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WELCOME
TO THE CITY OF VINELAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES UNIT
Mission: To protect and improve the health of Vineland residents
by preventing or eliminating disease and injury.
Scope:
Community level protection, prevention and education of adverse
environmental factors that may impact human health and environmental
quality.
Services
& Program: A team of Registered Environmental Health Specialists
(REHS) are responsible for providing services and programs in the
following areas:
RECREATIONAL
BATHING INSPECTION PROGRAM
Contacts: Carolyn Fisher, Sr. REHS
Jeanne C. Garbarino, Principal REHS
(856) 794-4131
Activities included here are based on the current "Recreational
Bathing" Regulations contained in the State Sanitation Code
(see N. J. A. C. 8:26).
- Inspections
of all public swimming pools, lakes, rivers, and spas/whirlpools;
- Review
of weekly water quality test results for bacterial and chemical
quality;
- Plan
review for new installations/renovations;
-
Administer
operating licenses to each public facility (Back
to Top)
CHILDHOOD
LEAD POISONING PROGRAM
Contacts: Fran Magnan, RN
Betsy Cubbage, RN (Public Health Nurse Supervisor)
(856) 794-4261
Activities included here are:
- Assuring
that all children are appropriated screened for lead poisoning
in accordance with N. J. A. C. 8:15A;
- Including
lead screening in the audits of child immunization records at
licensed child care centers;
- Environmental
investigations to identify and remediate lead hazards, including
investigations undertaken in compliance with Chapter XII of
the N. J. State Sanitary Code;
- Case
management and home visits by a public health nurse for children
with elevated blood lead; and
- Educational
activities designed to inform the community about the dangers
of lead poisoning in children and to assist them in identifying
and properly removing lead hazards. (Back
to Top)
OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH PROGRAM
Contacts: Jeanne C. Garbarino, Principal REHS
George R. Sartorio, Health Officer
(856) 794-4131
Activities related to Occupational Health include those set forth
at Public Health Practice Standards of Performance for Local Boards
of Health in New Jersey: N. J. A. C. 8:52, Appendix: Programmatic
Guidelines for Best Practices.
These
activities include:
- Consultation
regarding Indoor Air Quality Problems
- …
conduct on-site inspections at public agencies and private sector
businesses in
response to employee complaints.
- Consultation
regarding Occupational Health Problems
- …
these calls are primarily from private sector employees and small
business
employers.
- Consultation
to other City departments regarding Right to Know requirements.
(Back to Top)
PUBLIC
HEALTH NUISANCES
Contacts: Robert M. Dickinson, Sr. REHS
Richard Barsuglia, REHS
(856) 794-4131
Enforcement
of Public Health Nuisance Code(s) dealing with:
-
Rodents
- Insects
- Noxious
weeds (poison ivy, etc.)
- Animal
waste/odors
- Solid
Waste
- Mosquitoes
- Ticks
Activities
included here are:
Contacts: George R. Sartorio, Health Officer
Richard Barsuglia, REHS
(856) 794-4131
Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from the breakdown of naturally
occurring uranium in soil and rock. It is invisible, odorless
and tasteless, and can only be detected by specialized tests.
Radon enters homes through openings that are in contact with the
ground, such as cracks in the foundation, smell openings around
pipes, and sup pits.
Radon
is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.
Testing
your home for radon is easy.
The
City of Vineland Health Department has a limited number of radon
test kits available for homeowners (Vineland residents only) while
supplies last.
If
you have questions or want to obtain a test kit, please call the
contacts noted at the top of this page.
The
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Radon Program
maintains an Information Line at 1-800-648-0394 or you can visit
the Radon Program web site at www.njradon.org.
SMOKE
FREE AIR ACT
Contacts: Christopher Gross, Field Representative Health Education
Emma Lopez - Health Educator
(856) 794-4261
Effective April 15, 2006, indoor public places and workplaces
across the State will be smoke free. New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air
Act ensures workers have a safe workplace and that all non-smokers,
including children and senior citizens, can breathe smoke-free
air in the public places they visit.
The
law affects the following types of indoor public places and workplaces:
- Any
enclosed location at which a person performs any service or labor;
- Restaurants
and Bars;
- Public
Transportation Systems;
- Child
Care Centers;
- Health
Care Facilities, patient waiting rooms and nursing homes;
- Sports
Facilities including race tracks and bowling alleys;
- Theatres,
clubs, concert halls, public libraries, museums, art galleries;
- Shopping
Malls and retail stores;
- Parking
facilities, lobbies, elevators;
- Lodging
- Hotels, motels, etc. (smoking is allowed in up to 20% of guest
rooms);
- Bingo
facilities
The
City of Vineland Division of Public Health is ready to assist
the public and business owners alike in providing information,
education and enforcement of the new law. A printed version of
the new law, brochures, signs and other information about the
Smoke-Free Air Act is available at www.smokefree.nj.gov.
(Back
to Top)
WEST
NILE VIRUS (WNV)
Contacts:
Robert M. Dickinson, Sr. REHS
Jeanne C. Garbarino, Principal REHS
DEADBIRDS:
If
you find a dead bird:
- You
can report dead birds found within the City of Vineland by calling
the Vineland Health Department at (856) 794-4131 Monday through
Friday, 8:30 - 5:00 PM. Do not bring birds to the Health Department
office. They will not be accepted. The only birds being accepted
for testing at this time belong to the corvid family. The most
common corvids found in New Jersey are crows and blue jays. Additional
information on corvid species, including pictures, can be found
at the following websites:
1.)
http://www.montereybay.com/creagrus/corvids.html
2.) http://www.shades-of-night.com/aviary/corvidae.html
NOTE:
All birds found dead in all other parts of the Cumberland County,
except the City of Vineland) should be reported to the Cumberland
County Health Department at (856) 453-2156.
How
to report dead bird(s)
When
calling the Health Department, the following basic information
should be reported:
- Date
and location of event
- Species
involved (or description of bird)
- Number
of birds
- Condition
of birds (freshly dead, decomposed, maggots, etc.)
- Circumstances
involved
NOTE:
All reports of sick or dead poultry will be forwarded to the NJ
Department of Agriculture for investigation.
More
information on WNV bird reporting is available at:
http://www.state.nj.us/health/cd/westnile/enceph.html
HANDLING
DEAD BIRDS:
- As
a general rule, the public should observe wildlife, including
wild birds, from a distance. This protects you from possible exposure
to pathogens and minimizes disturbance of the wildlife.
- DO
NOT HANDLE DEAD BIRDS with your BARE HANDS. Instead, use disposable
impermeable gloves, a shovel, or an inside-out double plastic
bag placed over your hand to pick up the bird. Double wrap in
two (2) plastic bags.
- Bird
carcasses for disposal should be double bagged and placed in a
trash receptacle that is secured from access by children and animals.
- If
the carcass will be submitted for testing, store it in a cool
location until pickup by Health Department staff. Do not put carcass
in a household refrigerator or picnic cooler containing food.
- After
handling any dead bird, avoid touching the face with gloved or
unwashed hands.
- Any
protection equipment that was used (gloves, etc.) should be discarded.
- Wash
hands with soap and water (or use an alcohol-based hand gel when
soap and water are not available).
SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM
All
dead bird reports are important to us even if the bird is not
acceptable or needed for WNV testing. All sightings of dead birds
are reported to the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services,
Infections and Zoonotic Disease Program. Locations of dead birds
are mapped and the information used to detect areas of the State
that might be experiencing WNV activity. These areas are then
targeted for increased surveillance and prevention efforts.
YOUTH
CAMP INSPECTION PROGRAM
Contacts: Carolyn Fisher, Sr. REHS
Jeanne C. Garbarino, Principal REHS
(856) 794-4131
A youth camp sanitation and safety program is conducted based
on N. J. A. C. 8:25.
Activities
included here are:
- Pre-open
and operational inspections of each youth camp
- Re-inspections,
as necessary;
- Enforcement
actions taken, if necessary (Back
to Top)
FOOD
SAFETY PROGRAM
Contacts:
Jeanne Garbarino, Principal Sanitarian
(856) 794-4000 Ext. 4326
Robert Dickinson, Senior Sanitarian
(856) 794-4000 Ext. 4124
The
Vineland Health Department, Division of Environmental Health,
is responsible for the food safety aspects of about 400 retail
food establishments in Vineland plus vending machines.
The
goal of the program is to assure safe food to the public through
efforts such as increasing awareness about safe food handling
with food handlers, owners, and managers; routine inspections
with mandated corrections; and legal enforcement and/or closure
when all other efforts fail. We view food safety as a partnership
between retail food establishments and this department.
While
we look at all aspects of the operation, our concentration is
on the 5 major risk factors identified by the Center for Disease
Control. These risk factors are the aspects of food handling that
directly cause foodborne illnesses most often. They are:
- Poor
personal hygiene
- Inadequate
cooking temperatures
- Improper
holding temperatures
- Unclean
food contact surfaces
- Unsafe
food sources
Increased
knowledge has shown to improve the practices of food handlers
and thus, reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses. Our educational
efforts occur not only during routine inspections but also in
classroom settings and newsletters. (See "classes" for
details of any current offerings. See "newsletters"
to download recent issues.)
Inspections are conducted based on the New Jersey State Code (NJAC
8:24-et al). This regulation can be viewed or printed from this
website. Our retail food establishments are all placed in a "risk
type" from 1 to 4. Please see details about this in the following:
Ratings
are given at the conclusion of each routine inspection as follows:
The
most recent placard must be posted in public view near the public
entrance. The public also has the right to view the most recent
inspection report upon request to the manager/owner.
The
Vineland Health Department goes beyond the minimum required by
the State in the area of food safety. These efforts include:
RETAIL
FOOD ESTABLISHMENT INSPECTION PROGRAM
Contact:
Jeanne Garbarino, Principal Sanitarian
(856) 794-4000 Ext. 4326
Below
are helpful links with information on the City of Vineland Retail
Food Establishment Progam.
Retail
Food Establishment Inspection Reports
Inspection
reports for any retail establishment are public record. Inspection
reports can be viewed at one of 2 places. You can ask the retail
food establishment to view their report or you can come to the
Health Department and ask to see the reports. As for now, the
reports are not available on-line.
Link
to FDA's Recall List
USDA's Recall List
Indoor
Air Quality (IAQ) Program
Contact:
Jeanne Garbarino, Principal REHS
Rick
Barsuglia, REHS
856-794-4131
Indoor
air quality can affect the health and/or comfort of residents,
students or workers. Indoor air problems can cause a host of health
issues from allergic responses, sinus and lung infections, seizures,
to death. However, there are no specific laws, only guidelines.
This
department is available, upon request or complaint, to conduct
an initial inspection and/or make recommendations for further
evaluations or testing.
The
Vineland Health Department is able to perform some testing of
aspects such as:
- Carbon
monoxide, a potentially deadly by-product of combustion
- Carbon
dioxide, a by-product of breathing that mainly affects comfort,
e.g., causes drowsiness or a feeling of stuffy air
- Relative
humidity, which when over 60% can allow the growth of mold
and dust mites
- Moisture
in solid materials, which can promote mold growth
- Temperature,
which relates mainly to comfort and humidity levels
For
further information about indoor air quality and its effects,
please click on the following link:
www.epa.gov/iaq
Contact
Us
Office
hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM.
City
of Vineland Department of Health
Environmental Health Services
640 E. Wood Street, 4th Floor
Vineland, NJ 08360
Phone:
856-794-4131
Fax: 856-794-1159
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