Environmental Health
Welcome to our home page.
The Environmental Health Service aims to enhance the quality of life in Shetland by protecting and improving communities’ health and environment.
Environmental Health’s goals are:
- the enforcement of statutory controls which protect public health, safety and the environment;
- the development and delivery of services and initiatives which protect and improve health and the environment, and move Shetland towards sustainable development;
- the monitoring and analysis of environmental and physical factors which indicate the condition of public health, safety and the environment; and
- the continuous improvement of services within a policy framework influenced by national and local priorities.
Legislative requirements determine the majority of the work of the Environmental Health Service. Many Acts, Regulations, Statutory Instruments and Approved Codes of Practice are involved.
Click on the links on the right to get help and advice in the subject areas we cover.
There are numerous influences on the Environmental Health Service within its external environment. The present and emerging demands that must be addressed include delivering new legislative requirements stemming from European directives on food safety, animal health, health and safety and environmental protection.
As a regulatory authority much of Environmental Health’s role relates to the enforcement of national legislation and is guided by statute. Government Policy is seeking to redirect environmental health services to tackle health inequalities, social exclusion, sustainability and improving quality of life, as well as increasing the rigorousness of performance monitoring and audit regimes. Other new themes emerging from Government include tackling fuel poverty, antisocial behaviour, and delivery of the public health agenda.
Other driving factors include guidance produced by national bodies such as the Food Standards Agency’s Framework Agreement on Local Authority Food Law Enforcement and the Health and Safety Commission’s S18 Enforcement Guidance. Both sets of guidance direct the Council in its delivery of statutory responsibilities. Both bodies are encouraging the development of more supportive business enforcement practices, including self-assessment and auditing.
Finally, all Council services are expected to demonstrate Best Value, through continuous improvement of performance, having regard to economy, efficiency and effectiveness, equal opportunities and achieving sustainable development.
We can be contacted in the following ways:
By Phone: 01595 744800
By Fax: 01595 744802
By Email: environmental.health@sic.shetland.gov.uk
In Person or in Writing: Environmental Health Service, Infrastructure Services Department, Shetland Islands Council, Grantfield, Lerwick, Shetland, ZE1 0NT