DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Licenses, Permits, and Inspections:

• Food Service Establishments
• Retail Food Stores
• Frozen Dessert Machines
• Temporary Food Events
• Bed & Breakfast Establishments
• Residential Kitchens
• Stores Selling Tobacco Products
• State Milk & Cream Permits
• Public & Semi-Public Swimming Pools
• Transport of Garbage, Offal and Refuse

Sewage Disposal:

• Permit Disposal Works Installers
• Permit Disposal Works Construction
• Permit Title V Inspectors in the Town of Scituate
• Receive Applications/Witness Perc Tests and Soil Evaluations
• Receive Applications/Review/Approve-Disapprove Design Plans for Subsurface Sewage Disposal System
• Inspect and Approve Construction and Repair of Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems
• Review and Approve As-Built Plans of Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems
• Conduct Public Hearings/Grant Variances for Subsurface Sewage Disposal System Repair/Upgrade
• Review Title V Inspection Reports

Other Functions

• License Funeral Home Directors
• Issue Burial Permits
• Conduct Household Hazardous Waste Collections
• Conduct Food-Borne Illness Investigations
• Review Building Permit Applications
• Review and Approve/Disapprove Preliminary or Definitive Subdivision Plans
• Investigate Complaints and Nuisances and Enforce Corrections
• Adopt and Enforce Local Health Regulations on Public Health Issues

Enforcement of Commonwealth of Massachusetts Regulations, Massachusetts General Laws and Town of Scituate Bylaws and Regulations:

• Chapter II State Sanitary Code: Minimum Standards of fitness for Human Habitation - 105 CMR 410.00
• Article X State Sanitary Code - Minimum Sanitation Standards for Food Establishments - 105 CMR 590.00
• Massachusetts Lead Paint Poisoning Prevention Regulations - 105 CMR 460.00
• Minimum Standards for Swimming Pool Regulations - 105 CMR 435.00
• Bathing Water Standards (and testing) - 105 CMR 445.00
• Title 5 State Environmental Code - Minimum Requirements for Subsurface Disposal of Sanitary Sewage - 310 CMR 15.00
• Various Massachusetts General Laws Related to the Public Health and Environment
• Local Health and Environment
• Local Board of Health Rules and Regulations

Documents and Forms Available through the Department Office:

• Local Board of Health Regulations
• Perc Test Application and Procedures
• List of Area Engineers
• List of Permitted Title V Inspectors
• List of Permitted Disposal Works Installers
• List of Permitted Garbage/Refuse Haulers
• List of Permitted Septage Haulers
• Applications for all Permits Issued by Board of Health
• Summary of Legal Rights as a Tenant
• Summary of State Minimum Housing Standards
• Reference Guide for Homeowners: Septic Sense
• Outline of Sewage Disposal System Repair/Upgrade Process

Responsibilities and Services Provided by the Public Health Nurse:

Performs:

• Routine blood pressure clinics on Wednesdays at four local sites
• Coordinates Investigation of Animal Bites and Follow-up with Animal Control Officer

Provides:

• Adult Immunizations
• Flu Clinics (October/November as vaccine is available from State. Age 65 and over and chronically ill)
• Diabetic screening at announced facilities
• Communicable Disease Investigations
• Health care information to Scituate residents on a variety of different subjects

Most services are provided free of charge.

Services available to Scituate residents only.