Environmental Health Protection

Environmental Health Protection Programs are administered locally by Medical Health Officers and Environmental Health Officers, who are responsible for direct service delivery in Health Authorities throughout the province.

Medical Health Officers and Environmental Health Officers provide surveillance and monitoring of activities and premises which may affect the public's health. They also administer and enforce provincial legislation related to environmental health, and provide interventions to minimize health and safety hazards.

The Ministry of Health through the Environmental Health Protection Program develops legislation, policies and programs and supports Health Authorities, the BC Centre for Disease Control and the Provincial Health Office by providing advice on legislation and policy issues related to the following:

• Drinking Water Program
• Land Use Program
• Air Quality
• Food Safety
• Recreational Water Quality
• Personal Services Establishments
• Radiation Protection
• Vectors and Other Disease Carriers
• Pandemic Influenza
• Public Health Bylaws

Environmental Health Protection is also responsible for:

• Consultation with agencies and on inter-agency committee for environmental health issues,
• Developing inter government and interagency protocols and agreements for environmental health issues,
• Data management for environmental health issues,
• Development and coordination of promotional and educational materials for environmental health issues.