ID
12-508-1135
Name
Environmental Health Team
Status
Published
Version
1.9
Updated
11/15/2019 5:51:32 PM
Original Release
03/14/2008
Last Major Release
11/15/2019
Description
The Environmental Health Team assesses, identifies, recommends, and implements solutions or corrective actions for environmental health hazards and threats to human health and safety in water, food, waste, soil, debris, air (indoor and outdoor), vectors and pests, shelters, building environments, and other environmental health-related areas during an incident
Resource Category
Medical and Public Health
Primary Core Capability
Environmental Response/Health and Safety
Secondary Core Capability
 
Resource Kind
Team
Overall Function
The Environmental Health Team: 1. Activates for environmental health and safety protection, response, and recovery operations 2. Assesses post-disaster environmental hazards and threats to human health and safety 3. Monitors post-disaster environmental health and safety conditions in water, food, waste, soil, debris, air, shelters, building environments, and other environmental health-related areas 4. Assesses post-incident disease hazards and threats in vector and pest populations, such as mosquitoes and rodents, and recommends and implements corrective actions or control measures
Composition and Ordering Specifications
1. Discuss logistics for deploying this team, such as working conditions, length of deployment, security, lodging, transportation, and meals, prior to deployment 2. Requestor and provider discuss appropriate equipment for response based on incident needs 3. Requestor orders specialized Environmental Health personnel as necessary, such as Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS), Registered Hazardous Substances Specialist (RHSS), and Certified Professional-Food Safety (CP-FS), or Registered Sanitarian (RS). 4. Requestor orders a Type 1 Environmental Health Specialist based on specialties necessary for the incident, such as water assessment, analysis, and treatment; food safety assessment; vector control and pest management; shelter assessment; debris management; and other environmental health specialties 5. Requestor orders additional Environmental Health Specialists based on incident needs within span of control 6. Requestor provides the number, source, and type of environmental health supplies and equipment necessary based on the assessment and mission requirements of the Environmental Health Team Leader 7. This team does not have capabilities to support incidents involving Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) 8. This team is focused on human health issues; it coordinates or refers plant, animal, and other environmental health issues with appropriate agencies in the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)
Supporting Core Capabilities
None
Components
Component Notes  
Minimum Personnel Per TeamNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 14
Management And Oversight Personnel Per TeamNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 11 – National Incident Management System (NIMS) Type 1 Environmental Health Team Leader
SUPPORT PERSONNEL PER TEAMA NIMS Type 1 Environmental Health Specialist may replace a NIMS Type 2 Environmental Health Specialist to support a specific area of expertise.
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 12 – NIMS Type 1 or Type 2 Environmental Health Specialist 1 – NIMS Public Health Data Entry Specialist
Identification of Environmental Threats Equipment Per TeamEnvironmental health equipment is hazard and mission-specific, and may include environmental sampling equipment such as containers, media, filters, air sampling pumps, calibrators, and mosquito and tick collection and monitoring equipment.
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Specialized environmental health equipment and supplies.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Equipment Per Team MemberThe following regulations address PPE: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.132: Personal Protective Equipment, OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.120: Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, and OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.134: Respiratory Protection.
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1PPE is hazard and mission-specific, and may include: 1. Air purifying respirators (APR) 2. Select APR cartridges 3. Eye protection equipment 4. Hearing protection equipment 5. Disposable or chemical-resistant gloves 6. Liquid splash-protective, chemical-protective, or other dermal-protective clothing
Electronics Equipment Per TeamNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 14 – Laptop or tablet computer 2 – Global Positioning System (GPS) 1 – Wireless data capability
Reference Materials Per TeamNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Print and electronic reference materials and databases relevant to the incident
Communications Equipment Per TeamNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Appropriate team communications, such as two-way radios, cell phones, or satellite phone
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Notes
References
Reference
FEMA, NIMS 509: Environmental Health Team Leader
FEMA, NIMS 509: Environmental Health Specialist
FEMA, NIMS 509: Public Health Data Entry Specialist
FEMA, NIMS 509: Registered Nurse
FEMA, National Incident Management System (NIMS), October 2017
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.120: Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, latest edition adopted
OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.132: Personal Protective Equipment, latest edition adopted
OSHA 29 CFR Part 1910.134: Respiratory Protection, latest edition adopted
Published Versions
Version Publish Date Document Type
1.9 11/15/2019 5:51:32 PM PDF
1.8 9/28/2018 5:09:01 PM PDF
1.7 6/19/2018 11:17:05 AM PDF
1.6 6/19/2018 10:15:03 AM PDF
1.5 6/18/2018 11:06:06 PM PDF
1.4 6/18/2018 11:05:54 PM PDF
1.3 4/8/2016 9:26:55 AM PDF
1.2 8/11/2014 8:31:46 PM Unavailable
1.1 4/8/2014 6:24:45 PM Unavailable
1.0 12/12/2013 5:42:55 PM Unavailable