool water is safe. The PH or acidity, the chlorine content, clarity, hardness and dissolved solids are tested. Mechanical items such as the pump and filter, drains, pool apron, skimmers, number of life guards and first aid equipment are also checked at this time.

Services Offered Stats/Reports