The physical environment in which people live is an important determinant of health. At certain levels of exposure, contaminants in our air, water, food and soil can cause a variety of adverse health effects. Environmental public health is a component of the public health system and is committed to protecting the health of the public and enhancing quality of life by assessing, correcting, controlling, and preventing those factors in the environment that can adversely affect human health. The prevention of injury, disease and death that may result from interactions of people with their environment is the goal of the environmental public health program.

The field component of the Department’s environmental public health program is carried out by Environmental Health Officers with the Department of Digital Government and Service NL. If you wish to talk to an Environmental Health Officer please contact the Government Service Centre at the location nearest you.

• Personal Services Act
• Air Quality
• Child Care, Schools and Other Institutional Settings
• Drinking Water Quality
• Food Safety Information
• Food Safety Training
• Illness Investigations
• Investigation of Health Hazard
• Legislation
• Links to Other Environmental Health Information
• Recreational Facilities
• Private Sewage Disposal
• Insect Infestations
• Lead Information
• Environmental Health Manuals
• Environmental Health During Emergencies (139 KB)
• Food Recall

In Newfoundland and Labrador, and throughout Canada, professionals called Environmental Health Officers or Public Health Inspectors rely on a number of methods to protect the health of the public, such as:

• enforcement of public health protection legislation;
• education and health promotion (e.g., food safety, drinking water);
• advice and consultation on health related matters;
• investigations of illnesses;
• inspection and monitoring; and
• health hazard investigation and analysis.

The Government Service Centre is responsible for carrying out the field component of the environmental public health program in the province and is responsible for fulfilling the program requirements set down by the Public Health Division of the Department of Health and Community Services (DHCS). There are 36 Environmental Health Officer (EHO) positions in the province located in fifteen different communities. Environmental Health Officers report to regional management with the Department of Digital Government and Service NL.