Food Safety

Who Should Apply?

Are you interested in utilizing environmental health principles and food safety knowledge in collaboration with outbreak response partners to assess foodborne illness risks? If yes, this is the credential for you. The CFOI will prepare you to also perform environmental assessments, identify contributing factors and antecedents, and implement control measures to prevent the spread of foodborne illness and protect the public. Potential job opportunities after obtaining the credential include: Environmental Health Specialist, Food Safety Specialist, Epidemiologist, Public Health Officer, Health Inspector, and Quality Assurance Manager. These are just a few of the professions that this credential will open doors to.

NEHA Member helping with Disaster Relief in Puerto Rico Story:

https://anthc.org/news/anthc-commissioned-corps-officer-helps-with-hurri...

These resources are from the CDC, EPA, and PAHO created to assist EH specialist with food safety and shelters after a hurricane or mass flooding event.

​Resources: 

• CFPF Food Establishment Form Comm (PDF)

• EPA Emergency Repair Form (PDF)

• EPA Natural Disaster Incident Report Form (PDF)

• EPA Suggested Questions for water and wasterwater Form (PDF)

• EPA Water System Status Report (PDF)

• EPA Photo Log (PDF)

• Food Report Test (PDF)

• Food Inspection Form (PDF)

• PAHO EH Rapid Needs Assessment for Floods Form (PDF)

• CDC Shelter Tool Form (PDF)

• CDC Shelter Tool Instruction Form (PDF)

Links: ​

• NEHA Press Release: http://neha.org/news-events/latest-news/hurricanes-and-emergency-preparedness-food-safety-resources-available

These resources are part of an FDA course created to address concerns related to food safety after events such as flooding, fires, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

For additional information, please contact nehatraining@neha.org.

Resources:

• Disaster Assessment, Response and Recovery Checklist (PDF)
• Minimum Standards for Operation of a Retail Food Establishment While Under a Boil Advisory (PDF)
• Disaster Survey Form (PDF)
• Incident Command Report (PDF)
• 2013 Food Code Spec Sheet (PDF)
• Response Food Inspections: Large Scale Tornado Sample Report (PDF)

• Guidance During Alamosa Water Flush (PDF)

•  Alamosa Water Investigation Template (PDF)

Flood Recovery

Resources to Protect and Restore Community Health

When flood waters recede, communities are often left with contaminated water supplies, nonfunctioning septic tanks, mold, increased vectors and pests,  spoiled food, and temporary shelters and housing.  Ensuring the proper information reaches community members and supports environmental health professionals  is essential in the efforts to restore communities and protect public health. The following resources provide best practices around flood recovery related to environmental health.

Emergency Preparedness & Response Training 

CDC Environmental Health Training in Emergency Response Awareness level (online) and Operations level (in-person) training.

Food Safety

FDA Food and Water Safety During Power Outages and Floods

Risk Assessment Tools

Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA). Guidance for conducting a THIRA at all levels of government
Operational Plans: Guidance for creating these plans

National Incident Management Systems (NIMS): Systematic, proactive approach to guide organizations in managing all types of incidents

National Planning System: Provides a unified approach and common terminology to support the implementation of the National Preparedness System 

National Exercise Program

HURREVAC is the decision support tool of the National Hurricane Program, administered by FEMA, the USACE, and the NOAA National Hurricane Center

Hurricane Simulation

Floods and Public Health Resources

CDC WASH Emergency Communication Resources 

CDC Water Sanitation & Hygiene for Flood Waters

Flood Preparedness Factsheets in multiple languages

Vermont HD Before and After Flood: Flood Preparedness Factsheet Vietnamese

Vermont HD Before and After Flood: Flood Preparedness Factsheet Swahili

Vermont HD Before and After Flood: Flood Preparedness Factsheet Spanish

Vermont HD Before and After Flood: Flood Preparedness Factsheet Somali

Vermont HD Before and After Flood: Flood Preparedness Factsheet Serbo-Croatian

Vermont HD Before and After Flood: Flood Preparedness Factsheet Russian

Vermont HD Before and After Flood: Flood Preparedness Factsheet Nepali

Vermont HD Before and After Flood: Flood Preparedness Factsheet French

Vermont HD Before and After Flood: Flood Preparedness Factsheet Chinese

Vermont HD Before and After Flood: Flood Preparedness Factsheet Burmese

Vermont HD Before and After Flood: Flood Preparedness Factsheet Arabic

Hospital and Healthcare Facilities

AHRQ Hospital Assessment and Recovery Guide (PDF)

Community Resources

CDC Flood Water Home Clean-up

Drinking Water

U.S. EPA Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water

CDC: FAQs on When and How to Boil Water

University of Nebraska: Drinking Water Treatment Emergency Procedures 

Private Wells and Septic Systems

NEHA's Flooding Preparedness and Response for Private Water Systems 

Mold

U.S. EPA Mold Clean-up After Floods

Flood Recovery Worker and Volunteer Safety

CDC Worker Safety After Floods

OSHA Natural Disaster Recovery

Vector Control

Pan-American Health Organization Vector Control in Disaster Situations

Infection Prevention

Infection Prevention and Control for Shelters During Disasters (PDF) by APIC Emergency Preparedness Committee

Rebuilding Homes

Rebuild Healthy Homes: Guide to Post-disaster Restoration for a Safe and Healthy Home (PDF) by U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes

Storm Safety

https://www.ul.com/code-authorities/buildingsafetyprograms/storm-safety/  This site provides storm preparedness, safety after the storm, and rebuilding safely after a storm information. This is provided courtesy of Underwriters Laboratories (UL)

Stand Out in the World of Food Safety

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) has revolutionized the food safety landscape adding to the arsenal of required knowledge needed by those involved in any aspect of the food supply chain. Competent, Qualified Individuals are needed to carry out the functions described in the regulations. Equally, competent Qualified Individuals are needed for auditing the effectiveness of food safety programs internally, for supplier, and as an external third party observer.  

The NEHA Certified in Food Safety Supplier Audits (CFSSA) credential has been developed to help build the global capacity of qualified, vetted professionals that will be needed to meet the requirements of FSMA. Upon successfully passing the exam, the CFSSA credential holder will be prepared to complete 1st and 2nd party audits. They will be accomplished in understanding and planning food safety audits, conducting an audit, verifying food safety and prerequisite programs, and conducting post-audit activities. It is also a career path to becoming a third party auditor.

The NEHA Registered Food Safety Auditor (RFSA) credential enables individuals to complete third party audits. The RFSA is for more experienced food safety professionals who are one of the last lines of defense in the complex global food supply chain. If you're responsible for conducting risk-based facility audits (foreign or domestic) against internationally recognized food safety standards designed to mitigate risk, promote food safety, and enhance consumer confidence in the food supply, then the RFSA credential is the right choice for you. 

Food Safety Magazine published two articles, NEHA Credential Creates a Professional Pathway for Food Safety Auditors and New Food Safety Auditing Credentials, that outlined the work that went into creating this influential credential. The CFSSA credential with food sector specific auditing experience can lead to the Registered Food Safety Auditor (RFSA) credential for those who wish to become third party auditors.

Certified in Food Safety Supplier Audits (CFSSA)

If you're responsible for conducting risk-based facility audits (foreign or domestic) against internationally recognized food safety standards designed to mitigate risk, promote food safety, and enhance consumer confidence in the food supply, then the CFSSA credential is the right choice for you.

apply now  

Learn More ABout The CFSSA Credential 

Registered Food Safety Auditor (RFSA)

The RFSA is for more experienced food safety professionals, who are one of the last lines of defense in the complex global food supply chain. One of the requirements to be a RFSA is to hold an active CFSSA credential. If you're responsible for conducting risk-based facility audits (foreign or domestic) against internationally recognized food safety standards designed to mitigate risk, promote food safety, and enhance consumer confidence in the food supply, then the RFSA credential is the right choice for you. 

APPLY NOW  

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE RFSA CREDENTIAL 

A Professional Credential From NEHA

Since 1937 NEHA has been leading the way for practitioners to achieve a set of defined competencies, evidenced through testing and maintained through continuing education. These benchmarks of excellence have become the gold standard in recognizing those who are uniquely equipped to handle the wide breadth of environmental health issues. NEHA’s long-standing history in credentialing means that our standards are high and that individuals with a NEHA credential have mastered a body of knowledge and acquired practical experience to perform relevant work responsibilities.

As an impartial, third-party endorsement of an individual’s professional knowledge and experience, a credential stands in support of a candidate’s resume and professional references. It serves as verification that a professional has achieved a baseline level of competency in his or her subject matter.