Environmental Health has its origins in the 1800’s, when bad housing, poor water supplies, inadequate drainage and contaminated food caused disease and death. Environmental Health Officers (formerly Sanitary Inspectors and Public Health Inspectors) have been looking after the public’s health since 1848.
In recent years, the government has increasingly recognised the impact of environmental factors such as housing, air quality, the workplace and food safety on the nation’s health.
With the Review of Public Administration (RPA) and the advent of the new Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, new powers and function have been brought into Environmental Health. The new powers will allow Environmental Health to further address health and life inequalities and make a bigger impact on the climate and wider environmental conditions within the Council area.
The objectives of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s Environmental Health Service Unit are:
- To ensure a safe and healthy environment for people who visit, live or work in the Council area; and
- To enhance and protect the health and environmental well-being of the area.
These objectives are achieved by a combination of enforcement and regulation, education and awareness, and by working in partnership with businesses and organisations throughout the area.
The Service, under the control of a Head of Service, is split into four sections:
- The Food Safety, Tobacco Control and Consumer Protection Unit
- The Environmental Protection and Dog Control Unit
- The Public Health & Housing, Licensing and Pest Control Unit
- The Health and Safety Unit.
Each unit is managed and staffed with both professional and competent Environmental Health Officers, Enforcement Officers, Technical Officers and Administrative staff.