BOH Activities

LINKS TO CRITICAL DUTIES

On Martha’s Vineyard, Boards of Health and their Health Agents:

  • Inspect food (link to complete list of all permitted Food Establishments on MV) establishments, monitor food sources and distribution;
  • Permit and monitor sewage (link to “caring for your septic system” DEP document and Title 5) disposal and treatment
  • Issue drinking water well permits (link to Drinking Water pamphlet and sites for Wampanoag and Tisbury Labs)
  • Operate and monitor drinking water from Public Water Systems (link to list of Public Water Systems on MV and operator info);
  • Test public bathing beach and public swimming pool water quality (link to DEP site where you can check the latest bathing beach water samples);
  • Permit and inspect tattooing and tanning parlors, and establishments selling tobacco (link to list of all these establshments on MV;
  • Respond to all complaints of health hazards (unsafe buildings or living conditions, toxic contamination, garbage, septic problems, unsafe food or food handling, pests, etc.)
  • Investigate disease outbreaks, both infectious and otherwise;(link to DPH list of reportable diseases)
  • Provide public health nursing care (link to a schedule of Blood Pressure Clinics and terms/arrangements for setting up home visits including baby for 5 VNA towns, Aquinnah and the Tribe);
  • Conduct an annual, Island-wide Seasonal Flu Clinic (link to our newly-created Flu site)
  • Inspect summer camps and campgrounds to ensure safe conditions; (list on-Island recreational camps for children, campgrounds)
  • Work with MV Emergency Management to prepare for hurricanes, floods and other natural or man-made disasters (link to BOH site, County EM site?).

These duties cover a wide range of public health control and prevention activities and reflect the principle that many critical health problems are best handled by local officials familiar with local conditions.

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