Environmental Health

Public Health Nuisance Complaints

The health department handles many types of complaints including, but not limited to:

• Inadequate / No Heat in Multi-Unit Residential Properties
• Retail Food Establishments
• Rodents
• Stagnant Water in Swimming Pools / Mosquitoes

Please complete an online form to Report a Concern.  

The health department does not handle high grass and property maintenance issues. Please contact the construction office.

Anonymous Complaints

Anonymous complaints cannot be addressed for following reasons:

• It is the policy of the health department to get back to each complainant with a final status report.
• It is sometimes necessary to contact the complainant to verify information.
• It may be necessary to have the complainant appear in court to testify.

The Health Department inspects public recreational bathing facilities, which include swimming pools, wading pools, hot tubs/spas, bathing beaches and water parks. A recreational bathing facility may be closed by the Health Department when such action is necessary to abate a present or threatened menace to public health or safety. This could include conditions such as physical safety hazards or failure to meet water quality standards.

 The Health Department requires that all recreational bathing facilities fill out a pre-operational checklist prior to a facility opening for the year. Once submitted, the checklist will be reviewed, and pre-operational inspections will be conducted. Once the checklist has been reviewed and inspections are completed, a facility will be permitted to open for the season. 

 Other activities include:

• Review of weekly water quality test results for bacterial and chemical quality;
• Plan review for new installations/renovations;
• Complaint investigations 

Recreational Bathing Permit Application

Public Recreational Bathing Facilities Form

Retail Food Establishment License Requirement

Retail Food Vendors of any type must complete an online Retail Food Establishment License application.  Payment is made online at time of submission.   

Overview

The Clark Health Department conducts routine inspections and complaint investigations at all retail food establishments located in the Township. These inspections are conducted by trained and licensed New Jersey Registered Environmental Health Specialists and/or Health Officers. The main focus is to educate the retail food workers on best practices for safe food handling and take action as needed to enforce the code when necessary.

What Inspectors Evaluate

While on-site, inspectors focus on evaluating foodborne illness risk factors and interventions, focusing on regulations outlined in N.J.A.C 8:24 (Chapter 24) Sanitation in Retail Food Establishments. Risk factors are improper practices identified as the most common factors resulting in foodborne illness, while interventions act as control measures to prevent foodborne infection.

What Ratings Mean

Food establishments are rated:

	"Satisfactory": The establishment is found to be operating in substantial compliance with the requirements and food service personnel have demonstrated that they are aware of and are practicing sanitation and food safety principles as outlined in Chapter 24. (White Placard)
	"Conditionally Satisfactory": At the time of the inspection, the establishment was not found to be operating in substantial compliance with requirements and in violation of one or more provisions of this chapter. Due to the nature of these violations, a re-inspection will occur. (Yellow Placard)
	"Unsatisfactory": Whenever a retail food establishment is found to be non-compliant with this chapter, with one or more violations that constitute gross unsanitary or unsafe conditions posing an imminent health hazard, the health authority shall issue an unsatisfactory evaluation. The health authority shall immediately request the person in charge to voluntarily cease operation until it is shown on re-inspection that conditions that warrant an unsatisfactory evaluation no longer exist. The health authority shall institute necessary measures provided by law to ensure that the establishment does not prepare or serve food until the establishment is reevaluated. These measures may include embargo and/or condemnation. Additionally, a reopening inspection will occur. (Red Placard)

Retail Food Establishment Procedures

Grease Trap Reporting

You can now COMPLETE REPORTS ONLINE AND UPLOAD DOCUMENTS needed as proof or PRINT OUT THE REPORT, complete and return it via fax, email, mail or drop it off.    There are two changes to reporting:

1. You no longer have to submit Material Safety Data Sheets/Safety Data Sheets (MSDS/SDS) for your bioenzyme treatment.
2. You will have to submit invoices showing your grease traps, inside, outside or both have been cleaned.

If your cover sheet and back up documentation is not received when faxed or you do not complete the online form in its entirety, a summons will be issued. 

Fines are $250.00 for the first offense, $500.00 for the second offense and $1, 000.00 each subsequent offense. 

No follow up telephone calls, emails or letters will be sent. Please submit your report by fax (732-388-2490), email the Health Department or email David De Rosa), regular mail or drop off in Room 18.

As always pictures and text messages are not acceptable means of filing your establishment’s report.

Questions can be addressed by the Health Department at 732-428-8405.

Since lamps used in tanning beds emit UV radiation, the use of indoor tanning devices increases your risk of skin cancer. Other risks include premature aging of the skin, immune suppression, eye damage and allergic reactions. A bad burn at a young age greatly increases the chances of skin cancer.

 In order to protect the public’s health, regulations require age restrictions, time restrictions, exposure times based on skin type and disinfection between users.

 Activities include:

• Ensure that all tanning facilities are registered and licensed
• Inspection of all tanning facilities
• Complaint investigations

Youth camps are inspected annually based on the New Jersey Youth Camp Safety Act and sets forth the standards necessary to promote, protect and safeguard the health and well-being of the youth who attend a youth camp.

 Activities included here are:

• Pre-operational and seasonal inspections of each youth camp
• Enforcement actions taken, if necessary