Environmental Health
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
The Shire of Halls Creek provides a variety of environmental health services to residents, businesses and visitors to the area. The Shire’s Environmental Health team is committed to continually improving the quality of environmental and public health within the Shire.
Noise Control
Both Council and the Police have responsibility for noise control in the Shire.
Noise nuisances come in many forms including:
- Vehicles
- Music
- Parties
- Construction/power tools
- Animals e.g. dogs etc
There are legal provisions that limit noise levels and times allowed. Complaints can be made about annoying noise to Council's Environmental Health Officer during business hours. For after hours immediate action the police can be contacted to request action.
Pollution Control
Council's Environmental Health Officer deals with local issues relating to environment protection. This is the contact point for dealing with air, water, and ground pollution issues as well as noise (see Noise Control). This includes illegal dumping, asbestos disposal, smoke emissions, and the like.
Food Protection
Council's Environmental Health Officer is responsible for the Shire's food surveillance/protection activities.
All food businesses are now required to be registered and comply with a national set of standards. More information on this area may be obtained by going to www.foodstandards.gov.au and www.public.health.wa.gov.au/
Inspections of the entire Shire's food shops are carried out on a periodical basis.
Complaints about the quality of food purchased or consumed in the Shire can be made to the Environmental Health Officer on (08) 9169 6007.
Water Sampling
The surveillance of the Shire's non-scheme water supply is carried out by the Environmental Health Officer.
This includes the testing of the water quality of all public pools. Tests can be carried out on request and may be subject to a cost depending on the number and complexity of tests required.
Infectious Disease Control
Communicable diseases are investigated at a local level by the Shire's Environmental Health Officer.
This is instigated by doctor's referral to the Health Department of WA once an infectious disease has been identified. This information is then referred onto Council's Environmental Health Team to follow up on to find out through an interview process how the disease was caught if possible, to prevent a wider spread and discover its cause. Further information on this subject can be found at www.public.health.wa.gov.au
The Shire also provides Environmental Health and Health Promotion services to Aboriginal Communities in partnership with the Department of Health.
Free Food Handling Course
The Shire of Halls Creek is pleased to provide you with FREE and unlimited access to an exciting new product that will assist you in gaining valuable skills and knowledge in food safety and hygiene which will help to ensure only safe and suitable food is produced at your food business.
This training program will assist food business managers in ensuring all staff are trained in this important area and thereby reducing any risk of food borne illness resulting from poor food handling practices.
The following areas are covered by this course:
Overview
• Food-borne Illness• Potentially Hazardous Food• Contamination of Food• Temperature Control• Food Handling Skills and Knowledge• Food Receipt• Food Storage• Food Processing• Food Display• Food Packaging• Food Transportation• Food Disposal• Food Recall• Health of Persons Who Handle Food• Hygiene of Food Handlers• General Duties of Food Businesses• Cleanliness• Cleaning and Sanitising of Specific Equipment• Structure, Design and Maintenance• Temperature Measuring Devices• Single Use Items• Animals and Pests• Management Control Techniques(HACCP, Food Safety Programs)
To take advantage of this free course contact the Shire (08) 9168 6007 or visit the Environmental Health Website
https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Safety-and-first-aid/Food-safety