A core service of SEAM is providing much needed environmental health services particularly to Councils. We are the foremost environmental health consultancy in Tasmania.
Our services cover the following aspects of the regulatory regime of Councils:
This service involves both registration of food premises as required by the Food Act 2003 and food sampling as directed by the State Department of Health and Human Services, to ensure safe food hygiene standards are met.
SEAM has two qualified and experienced Food Safety Auditors accredited under RABQSA as Level 4 Food Auditors able to audit aged care, child care and premises with ready to eat foods.
In rural areas like most of Tasmania, a significant proportion of the population lives outside sewerage catchment areas. It is vitally important that wastewater from unsewered premises is properly and safely disposed of in an environmentally sound manner. Similarly in the sewered areas, the treatment plants need to be operating effectively and monitored accordingly.
The services available include consents as required under Regulation 8 of the Plumbing Regulations, inspections, assessments and site and soil evaluations of new or existing properties requiring a Special Plumbing Permit and advice and interpretation of any public health issue arising with respect to wastewater management.
In recent times there have been two terrible accidents in the USA relating to Places of Assembly (Public and Environmental Health Newsletter for Local Government, March 2003). Councils have a statutory obligation to ensure that such places are regularly inspected and meet safe standards, particularly relating to exits.
The services include inspections, registration and licensing of Places of Assembly.
Council has a responsibility to ensure that the impact of human activity on the environment is within acceptable limits. The activities of our service include:
Immunisation is perhaps the most effective and practical single public health measure available for the reduction of morbidity and mortality arising from infectious diseases.
Infectious disease incidents are notifiable and require investigation and interview. Advice to Council may also be necessary.
We can carry out the required annual potable water reports and regular monitoring of water supplies, and the required annual monitoring and reporting on recreational water quality.
Burial of human remains outside of established cemeteries must be done in a responsible way with no adverse impact on public or environmental health. Supervision of exhumations is another service available.
It is important that the community is presented with authoritative information on environmental health risks. Activities to meet this service include seminars where relevant, publications and campaigns.
Other activities an Environmental Health Officer is required to conduct include:
ensuring the Council has sufficient and clean public conveniences;
managing solid waste;
occupational health and safety;
assessment of contaminated sites.