Environmental and Consumer Health Protection - Public Health Region 4/5N
General Sanitation
Program staff performs annual environmental health inspections of childcare, resident, and day youth camps. The staff also provides technical assistance in the investigation and control of things that carry disease including flies, mosquitoes, and rodents. Staff members look into complaints in all general sanitation areas and provide technical assistance and guidance on request. The General Sanitation program also responds to complaints and helps with environmental health conditions in public facilities. These are places like hotels, motels, public swimming pools, mobile home parks, and other public facilities in addition to the other areas described.
DSHS Austin General Sanitation
Retail Foods
State law requires DSHS to permit and inspect retail food facilities in areas of Texas where no local health authority currently regulates. A primary focus is to educate the regulated industry regarding food safety. Retail food facilities consist of restaurants, convenience stores, mobile food operations, temporary events, and catering operations. For information on Starting a New Business, Texas Food Establishment Rules, Frequently Asked Questions, Permit Applications, and Certified Food Manager Program, click on the link below.
DSHS Retail Food Establishments
Food and Drug
Program staff inspects:
- Food manufacturers
- Processers
- Wholesalers
- Retail food service establishments
- Food, drug, or medical device salvage dealers
- Manufacturers of drugs
- Related complaints
They also do consultations for guidance medical devices and tanning salons.
Program staff members check food for individuals and the industry where the program applies. Food and drug program staff respond to disasters where food is contaminated. Food may be contaminated by spills, floods, fires, and more. They make sure that unsafe products aren’t available on the consumer market. Food and drug program staff respond to disasters where food is contaminated. Food may be contaminated by spills, floods, fires, and more. They make sure that unsafe products aren’t available on the consumer market. In May 1995, staff inspectors started to do annual inspections of retail food establishments in areas not served by local health departments.
DSHS Austin Food and Drug Safety Program
Meat Safety Assurance Program
The Meat Safety Assurance Division protects public health by making sure that products that have the Texas mark of inspection are:
Produced from healthy animals slaughtered and prepared in a sanitary way,
Contain no harmful ingredients, and
Are truthfully labeled.
Veterinarians and inspectors follow meat inspection laws. These laws include mandatory inspection and regulation of food products and meat, including slaughter and processing for distribution. This program is important because it makes sure that Texas gets a wholesome clean meat product.
DSHS Austin Meat Safety Assurance Program site
Milk And Dairy
Program staff inspects producer dairies, transport tankers, milk processing plants, and milk by-product plants. They review dairy barn designs. They look into complaints involving milk products. Staff members help dairymen and the milk industry.
DSHS Austin Milk and Dairy Program
Occupational Health
Program staff looks into indoor air environmental exposures. These exposures can come from chemicals like formaldehyde, lead, mercury, and pesticides. Staff members monitor asbestos abatement programs in public buildings and schools. They do this through the Federal NESHAP and AHERA programs. They give help and do consultations for industry, public officials, and the general public.
DSHS Austin Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology Program
Radiation Control
Program staff does routine surveillance and licensing inspections. They check medical X-rays and radioactive material licensee facilities and operating procedures. This makes sure that radiation exposures to personnel and the general public are at acceptable levels. Staff members do safety and emergency drills at nuclear power facilities. They are also assigned to disaster teams. These disaster teams respond to accidents or spills involving radioactive materials.
Contact Us
Stephen Motes, R.S.
Phone: 903-343-2972
2521 West Front Street
Tyler, TX 75702
Main Phone: 903-595-3585