Are you organising a big event, and wanting to make sure your food will be suitable to sell, you have enough ablution facilities and the noise of the concert won’t be too loud?
Environmental health practitioners (EHPs), previously known as health inspectors, are still just a phone call away to help you make sure everything is done by the book, West Rand chief EHP said.
Themba Makhoba wants to remind residents on the West Rand that health inspectors have never left – their titles and offices just changed.
You can now find the EHP office in the Krugersdop Clinic, opposite the Department of Home Affairs in Commissioner Street.
“The profession has evolved and we as EHPs are responsible for many health and safety related matters in the West Rand District,” he said.
Themba said there are 10 EHPs in Mogale City that tend to matters from hygienic food preparation, water safety, event safety, environmental pollution control, noise control, air quality management, pest control and general surveillance.
If you find yourself not complying with the bylaw standards set by the West Rand District Municipality, you could face a fine or a warning, or be closed down by one of the practitioners.
All the EHP functions have rules set out by the West Rand District Municipality health bylaws, which you can check by visiting their website at www.wrdm.gov.za or calling 011 411 5000.
Themba, who has been in the industry for over 16 years, said being an EHP is not always easy, but that his work helps keep residents safe.
But one concern that Themba has, is the number of EHPs that service the West Rand.
“We only have 21 EHPs who serve over 800 000 people. The World Health Organisation standard is one EHP per 10 000 people, and the national standard is one EHP per 15 000 people,” he said. Currently, our EHPs each serve close to 40 000 people.
You can help keep your environment safe by notifying the practitioners of any health and safety hazard in your community. They can be reached on 011 411 5235 or by email to rmokoena@wrdm.gov.za.
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