Inspections

Hancock County Public Health Services contracts with the Cerro Gordo County Public Health Department to inspect the following:

• Restaurants
• Hotels and Motels
• Swimming Pools and Spas
• Tanning Facilities
• Tattoo parlors

To find out more on these services click on this link: http://www.cghealth.com/webdocs/env_inspectionservices.htm

Restaurants

To view restaurant inspection reports in the 15 county North Central Iowa  region click here: http://dia.iowa.gov/food/controller.aspx?cmd=NavFromMenu&mode=search

For more information about Food Poisoning and other poisoning Click here: http://www.partselect.com/JustForFun/Food-Poisoning-Prevention.aspx

(Special thanks to Ms. Knowlten's students at Valley Charter School for suggesting the food poisoning link!)

Swimming Pools and Spas

For Healthy swimming advice we encourage you to visit the Center for Disease Control Healthy swimming site: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/

Tanning facilities

Ultraviolet radiation may cause eye and skin injury, allergic reactions, premature aging of the skin, skin cancer, eye burns and long term injury to eyes. Inspections are conducted to protect people who use tanning facilities from unintended or over exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation. During inspections facility records are reviewed; proper signage and labeling is checked; sanitation is reviewed; bed/booth construction, maintenance, and design are checked; and customer protection policies are reviewed.

For Information on the risks of tanning click on this link:
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/tanning/risks.html

Tattoo Parlors

Inspections are conducted to protect the public from diseases that may be transmitted from one person to another through unsanitary or unsafe conditions. People who get tattoos and their future contacts are at risk for HIV, Hepatitis B and C, other blood borne pathogens and infections if proper procedures are not in place.

During inspections, inspectors check sterilization equipment and records, facility and equipment sanitation and condition, artist procedures and sanitary measures that are used during the tattooing procedure, facility records and after care instruction and education.

To view the Iowa Department of Public Health’s tattoo program click on this link: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/eh/tattoo.asp