The Consumer Protection Program consists of several programs including retail food facility inspections, substandard housing, organized camps, jail inspections, household garbage complaint investigations, public swimming and spa pools, state small water systems and monitoring of recreational waters.

Retail Food Facility Program

Environmental Health promotes the health and safety of food sold or offered to the public at the retail level. This includes restaurants, bars, markets, delis, schools, mobile food venders, bed and breakfasts, snack bars, coffee shops, and temporary food facilities. Operators of these establishments have the responsibility to comply with state Health and Safety Code requirements for safe food handling practices. Environmental Health ensures compliance with these requirements through inspections, review of construction plans, investigation of complaints and reports of foodborne illness. Food facilities operators are required to have a permit to operate. Persons proposing to construct or re-model a food facility are required to provide plans and specifications to Environmental Health for review and approval before the local building official issues a permit for construction. We also assist state and federal agencies with food products recalls. Food products, including bottled, or vended water, manufactured at the wholesale level are overseen by the California Department of Health Services -Food and Drug Branch, California Department of Food and Agriculture, and U.S. Departments of Food and Agriculture and Food and Drug.

Environmental Health conducts a risk based inspection program, based on the level of food preparation, to verify compliance and education efforts to assist food facility operators with safe food handling practices. The program emphasizes review and control of the five major sources of foodborne illnesses identified by the federal Centers of Disease Control and Prevention which include:

1. Improper food-holding-temperatures
2. Inadequate cooking
3. Poor personal hygiene
4. Contaminated equipment
5. Food from unapproved sources

The California Legislature adopted changes to the Health and Safety Code by creating the new California Retail Food Code (or CalCode) that became effective July 1, 2007. Significant changes include emphasis on management and knowledge of safe food handling in the form of the person in charge and employees knowledge. For more information, see the Cal Code Homepage (http://www.crfsc.org/calcode/), or contact Environmental Health to purchase a copy.

Housing, Detention Facility, and Organized Camp Program

The Health and Safety Code requires each city and county to adopt a housing enforcement program for the protection of public health and safety. The County of Humboldt has adopted the 1997 Uniform Housing Code for dwellings within the unincorporated areas of the county. To ensure safe housing, Division of Environmental Health investigates complaints of substandard housing conditions and directs owners (or occupants) where corrective actions are necessary to comply with these standards.

If there are problems with your dwelling, then we recommend that they be reported to the owner for correction. A complaint regarding substandard housing or service request may be filed by contacting Environmental Health. For the incorporated cities of the County, contact your local Building Official to report problems.

Mold is a frequent concern of homeowners and occupants. Environmental Health - Public Health Branch Laboratory does not provide mold inspection or testing services. The state Public Health Department does not recommend testing. A recommended strategy is to identify and eliminate excess moisture and to cleanup and remove the mold. Additional information may be found at California Indoor Air Quality website at www.cal-iaq.org or by contacting Environmental Health. Persons with health problems that they believe are due to mold should see a medical care provider.

Environmental Health also conducts annual inspections of organized camps (summer camps) reviewing the health and safety of the food preparation, drinking water supply, swimming areas or pools, housing, and camp administration.

Public Swimming and Spa Pool Program

Swimming pools and spa pools used by the public for swimming and recreation must comply with state requirements for safe design, operation, and maintenance. Environmental Health ensures the health and safety of users of these public facilities and assists owners with compliance with state standards through inspections, review of construction plans, and investigation of complaints, or reports of waterborne illnesses. Persons proposing to construct or re-model a public swimming pool or spa pool facility are required to provide plans and specifications to Environmental Health for review and approval before the local building official issues a permit for construction.

While pool operators and regulators may ensure that the facilities are operated and maintained to meet standards, there is increasing awareness that pool user behavior is a factor in the control of waterborne illnesses. Actions you can take to promote healthy swimming include:

1. Do not swim when you have diarrhea.
   
2. Do not swallow pool water or get pool water in your mouth.
   
3. Shower before swimming (children too!).
   
4. Wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
   
5. Take children on bathroom breaks or change diapers often.
   
6. Change children’s diapers in a bathroom, not at poolside.
   

Recreational Water and Drinking Water Program

Environmental Health provides a routine ocean bacteriological water quality monitoring and public notification program for five ocean beaches. The results are made available to the public on the Ocean Monitoring Program pages. When state standards are exceeded, the affected beaches are posted and press releases are issued to notify the public. We also assist the state Department of Health Services by publicizing the annual quarantine for sport-harvested mussels. The quarantine occurs from May through October. In addition, Environmental Health collects mussel samples from the open coast. The mussels are tested by the state for Paralytic Shellfish Poison (PSP) and domoic acid, two naturally occurring toxins in these shellfish.

During the summer season, we conduct a public information and awareness campaign on the potential health hazards to humans and pets from toxic blue green algae blooms. The South Fork of the Eel River and Big Lagoon are annually posted with signs alerting the public to stay out of areas with heavy growths of algae. Dogs have been harmed by blooms in previous years at these locations, and the potential exists for impacts to human health. Toxic blooms of blue green algae have been documented over the past few years on the Klamath River system and its reservoirs by federal, tribal and state entities. Environmental Health participates in a blue green algae working group whose purpose is to monitor the Klamath River for blue green algae, and educate the public about its potential health impacts.

This program also assists individuals with onsite drinking water systems, and users of state small water systems serving 5 to 14 connections.

Tattoo, Body Piercing, and Permanent Cosmetics
(Body Art)

Current state law requires artists to register with the local health department. Complete this simple process by submitting a registration form and current fee for each artist to the Division of Environmental Health. State, or local standards have not been adopted for design and operation of body art facilities and at this time there is no inspection program.

For additional information on the above programs, please contact the Division of Environmental Health. If you have questions, or would like to speak with the Field Inspector for your area of the county, you may reach staff on their direct line. The best time to call, before the inspectors are out in the field, is between the hours of 8:30 and 9:30 am or after 4:00 pm.

To obtain permit applications or other printed information, please go to our documents section to view or download PDF files or contact the Consumer Protection Program Office Assistant at (707) 445-6215 and applications will be mailed.


Click here for Consumer Protection Program Useful Links

Consumer Protection Program Staff

Kevin Metcalfe, REHS Program Supervisor (707) 268-2210 Kevin.Metcalfe@co.humboldt.ca.us

Steve Gustafson, REHS Program Manager (707) 268-2230 steve.gustafson@co.humboldt.ca.us

Ray Smith, REHS Field Inspector - Northern District (Arcata and north) (707) 268-2232 Ray.Smith@co.humboldt.ca.us

Aziz Hussain, EHS Trainee Field Inspector - Southern District (Fortuna and South) (707) 268-2214 Aziz.Hussain@co.humboldt.ca.us

Morgan Cook REHS Vector Program, Field Inspector (707) 268-2227 Morgan.Cook@co.humboldt.ca.us

Harriet Hill, REHS Water Program, Field Inspector (707) 268-2228 Harriet.Hill@co.humboldt.ca.us

Shannon Hinrichs - EHS Trainee (707) 268-2223 Shannon.Hinrichs@co.humboldt.ca.us