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Have a question for a Public Health Inspector?

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

Have a question for a Public Health Inspector? Find our FAQs here. If your question hasn't been answered here, use our online form or call us.

 Please note that call volumes for the Environmental Health Department are higher than normal from May-September. Please leave a message if the lines are busy. Our team of inspectors will respond on a priority basis.

Complaints

Complaints can be submitted using our online form.

You can also submit a complaint by calling Health Connection at 877-721-7520.

If lines are busy, please leave a message.

Food Safety

Inspection and consultation requests can be submitted using our online form.

Visit www.inspectionconnection.ca to find inspection results for:

  • Restaurants
  • Pools, Spas, and Splash Pads
  • Personal Services
  • Public Beaches
  • Recreational Camps and more

If you are ill, contact your health care provider.

If you think you or someone you know got sick after eating out (for example at a restaurant, or after attending an event) please report it online so our team can follow up on your complaint. You can also report it by calling Health Connection at 877-721-7520.

If you became sick after eating food purchased at a retail or grocery store, report your food related concern to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

If you're opening a home-based food business, read our Guidelines for Opening a Home-Based Food Business and submit the Food Premises Commencement Notification form.

All home-based food business operators are required to notify the health unit before they open. A public health inspector will provide guidance on food safety measures depending on the food you are planning to prepare. Any area of your home where food is prepared, handled, cooked, and stored is considered part of your home-based food business.

If you're opening a mobile food business, read our Guidelines for Opening a Mobile Food Premises and submit the Food Premises Commencement Notification form.

If you're opening a food business, read our Guidelines for Opening a Food Premises and submit the Food Premises Commencement Notification form.

For exam dates and registration: Food Handler Certification - Exam Schedule.

Special Events and Farmers Markets

Review our Special Event Guidelines and submit an application form.

Event organizer applications are only required even there are 2 or more food vendors at an event.

Applications are found here: Special Events

Review our Farmers Markets information and submit an application form.

Drinking Water

Drinking water collection kits can be picked up and dropped off at many of our health unit offices or the Public Health Ontario Laboratory.

Water Bottle Pick-up and Sample Drop-Off Locations

To test your well water for bacteria, follow these steps:

  1. Pick up an empty water sampling bottle from one of our health unit offices or the Public Health Ontario (PHO) laboratory and follow the instructions on the attached form.

  2. Take a well water sample. It's important to collect your sample properly. The accuracy of your test results depends on it. The Public Health Ontario (PHO) website has very detailed instructions on how to collect a well water sample

  3. Submit the sample at a drop-off location during the designated hours.

 

Water Bottle Pick-up and Sample Drop-Off Locations

Note: The Public Health Ontario Laboratories do not test for other contaminants such as chemicals. Please contact a private licensed laboratory.

Have your barcode ready and call 1-877-723-3426.

Test results are usually available within two to four business days after you drop off your water sample. Public Health Ontario provides test results by telephone, in person, by mail or electronically: Get and Understand Your Results. 
  • No significant evidence of bacterial contamination means your water is safe to drink.
  • Significant evidence of bacterial contamination means there were more than 5 total coliforms in your drinking water, and it may be unsafe to drink.
  • UNSAFE TO DRINK: Evidence of fecal contamination means they found E. coli in your drinking water which indicates contamination from human or animal feces.
  • NDOGN - No Data: Overgrown with Non-Target means your water is unsafe to drink. It is heavily contaminated with environmental bacteria and total coliforms and/or E. coli are present.
  • NDOGT - No Data: Overgrown with Target means your water is unsafe to drink. It is heavily contaminated with environmental bacteria and total coliforms and/or E. coli are present.

 

The Public Health Ontario (PHO) website has more information to help you Understand Your Results including a detailed factsheet: Drinking Water Indicator Bacteria and Their Significance.
  1. Use bottled water or bring your well water to a rolling boil for at least one minute and let it cool before using it for drinking, make infant formula, juice, ice, food preparation and brushing your teeth.
  2. Find and remove potential sources of contamination.
  3. Check any treatment equipment to make sure it is working.
  4. Disinfect your well.
  5. Collect and submit another water sample after 48 hours.
  6. Consult with a licensed well contractor if your water quality does not improve or consult with a knowledgeable water treatment professional on treatment options for your well water.

The Public Health Ontario Well Disinfection Tool provides information on how to disinfect your well or you can contact a licensed well contractor. Licensed well contractors are listed on the Government of Ontario's directory.

No, the health unit does not have well records on file. You can search for your well record online through the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks website: Well Records

Public Health Ontario Laboratory customer service can be reached by:

Please visit the Public Health Ontario website for a list of all the public health laboratories and their contact information: Laboratory Contact.

Government of Ontario: List of Licensed Laboratories.

Recreational Water (Beaches, Pools, Spas etc.)

To find a Certified Pool & Spa Operator (CPO) class visit the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance to search for class near you.

Visit our Beach Water Testing webpage

Weekly, but some beaches are sampled monthly because water quality was consistently good during the previous summer. Beach sampling may also be delayed by severe weather and poor air quality.

No, the health unit only monitors public beaches. If you would like to test the water quality at your private waterfront, please contact one of the private licenses laboratories on the Government of Ontario's List of Licensed Laboratories.

Contact the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) online or by phone at: 1-866-MOE-TIPS (1-866-663-8477).

The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) samples and tests for blue-green algae. For questions about when, where, and how often tests for blue green algae are conducted, contact the Barrie MECP District Office at 1-800-890-8511.

A list of confirmed blue-green algae blooms is available on our website :Current Waterways Affected by Blue-Green Algae

If you see a bloom, stay out of the water, and keep your pets out of the water. You cannot tell if a bloom is harmful by looking at it, so it's best to use caution and stay away.

If in doubt, stay out!

Rabies and Animal Bites

  • Do not touch the bat.
  • Do not try to capture the bat.
  • Do not disturb the bat. Open a window and allow the bat to exit on its own.

 

Bat-proof your home and/or cottage and seek advice from a pest control expert or wildlife conservation authority.

If there has been direct contact with a bat, call the health unit toll free number: 1-877-721-7520 ext. 8811.

More information: Bat Rabies

Low-cost rabies clinics are usually offered in Fall (September - November).

To check dates, locations, and schedule, please visit: Animal Vaccination

As the property owner, you are responsible for removal/disposal of dead animals on your property. Contact your local municipality to check disposal arrangements.

If concerned about a pet being in contact with a dead animal, please contact a veterinarian.

Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry: Dead Animals or Fish Found on your Property

Please call the health unit toll free number: 1-877-721-7520 ext. 8811

Please contact your health care provider or a travel clinic for a prescription for the vaccine. The health unit does not provide publicly funded Rabies PEP for pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Always seek medical attention and report the bite to the health unit. A public health inspector will assess the situation.

If the bite was provoke, usually there is no rabies concern. For example, a bite from a squirrel while someone is feeding it would not be considered unusual behaviour.

To report an animal bite, call the health unit toll free number: 1-877-721-7520 ext. 8811

Mould & Indoor Air Quality

You can clean small and medium sized areas of mould by yourself, but you should consider getting professional help with extensive mould growth. Health Canada provides information for cleaning mould and preventing mould growth indoors.

No, the health unit does not provide testing services for indoor air quality or mould. Contact a private laboratory or an environmental consultant for testing services.

Bed Bugs, Ticks, & Other Pests

No, bed bugs do not transmit disease. However, the bites can cause an allergic reaction in some people.

Frequent scratching of the bite marks or picking the scabs can cause infections. People with severe and/or repeated infestations can feel anxious, worried, or ashamed. Speak to your family, friends, or support worker. 

More information is available here: Bed Bugs

Health Canada provides helpful information for preventing and getting rid of the bed bugs. Prevention is the key to avoiding bedbug infestations in your home. To reduce the chances of an infestation and to learn how to get rid of bed bugs, follow the steps outlined by Health Canada.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne disease that is transmitted to humans through a bite of an infected blacklegged tick that has been attached/feeding for at least 24 hours.

Find out more information here at Lyme Disease and Ticks

If you find a tick on the body, remove it as soon as possible. Removing a tick within 24 hours reduces the risk of Lyme disease infection. Follow these steps to remove a tick.

Blacklegged ticks are small. They range in size from a poppy seed to a pea.

If a blacklegged tick has been attached to the skin for a few days, it can swell and appear brown or grey. If a swollen blacklegged tick is on your skin, it may appear as a new skin tag or pimple.

Find out more information here: Lyme Disease and Ticks

Blacklegged ticks are present in Simcoe Muskoka and blacklegged ticks from our area have tested positive for the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Find out more information here at Health Stats or etick.ca

Personal Service Settings

A personal service setting (PSS) is a business premises where personal services are offered that might post a risk of exposure to blood or body fluids. Personal services are offered at a variety of settings such as mobile or temporary services, spas, festivals, salons or in a private home setting and include but are not limited to:

  • Tattooing and ear/body piercing
  • Permanent make-up
  • Micro-blading/needling and micropigmentation
  • Hair salons and barbering
  • Aesthetics (e.g., nail services, waxing, facials, eyelash extensions)

Yes, you are required to provide the health unit with at least 14 days written notice prior to opening your personal service setting. 14 days notification is also required if you plan to renovate, relocate, or add services to your existing business. You can provide notice via our Personal Service Settings notification form.

Yes, personal service settings in Ontario are regulated under O. Reg/ 136/18: Personal Service Settings.

You can also reference the Guide to Infection Prevention and Control in Personal Service Settings for best practices and recommendations for operating your setting.

If you have any questions regarding the regulation and how it applies to you, or best practices for your business, questions can be submitted using our online form.

Yes, you can operate a personal service setting in your home. The same regulation and requirements apply to home-based PSS and commercially based PSS. The home-based setting must meet all regulatory requirements and be inspected on a routine and compliant basis as assessed by a public health inspector.

Yes, if you are offering personal services to members of the public, the personal service setting regulation applies to you. You would be considered a mobile PSS. The same regulation and requirements apply to mobile PSS and commercially based PSS. The mobile setting must meet all regulatory requirements and be inspected on a routine and compliant basis as assessed by a public health inspector.

Yes, if you are offering services to the public, you must notify the health unit, including when operating a temporary set-up at a special event. If you are a special event organizer, you must complete the organizer application at least 30 days prior to the special event. If you are a special event vendor, you must complete the vendor application at least 14 days prior to the event. Applications can be found here: Special Events.

O. Reg. 136/18: Personal Service Settings states that every personal service setting must remain free from animals, including birds, aquatic species, and reptiles. This section does not apply to service animals as described under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005; and live aquatic species displayed or stored in sanitary tanks.

If you have further questions regarding service animals in a personal service setting, please submit your questions using our online form.

A public health inspector will help you determine whether your business needs to be inspected as a personal service setting under the regulation. Consultation requests can be submitted using our online form.
  • Ear candling or coning.
  • Any personal service involving live aquatic species, including fish pedicures.
  • Scleral tattooing or implantation of eye jewelry under the conjunctiva. 

Health Canada approves sterilizers for use in Canada. You can access a list of Health Canada approved devices through the Medical Devices Active License Listing (MDALL). 

Once you have determined that your sterilizer is Health Canada approved, you can provide details to your local public health inspector, for assessment, using our online form.

Child Care Centres

Yes, child care centres are inspected by the health unit. Licensed child care centres are licensed by the Ministry of Education.

The health unit inspects child care centres to review infection prevention and control (IPAC) and food safety and supports the centres with the management of outbreaks.

Management of illness in a child care centre is the responsibility of the centre. It is recommended to follow-up with the centre directly regarding their illness policy.

More information, including FAQs for child care centre operators, is available here: Child Care.

Recreational Camps

Yes, if you are suspecting an outbreak of either respiratory or enteric (gastrointestinal) illness at your recreational/overnight camp you are required to notify the health unit as soon as possible.

Under O. Reg. 503/17: Recreational Camps you must have a section regarding control of communicable diseases as apart of your camp safety plan. More information is available here: Communicable Disease Information for Recreational Overnight Camps.

If you need to speak with a public health inspector urgently during regular business hours regarding illness at your camp, please contact our health connection line at (705) 721-7520 ext. 8809. All other questions can be submitted using our online form.

Other

No, the health unit does not have septic plans on file. Please contact your local municipality.

If the location of the needles identified is on municipal property, contact your local municipality. If the location of the needles is on private property, follow these steps:

  1. Call the Landlord
  2. Use tongs/plyers to remove/place needle(s) in a container with a lid
  3. Bring container to SMDHU office for disposal; or
  4. Bring container to a hazardous waste disposal site; or
  5. Pay a biohazardous waste removal/disposal company
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