SANITATION AND SAFETY SPECIALIST - 42003257 1

Job Duties

• Conduct regulatory inspections of food establishments under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) as set forth in Chapter 500, Florida Statutes, and Chapter 5K-4, Florida Administrative Code, for compliance with regulatory, sanitation and consumer protection requirements.
• Evaluate food establishment structures, environment, equipment, methods and controls for compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Utilize science based knowledge to determine compliance with environmental and sanitation regulations for processes which may include, but not limited to, reduced oxygen packaging, low acid food processing, seafood processing, acidified foods, and foods deemed potentially hazardous due to their ability to support rapid growth of infectious or toxigenic microorganisms, which may occur in food establishments.
• Prepare reports to document regulatory deficiencies, interpret and explain significance of public health laws, rules and sanitation and safety standards to food establishment personnel, advise management of the necessary corrective action as part of each inspection.
• Initiate stop sale orders, stop use orders, destruction reports, release notices, and movement of goods under stop sale orders when indicated by inspection findings.
• Assist as needed in other areas of the state, including investigation of consumer complaints, follow up reporting, food-borne illness investigations, information requests from consumers, opening inspections for new businesses, special inspections of fire or flood damaged food establishments, inspection of foods in vehicles involved in accidents, multi-agency investigations/inspections or special projects.
• Respond to disaster or emergency situations and operate under incident command structure when required. Handle emergency or request calls independently, exercising professional judgment and instituting appropriate enforcement actions.
• Inspect and test foods for compliance with consumer protection standards. Conduct inspections and report the results of testing of foods using various test procedures and methods for compliance with consumer protection standards using sampling methods required by each procedure to insure statistically valid findings.
• Administer administrative functions, including the preparation and timely submission of accurate and complete inspection reports, sample collection reports, food permit applications, consumer complaint reports, daily activity reports, travel vouchers, expense vouchers, supply requisitions and other documents as may be required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Theory and applied knowledge in biological, chemical, physical and environmental factors affecting food safety and related control measures.
• Ability to evaluate food establishment structures, environment, equipment, methods and controls for compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Working knowledge and ability to understand specialized food processing which may include reduced oxygen packaging, low acid foods, acidified foods, major classifications of pathogenic micro organisms commonly associated with food-borne illness, aerobic or anaerobic, temperature and pH reproductive requirements, typical food substrates, related control measures and the application of such factors into food safety Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plans, or other processes not previously specified which may occur in food establishments.
• Working knowledge and ability to understand food additives, preservatives, coloring agents and chemicals used in conjunction with or incidental to food processing storage.
• Ability to document sanitation and regulatory discrepancies and advise management of corrective action.
• Ability to test foods for compliance including test kit and/or equipment usage.
• Working knowledge of statutes and rules establishing food requirements.
• Ability to exercise professional judgment and manner while conducting inspections and in instituting appropriate enforcement actions.
• Ability to prepare accurate and timely reports.
• Ability to lift and carry 50 pounds.
• Knowledge of personal computer hardware and software resources.
• Skill in the use of personal computers.
• Ability to troubleshoot and resolve basic personal computer hardware/software operation problems.
• Ability to train and instruct others utilizing sound communication skills.