Evaluating the Effectiveness of the Food Program & UST Program at Santa Clara County DEH

By: Michelle Santos

University of San Francisco

December 5, 2013

Background

Santa Clara County Department of Environmental Health

Hazardous Materials Compliance Division

(SCC DEH HMCD)

Objectives

• 1) Clearly identify the goals of the programs within DEH

• 2) Identify methods and metrics for evaluating the effectiveness of DEH programs in meeting their goals

• 3) Gather and analyze data related to program effectiveness

• 4) Provide an Excel model that allows the DEH to evaluate current and future trends in program effectiveness

Programs

• Food Program (FP) • UST Program- Part of the Consumer Protection Division

- Recreational pools and spas, land use, drinking water, certified farmers markets, etc.

- Specifically Food Safety- Grocery stores, liquor stores, bakeries,

restaurants, mobile food facilities, etc.

- conduct routine and follow-up inspections- investigate complaints and suspected

foodborne illnesses- Carry out food recalls- Conduct multi-lingual food safety classes,- Conduct plan reviews for new and

remodeled facilities- Issues permits.

Food Program

* Major risk factor violations & Foodborne Illness Complaints

Specific major risk factor violations that were most predictive of foodborne illness

complaints

Food Program (cont’d.)

497,449 violations TOTAL390 Foodborne Illness Investigations

-15,088 Facilities

473,225 NOT linked to 014 investigation/s-14,792 Facilities

24,224 linked to 014 investigation/s-296 Facilities

16,016 Major Violations-5,154 Facilities

-11,439 Serial Numbers

846 Major Violations without valid 014 within 6 months-223 Facilities

-616 Serial Numbers

95 Major Violations w/ valid 014 within

6 months-53 Facilities

-74 Serial Numbers

Data

0

10

20

30 27

14 13

Top 3 Major Risk Factor Violations Linked to Foodborne Illness Investigations

Nu

mb

er o

f v

iola

tio

ns

Programs

• Food Program (FP) • UST Program- Part of HMCD

- Hazardous materials business plans, toxic gas storage, hazardous materials compliance, etc.

- Specifically UST Program- Gas stations

- conduct routine and follow-up inspections

- Operating permit- Leak detection systems- Financial responsibility

UST Program

Decrease in the number of leaks/spills and the duration of each case

UST Program (cont’d.)

LOP data (FY 2008-2013)-34 cases

Count of substances released Ratio of cases

completed to cases still open

Average duration of each case

2008 2009 2010 2011 20120

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

550

600

650

2 3 3 1 2

321

203

555

447

274

Count of Substance Releases and Their Average Number of Days Open (2008-2013)

Count of Substance Releases

Average # Days Open

2008 2009 2010 2011 20120%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

120%

100%

75% 75%

50% 50%

0%

25%25%

50% 50%

Percentage of Cases Completed vs. Open

Percentage Not Completed

Percentage Completed

497,449 violations TOTAL-15,088 Facilities

2, 463 Violations Under PE 2399 (Underground Storage Tanks)

City Code Facility IDYear

UST Program (cont’d.)

UST Program (cont’d.)

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 20130

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

5

4.0

1.3

3.3 3.2

4.4

3.6

Average Number of UST Violations Per Facility by Year (2008-2013)

Year

Nu

mb

er o

f U

ST

Vio

lati

ons

UST Program (cont’d.)

Los Altos Saratoga Moffett Field

Palo Alto County Area

Los Altos Hills

San Martin Stanford San Jose Morgan Hill

0.0

50.0

100.0

150.0

200.0

250.0

300.0

350.0

11.8 10.8 8.526.0 28.7

2.7 4.0 2.5

310.3

5.2

Average Total Number of UST Violations per year By City Code (2008-2013)

City Code

Nu

mb

er o

f U

ST

Vio

lati

ons

Conclusion

Food Program

• Relevant data• Allows inspectors to

better focus their efforts to specific facilities

• Improve coding of violations• No duplicates• Include “major”

UST Program

• Small data set• Difficult to establish

trends• Possibly positive in

showing that there weren’t a lot of cases

• Improvement within a few years

QUESTIONS?

References

• Staff of Santa Clara County HMCD• Staff of Santa Clara County CPD• Staff of San Diego County DEH• CCDEH