OCCUPATIONAL AND COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

The HDHHS Bureau of Occupational and Community Environmental Health enforces the City no-smoking ordinance. It responds to citizen complaints and performs site inspections involving indoor air pollution and surface contamination with hazardous materials, health and safety hazards in businesses, medical waste and radiation.

COMMUNITY HEALTH

• Smoking ordinance passed by City Council in October 2006 (takes effect in 2007)
• Investigate indoor air and surface pollution complaints from contaminants such as mercury, carbon monoxide, pesticides, mold and other chemicals and biohazards.
• Enforce the No-Smoking Ordinance and the Cigarette Vending Machine Ordinances.
• Investigate medical waste and infection control complaints and remove illegally dumped waste from public property.
• Conduct inspections to license funeral homes.
• Provide educational information.

EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS)

• Permit ambulance companies
• Permit and inspect ambulances
• Permit ambulance drivers
• More information about EMS services

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

• Investigate occupational health complaints.
• Conduct inspections of industries with occupational health and safety problems.
• Collect samples and conduct tests to evaluate hazardous conditions.
• Determine methods to control and prevent health hazards.
• Provide educational information and technical advice.

RADIATION CONTROL

• Respond to radiation emergencies
• Investigate radiation complaints.
• Conduct inspections involving sources of ionizing radiation and non-ionizing radiation (microwave ovens, electromagnetic radiation, lasers, consumer products and other sources of radiation).
• Provide training and education to employees and emergency responders.
• Review radioactive material licenses for possible environmental hazards.

7411 Park Place Blvd., Suite #200
Houston, Texas 77087

LINKS OF INTEREST

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