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Perth site and soil evaluation reports workshop
The EHD has partnered with the City of Bayswater, and will host a free workshop designed for local government Environmental Health Officers, planners, wastewater industry and Site and Soil Evaluation (SSE) consultants involved with wastewater management processes on Friday 27 August 2021, 9am - 3pm at The Rise, Maylands. Register here.
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EHD deploys support to Northampton
Two staff from the Environmental Health Directorate were deployed to Northampton to assist with managing asbestos and other hazards on the ground, particularly in the heavily impacted town of Kalbarri following cyclone Seroja. Our team also provided technical support and partnered with DFES and DWER on the analysis and communication of asbestos air monitoring undertaken in both Northampton and Kalbarri, and assisted with general environmental health queries from residents. Cyclone information was updated on our HealthyWA website and Hazards after cyclones factsheet.
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Regulation of consumer food safety by the Department of Health
The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) completed an audit of the Department of Health, and whether the Department effectively regulates consumer food safety in food businesses. It focused on the Department’s inspection and enforcement processes, support to local government entities (LG entities), and monitoring and reporting of regulation activities. Read the report here. The Department welcomes the OAG’s findings and supports all five recommendations, and will be implementing measures to address each recommendation, in accordance with available resources.
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Smoke haze tracking app.
We are interested in knowing the extent to which smoke from landscape fires (bushfires and planned burns) is observed. People are often adversely affected by smoke from landscape fires and the Environmental Health Directorate receives many complaints about this. However, we do not know the extent of the problem. Using a simple phone app. we are hoping to track where smoke is observed and if this is causing any health problems. If you live in Perth or the South West and you want to participate in the smoke tracking study, download the app onto your mobile phone. This is done by using your phone internet browser and going to the Airtracker app website. Refer to the Airtracker factsheet for further details. You will need your location services turned on to use the app. Local governments are encouraged to promote Airtracker to residents. For more info email Chemical Hazards.
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Health effects of vaping
The use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), or vaping, has been promoted by industry as a safe, or safer, alternative to the smoking of tobacco products. E-cigarettes contain many chemicals, often with known harmful effects, and there is growing research that demonstrates vaping has adverse health impacts. It isn’t yet clear how much safer vaping is compared to smoking, but it is clear that it is ‘not’ safe. The EHD has published information on the health effects of vaping.
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Micro-plastics and public health
The EHD is aware that there is limited research into the nature, extent and effects of micro-plastics on public health, and has published a fact sheet which provides information about the term micro-plastics and what it means, how micro-plastics end up in the environment and exposure to micro-plastics and the affects on health. Refer to micro-plastics and public health for more information. Although there is still much more research to be done, the current advice from organisations such the World Health Organisation (WHO), European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), is that it is unlikely that current levels of consumption of micro-plastics in our food and drink is harmful to human health.
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Reminder: Register for South West assessment of site and soil evaluation reports workshop
In partnership with the South West Regional EH Group, the EHD will be hosting an assessment of site and soil evaluation reports workshop in Busselton on Friday 25th June 2021, 10am to 2:00pm. Twenty places are available for EHOs, planners, wastewater industry and consultants outside of the South West Group to attend the workshop. You must register online to attend. Local governments are encouraged to promote the workshop to interested parties.
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Annual combined CLAG forum
The Annual Combined CLAG Forum for local governments to discuss mosquito management issues is scheduled for Tuesday 15th June 2021, 9:30am to 3:30pm, at the Meadow Springs Sporting Facility, Mandurah. Although this forum is held for CLAGs in Perth, Great Southern and the South West, local governments outside of these areas are welcome to attend. For details email Medical Entomology.
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Equipotential bonding at aquatic facilities
Aquatic facility electrical installations, including equipotential bonding of metallic components within the pool electrical zones (e.g. hand-rail, light poles, fencing etc) must be installed and maintained in accordance with AS/NZS 3000 Electrical installations “wiring rules”. Failure to install or maintain equipotential bonding presents a risk of electric shock or serious injury to people in or around the pool (e.g. where a person touches an un-bonded pool handrail in the event electrical insulation failure). It is important that electrical installations including equipotential bonding is periodically verified by a licenced electrician. It is recommended that EHOs review the condition of metallic items in and around the pool for signs of corrosion in the first instance. If corrosion is observed it is recommended that an equipotential bonding test be conducted by a licensed electrician. For more information, refer to section 2.28 of the Code of Practice and AS/NZS 3000.
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Testing for chlorine
When testing the chlorine level in an aquatic facility the electronic test kit may show either > or >>. If this occurs the chlorine level in the water sample exceeds the limit of the water test kit. This indicates that the level of chlorine in the water may pose a risk to swimmers. It is important that you are able to determine the actual level of chlorine in the aquatic facility and if need be direct the pool be closed until the chlorine level is brought back to a safe level. To determine the actual level of chlorine use the dilution method in accordance with either the test kit manufacturer’s instructions and/or Section 5.4 of the Code of Practice. Please note the dilution method must not be used when testing pH.It is always important to record the actual chlorine level on any PathWest sample request form as this will help you to understand the microbiological results.
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Sanitary facilities calculator
Did you know that the Australian Building Codes Board has developed a sanitary facilities calculator that is free for use? The calculator provides the required number of sanitary facilities including (where applicable) closet pans, wash basins, urinals, showers and baths based on building type and number of occupants. It also assists to calculate the required number of accessible unisex sanitary facilities. You can download the calculator here.
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Accessing Australian Standards
Many Environmental Health regulations reference Australian Standards, that must be purchased through SAI Global or the Standards Australia webstore, the only official distributors. Australian Standards are protected by copyright and cannot be shared free of charge by any agency. Previously Australian Standards were accessible for free from many WA public libraries, which is unfortunately no longer the case. Anyone can attend in person to the WA State Library to view a copy in person. However, the Library is currently investigating other options for access, particularly for regional areas. Debate has occurred Nationally over the need for standards to be more accessible and affordable, particularly for smaller businesses. These discussions continue Australia-wide.
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Updated food hygiene forms for food and swab
PathWest has recently updated the Food Hygiene and Food Swab forms for sample testing which are used when submitting samples for microbiological (including water activity and pH) testing. Food products and swab samples are often submitted as part of food borne illness outbreak investigations or as part of routine monitoring of food business activities. The updated forms together with a supply order form can be accessed on the Pathwest website. Advice about the types of samples to be collected and collection methods can be obtained from the EHD by emailing Food Safety. For clarification on anything else related to laboratory testing email PathWest - Food.
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Nutrition panel calculator for food manufacturers
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has released a new look Nutrition Panel Calculator (NPC). The NPC can help food manufacturers to calculate the average nutrient content of food products and create a Nutrition Information Panel in just 3 easy steps. Refer to the FSANZ website for more details.
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Local Government Environmental Health Initiatives
Promoting local government environmental health initiatives across WA.
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Microbats, mosquitoes and the City of Kalamunda
The City of Kalamunda Environmental Health team has partnered with the City's Community Wellbeing Officer to increase the population of microbats by creating roosting opportunities in their natural habitat, through installation of bat boxes at local schools. This project will also establish whether an increased presence of microbats will have a positive effect on reducing mosquito numbers in the area. The Environmental Health Officers are trapping mosquitoes on a monthly basis to track the results to determine if the project is having any impact on the local mosquito populations. As part of the project the City provided approximately 3-5 bat boxes (per class) for students to paint, and staff visited the schools to deliver presentations on mosquitoes and the local microbat species.
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We need your help to identify environmental health initiatives and examples of case studies, consumer awareness and surveillance programs happening across WA local governments. Email EH Stakeholder Engagement with information on yours or another local governments projects worthy of promoting in the e-News. |
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Events and professional development opportunities
Assessment of site and soil evaluation reports workshop (face to face), Busselton, 25 June 2021 Details here.
Managing fire damaged asbestos risks in local government (online only), 9am to 11am, 20 July 2021 Details here.
Assessment of site and soil evaluation reports workshop, Perth, Maylands, 9am to 3pm, 27 August 2021 Details here.
Annual combined CLAG Forum, Mandurah, 9:30am to 3:30pm,15 June 2021, Email Medical Entomology for details
5 day Mosquito Management Course, Mandurah, September 2022 (dates to be confirmed)
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Contact us
The Environmental Health Directorate switchboard can be contacted on
(08) 9222 2000 or email ehinfo@health.wa.gov.au
The Department of Health head office switchboard is (08) 9222 4222
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Order publications online
A selection of hard copy Environmental Health Directorate resources can be ordered online using the Department of Health’s online publication ordering system. Create an account and enter the search category "environmental health".
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About the Environmental Health Directorate
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