• 8,109 retail food inspections conducted
• 30,584 food handler permits issued via the THD website
• 997 temporary (combined city and state) licenses issued at 75 events
• 726 general complaints and 155 alleged foodborne illness complaints
• 30,584 food handler permits issued via the THD website
• 997 temporary (combined city and state) licenses issued at 75 events
• 726 general complaints and 155 alleged foodborne illness complaints
Review of Food Establishment Plans
The plan review process enables food establishments to be successful, remain in compliance over time and protect public health. A total of 249 electronic and 173 physical plans were reviewed during the fiscal year.
National Environmental Health Association - Retail Flexible Funding Model Grants
The grants were awarded to support the Food Protection Services' efforts in reducing foodborne illness risk factors. These grants aided in implementing and attaining conformance with the Retail Program Standards which serves as a framework to improve the quality of our program and the communities we serve.
2023 End-of-Year Grant Award: $32,500
Collaboration with the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) and the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)
The THD Food Protection Services completed Cohort Two's succession planning and mentorship with the Coconino County Health Department (Arizona) and the Beaverhead County Health Department (Montana) from July 2023 to December 2024.
In January 2024, the Tulsa Health Department was one of 101 sites selected for Cohort Three, partnering with NACCHO and NEHA with support from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The focus areas include training, succession planning and mentorship. The mentorship pairings are with the Beaverhead County and Mobile County (Alabama) Health Departments.
Food Safety Education and Outreach
• 4,356 volunteer permits issued via the THD website
• 8 in-person food handler classes held between August to December 2023 that were attended by 32 food workers
• 10 offsite food safety presentations
• 8 in-person food handler classes held between August to December 2023 that were attended by 32 food workers
• 10 offsite food safety presentations
Bi-Annual Food Safety Risk Focused Newsletters
Two newsletters were mailed to retail food establishments during the fiscal year. 4,091 were distributed in July 2023 and 4,130 were distributed in June 2024.
Voluntary National Retail Program Standard
The Standard 3: Inspection Program Based on Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Principles is based on risk categorization that, through policies and documentation, targets immediate and long-term correction through active managerial control. Food Protection Services verified and submitted to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for national recognition in March 2024.
The Standard 5 focus is to establish a system to detect, collect, investigate and respond to complaints and emergencies that involve foodborne illness, injury, and intentional and unintentional food contamination. A foodborne illness mock inspector training exercise was held in October 2023.
Standard 9 applies to the process used to measure the success of a jurisdiction’s efforts in reducing the occurrence of foodborne illness risk factors, to enhance food safety and public health in the community. The standard requires a risk factor study that determines the occurrence of foodborne illness risk factors in their regulated industry and implementing an intervention to address the findings of the study.
Over the past few years, Food Protection Services has been utilizing Risk Factor Profiles for operators to visualize their effectiveness in managing foodborne illness risk factors. The risk factor data indicates that the Tulsa Health Department's efforts to reduce the occurrence of foodborne illness risk factors and attain conformance with the Retail Program Standards are working.
Data
• Conducted micro study and created 74 individualized Risk Factor Profiles for high risk establishments identified out of 2,946 as needing additional support in CDC Foodborne Illness Factor violations
• The THD Data and Information Technology team completed over 30 data requests for the Food Services program
• Presented at the Retail Program Standards Symposium
Environmental Health Services
Environmental Health Services attended over 20 community events reaching out to over 2,500 people.
Water Lab
The EHS water lab acquired two new instruments. The first instrument enables much lower limit of detection for metals analysis required by the recent changes to the lead and copper regulations for drinking water. A major benefit of the second instrument is reduced waste and greater automation that allows samples to be run overnight. EHS completed the requirements for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Lead Hazard Control grant that included 171 lead-based paint inspections and removed lead-based paint hazards from 28 low-income homes.
• 1,938 complaints responded
Housing
• 123 lead-based paint inspections
• 20 low income homes completed program to remove lead hazards
• 2,500 people attended safe housing education seminars or events (virtual and in-person)
• 8 county nuisance abatements
Pest Control
• 123 residential properties assessed for rat control
Lodging
• 250 lodging facilities inspected in Tulsa County and 119 additional complaint investigations
Public Swimming Pools
• 1,707 pool inspections
• 704 public swimming pool facilities inspected
• 276 pool operators certified
Mosquitoes
• 25,950 mosquitoes tested
• 619 mosquito trap collections
• 30 West Nile positive trap locations
• 45 miles sprayed for mosquito control
• 69 sites treated for larvicide
Environmental
• 314 air quality inspections
• 11,957 water samples tested