Health Inspection Process

Public Health inspectors conduct regular inspections on businesses in Niagara to determine if they follow all health regulations.

Regulations and inspections

Depending on the services provided, regulations may include:

• Handwashing and hygiene procedures for employees
• Disinfection and sterilization of equipment
• Cleaning and maintaining of counters and surfaces
• Disposal of single-use needles and razors
• Proper storage, handling, and preparation of food

Types of inspections

Inspections fall into one of the following categories:

• Routine inspection: Done regularly at a facility to ensure it follows regulations and / or best practices
• Re-inspection: A follow-up inspection to make sure previous expectations have been fixed
• On-demand inspection: Done due to a complaint. Valid complaints will be investigated and non-compliant items will be reported.
• Outbreak inspections and re-inspections: Done when there is a declared respiratory or gastroenteric outbreak at a long-term care home or retirement home
• Infection prevention and control lapse investigation: Done when infection prevention and control practices are not followed. This creates a risk of spreading infectious diseases through exposure to blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, mucous membranes, broken skin or contaminated equipment and items.

Critical infractions are corrected immediately and follow-up inspections are done as needed. No facility is given advanced warning of an upcoming inspection.

The inspection reports are available shortly after the inspection and include any infractions found at the establishment.