Environmental Health & Safety/Food Safety compliance audits/training

Pinky H. Patel

*** ***** **** *****, *******, GA 31005

Ph: 478-***-**** (Home) or 863-***-**** (Cell)

E-Mail: ************@*****.***

Environmental Health Safety/ Specialist Resume

SUMMARY

Three plus years experience as an environmental health specialist/scientist and food safety consultant where my knowledge and skills were utilized to bring various types of facilities in compliance with environmental and governmental standards. In addition, these facilities were helped to improve their sanitation and safety standards to achieve higher health department inspection scores by providing education and technical assistance. Significant amount of money was saved by offering cost effective measures such as filling the gap with weather strips under the door to prevent pest entry and escape of hot or cold air in food service establishments. As a bank teller in financial institution for more than nine years, due to problem solving skills and an attitude for walking an extra miles for customers, I was rewarded many times for various customer services awards. I significantly contributed in increasing financial assets by exceeding cross-selling and referral goals for Robins Federal Credit Union.

EDUCATION

• Master of Public Health/Environmental Health Sciences (GPA 4.0)

Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA 31030

• Bachelor of Science in Foods and Nutrition (GPA 3.6)

Faculty of Community Science, M.S. University, Vadodara, India

CERTIFICATIONS

• OSHA HAZWOPER 40 Hour Certification.

• ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification (97% score) accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) – Conference for Food Protection (CFP).

• Basic First Aid & CPR Certification.

• Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS 100) - Emergency Management Response System Certification.

• Bank-Teller Training Diploma (96% score),

Wake Technical Community College, Raleigh, NC

ACADEMIC ACOMMPLISHMENTS/HONORS

• Won National Merit Scholarship of India.

• Research Thesis: A comparative study of prevalence rate of cancer within a one, two, and three mile-radius of Powersville Landfill, Peach County, Georgia.

• Poster Presentation: “A comparative study of the prevalence rate of cancer within a three mile radius of the Powersville Landfill, Peach County, Georgia” at American School Health Association Annual Conference, October 28-31, 2009; Denver, CO; and at American Academy of Health Behavior Annual Conference, February 7-10, 2010, Clearwater Beach, FL.

• Prepared and presented several papers (for example: WIC program, Solid Waste Disposal Act, Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, waste water and drinking water treatment plants operations).

WORK EXPERIENCE

1. Food Safety Consultant (November 2008 – April 2011)

EcoSure, 300 Tristate International Drive, Suite 200, Lincolnshire, IL 60069

(Ph # 847-***-****, ext. 79874)

Duties and achievements:

• Conducted food safety evaluations of distribution centers and restaurants in conjunction with governmental rules, laws and regulations focusing HACCP principles and CDC’s food borne illness prevention factors. Audits included taking product temperatures, observation of employees' personal hygienic practices, food safety practices for prevention of cross contamination and food borne illnesses, cleaning and sanitation practices of the facility, utensils and equipments, chemical storage and handling procedures, integrated pest management practices, food safety related documents inspection and overall safety measures to keep food safe.

• Conducted play place evaluation to ensure safety of children, which involves collection of OSHA safety information including wear and tear issues of play ground equipments.

• Performed industrial and restaurant based work place safety evaluations.

• Prepared inspection reports, communicated with management about food safety issues observed and corrective actions to address those food safety deficiencies.

• Provided technical assistance and education to those restaurant/hotel managers and employees about food safety including food allergy and consumer advisory. Improved food safety and sanitation practices of many chain restaurants through education and demonstration of food safety principles which helped those units achieve higher score with local Health Department inspections and helped those restaurant managers achieve higher score for food safety certificate exams.

• Attended webcasts, traveled extensively with overnight stays, use various equipments such as thermometers, sanitizer test kit and send necessary correspondence through computer modem system.

2. Environmental Health Scientist/Specialist I (February 2008 – June 2008)

Hendry County Health Department, 1100 South Olympia Street, Clewiston, FL 33440

(Ph # 863-***-**** ext. 114)

Duties performed:

• Performed compliance inspections for onsite sewage treatment and disposal facilities, mobile homes, recreational vehicle parks and camps, public swimming pools, migrant farm workers housing, group care facilities including foster homes, family day cares, public day care centers and public schools - for the purpose of identifying and eliminating hazardous conditions; recommended necessary enforcement actions and provided technical assistance and education at individual and organizational level.

• Completed food safety evaluations for group care facilities to identify food safety hazards and to minimize the risk of food borne illnesses, educated facility personnel for correction of food safety deficiencies and any food safety related issues.

• Collected well water samples for E-Coli testing.

• Prepared inspection reports, reviewed site plans and license applications for above stated facilities, used scientific instruments and equipments for data collection and issued permits.

• Investigated sanitary nuisance complaints for environmental and food related issues and responded accordingly.

• Attended meetings, demonstrated team efforts and achieved online training to maintain current knowledge of environmental issues, complied with department’s policies and procedures regarding submission of daily activity report, time sheet, travel vouchers and other paperwork.

3. Environmental Health Specialist Internship (May 2004 – July 2004)

Peach County Health Department, 406 East Church Street, Fort Valley, GA 31030

(Ph # 478-***-****)

Duties performed:

• Conducted compliance inspections for the purpose of improving safety and sanitation standards of restaurants, motels and swimming pools, prepared and discussed reports with facility personnel and provided technical assistance as needed.

• Performed site evaluation including soil sampling and water percolation test for approval/placement of septic system, conducted initial OSTDS inspection after placement of septic system under supervision.

• Investigated nuisance complaints such as animal bites for surveillance of rabies, dead birds for West Nile Virus or illness resulting from restaurant food consumption.

• Recommended necessary actions to the general public or organizations to be in compliance by providing education and technical assistance.

• Collected private well water samples for E-Coli testing and suggested further disinfection treatment, if necessary.

• Maintained paper-work and performed other duties as assigned by supervisor, and demonstrated team effort.

• Prepared portfolio of internship work and made a power point presentation.

4. Bank Teller (April 2000 – January 2008)

Robins Federal Credit Union, 502 South Houston Lake Road, Warner Robins, GA 31088

(Ph # 478-***-**** ext. 3401)

Duties performed:

• Performed routine teller duties along with handling various types of negotiable instruments.

• Assisted for closing and balancing procedure of credit union.

• Accomplished required on line training and achieved Washington Award Certificates for

Banking, Professional Development, Member Services Level II and Financial Management.

• Attended meeting and seminars as well as performed other duties as assigned.

• Won first prize four times by selling raffle tickets for fund raising for credit union to lobby at congress level, also won first prizes three times for fund raising by selling coin collection books and paper hearts for community project - Children's Miracle Network; volunteered for Meals on Wheels program and delivered hot/free lunches to about 40 people. Made significant contribution for the U.S. troops deployed outside the country.

• Saved about $80.00 by catching counterfeit currency.

• Won prizes for perfect balancing as well as exceeding credit union’s cross selling and performance goals above average.

SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of environmental health principles including indoor/outdoor air, food, water, and soil pollutants and related environmental laws, food safety and food allergies, HACCP, SQF 2000 codes, integrated pest management practices and hazardous chemicals storage/handling practices.

• Computer skills: word processing, internet/e-mail, power point, excel.

• Linguistic skills: fluent in foreign languages Gujarati and Hindi.

• Cash handling skills.

• Communication and customer service skills.

• Cross-selling and referral skills.

• Time management skills.

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