Health Protection Services

From the food we eat to the air we breathe, Health Protection Services aims to protect the overall health of New Brunswickers by proactively identifying hazards through inspection, enforcement, licensing and monitoring.

The Agri-Food Services group is responsible for the inspection and sampling programs of provincially licensed abattoirs (slaughterhouses), dairy farms, bulk tank milk graders, bulk milk tank trucks and dairy plants. Agricultural technicians require a diploma in agriculture from an institute of technology or agricultural college. Agrologists must have a degree or post-graduate study in agriculture and membership to the New Brunswick Institute of Agrologists.

Public Health Inspectors (PHIs) deliver health protection and health promotion programs throughout New Brunswick. PHIs are members of a multi-disciplinary team serving regional needs.

Legislative authority for health protection programs is defined by provincial acts and regulations including the Public Health Act, Clean Water Act, Smoke-free Places Act, Tobacco and Electronic Cigarette Sales Act and Cemetery Companies Act.

Inspectors deliver services in the following areas:

• Communicable disease control—apply standard operating procedures for both sporadic cases and outbreak response and management of enteric, zoonotic and vector-borne diseases that are reported to the Department and undertake appropriate control measures to prevent future occurrences.
• Food control—enforce regulations pertaining to premises that process, prepare and sell food for human consumption including abattoirs (slaughterhouses), education of food handlers and communication with multiple community stakeholders such as market groups.
• Environmental health—enforce the acts and regulations pertaining to the installation of on-site sewage disposal systems, licensing of on-site sewage disposal system installers and legislation pertaining to smoking in public places. Review environmental projects to determine the need for impact assessments and participation on technical review committees.
• Water quality—ensure the safety of public, private and recreational water supplies through routine testing and taking remedial action as needed, providing health risk advice to municipal and private water supply owners who may have various microbiological or chemical contaminants in their drinking water and consulting with multiple government departments and community stakeholders with regard to water quality and protection.
• Emergency preparedness—participate on regional and provincial committees and emergency preparedness exercises.
• Institutional health—inspect early learning and childcare centres, schools and residential facilities to ensure health standards are met and recommendations made.

Support is also provided to the Regional Medical Officers of Health, Communicable Disease/Immunization Program Officers and the Administrative Program Director for Public Health programs offered through the Regional Health Authorities.

To learn more about the programs delivered by Health Protection Services and how you and your business can be supported, contact your nearest Health Protection Services office.