PHIS Log-in, Inspector’s Homepage, and Alerts 

7/18/2016 

PHIS LOG-IN, INSPECTOR’S HOMEPAGE, AND ALERTS 

Objectives 

After completing this section of the training, participants will be able to: 

1. Identify the steps for logging into PHIS. 

2. Identify the information provided in the 3 tabs on the inspector’s homepage. 

3. Navigate the inspector’s homepage. 

4. Use several PHIS controls. 

5. State the purpose of alerts. 

6. Access detailed information for the assigned establishments from the 

inspector’s homepage. 

Logging into PHIS 

When IPP are in their assignment, PHIS access is controlled by the USDA’s 

eAuthentication (eAuth). To access PHIS, IPP direct their browser to 

https://phis.FSIS.usda.gov/. When the eAuthentication login screen appears, IPP 

may enter their user ID and password and then click the login button, or click the 

Lincpass button, select a certificate, and enter their PIN. The PHIS homepage is 

presented once the IPP has successfully logged-in. 

Note: In this training, you will access PHIS through the FSIS Application Portal 

(FSIS Intranet). Several example IPP names have been assigned in the PHIS 

training database. The FSIS instructor will assign you a specific number between 

1 and 50. You will use that number plus an example inspector name depending 

on the assignment to access the PHIS training database, e.g., Robert Barclay 

01 or Robert Allen 01, if you were assigned the number 1. 

PHIS Homepage/Inspector’s Homepage 

The PHIS Homepage provides a point of entry to PHIS. PHIS homepages are 

role-based and configured by an administrator. The functionality and information 

that appears on the homepage is relevant to the user’s role, responsibilities, and 

work assignment. There are several user roles in PHIS, e.g., CSI, PHV, FLS, and 

EIAO. Some users may be assigned multiple roles. For instance, the FLS and 

Inspection Methods 6-1 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHIS Log-in, Inspector’s Homepage, and Alerts 

7/18/2016 

) 

PHV roles are also assigned the CSI role. When a CSI logs into PHIS, the first 

page that appears in PHIS is the Inspector’s Homepage. 

Hands-on Activity 

The following hands-on section is intended to provide familiarity and experience 

with the Inspector’s Homepage. You will learn to navigate the features of the

Inspector’s Homepage using Holland Point Foods and Groveton Meats, a large 

deli meat establishment and a small grinding establishment respectively, as the 

example establishments. 

Follow these steps along with the instructor. 

 Open the laptop 

 Log-onto laptop: 

 User Name: FSIS_user 

 Password: FSIS 

 Double click the Start Internet Explorer icon( 

 PHIS training database Log-in 

 Select User: Robert Barclay (your #) from the drop down list 

Inspector’s Homepage 

At the top of the inspector’s homepage is a “welcome statement”. It indicates the 

user’s name and the user’s current role, i.e., Consumer Safety Inspector. The

USDA banner appears on all USDA web pages. Public Health Information 

System appears on all pages within PHIS. The role is identified underneath the 

banner. Users assigned multiple roles (e.g., PHV or FLS), can use the drop down 

list (down arrow) to change roles. There is a PHIS menu that has a home link for 

the inspector to navigate home. It also has links that allow the inspector to 

access an overview of PHIS and to log out of PHIS. Many PHIS pages have 

navigation menus. The menu options depend on the user’s role. Every PHIS 

page has a header. The header indicates the functionality being displayed in the 

context of area or page, e.g., Home, Noncompliance Record, or Agenda List 

page. The header includes “breadcrumbs” that show the page navigation that 

was followed to reach the current page and enables the inspector to navigate 

back to previous pages. A “content area” appears on all PHIS pages. This area 

of the page provides the functionality needed to enable the inspector to perform a 

task within PHIS. Links to additional resources or “Smart Links” appear at the 

bottom of inspector’s homepage. 

The inspector’s homepage provides several data summaries under various tabs. 

The data is presented in small tables or grids called widgets. Some widgets 

provide short-cuts (links) to access additional data or sort data. The inspector 

can get additional information or can initiate an action by clicking on the action 

icon or the underlined word. 

Inspection Methods 6-2 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHIS Log-in, Inspector’s Homepage, and Alerts 

7/18/2016 

The Inspector’s homepage in PHIS has three tabs: My Dashboard, My 

Establishments, and My Inspections and Samples. The My Dashboard tab is the 

default view for the Inspector Homepage. Each of the tabs has widgets. The My 

Dashboard tab has three widgets: Alerts, My Tasks, and Smart Links. 

Navigating the Inspector’s Homepage/PHIS Controls 

Alerts are generated automatically in PHIS based on entered data, inspection 

results and other events, and are coordinated with e-mail distributions. Alerts are 

an important way that IPP receive notification of certain events or new 

requirements, and are reminded of tasks that need to be performed because they 

are approaching their due date. Alerts are only available through the 

inspector’s homepage. 

Look at the alerts widget. There are 5 alerts in the grid sorted in date order with 

the newest alert on top. 

1. Click on the Unassigned lab sampling task approaching due date 

 The alert message window is displayed 

 The messages are created by PHIS based on instructions or 

criteria set up by a system administrator. Typically a message 

will have a description, some detail regarding the establishment, 

and some instructions regarding what IPP are to do in response 

to the alert. 

2. Click Mark as Read button in the message detail window 

3. Click the “X” in the upper right corner to close alert window 

 The alert disappears from the list of alerts 

4. Click the Show All Alerts link 

 The alert appears in the grid but it is no longer in bold type and 

it is designated as “read” (changed from “NO” to “Yes”)

Alerts provide critical information and they remain in alerts grid even after they 

have been read and after they have been addressed. 

The My Tasks widget provides a list of the inspector’s scheduled tasks. Let’s use

this widget to get familiar with some PHIS grids and their controls, and the red 

action arrow. 

5. Click the Date link 

 Sorts the tasks by date 

 Task with the oldest date is now listed first 

6. Click the Date link again 

 Sorts the tasks by date 

 Task with the most current date is now listed first (this the 

default) 

Inspection Methods 6-3 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHIS Log-in, Inspector’s Homepage, and Alerts 

7/18/2016 

7. Click the Right Arrow at the bottom of the grid 

 Advances the grid to the next page 

8. Click the Left Arrow at the bottom of the grid 

 Advances the grid to the previous page 

9. Type a 2 in the page size box 

10.Click the Go button 

 Advances the grid to page 2 

11.Type a 8 in the page size box 

12.Click the Change button 

 Changes the number of records displayed from 2 to 3 

Note: The page controls are the same for all data grids 

13.Click the Date link 

14.Click the Date link again 

15.Click the Red Arrow button in front of the General Labeling task 

dated 1/7/2016 for Holland Point Foods 

 The Inspection Results page is displayed 

 This is not the primary way we access the Inspection Results 

page but it is an example of how to use some PHIS controls. 

Some tabs and buttons are disabled (grayed out), e.g., HATS (Humane 

Activity Tracking System), Create/Edit MOI, and Create/Edit NR. 

16.Click the Activity tab 

17.Click the Recordkeeping radio button for the Verification Activity 

 A red asterisk means that the data entry is mandatory 

18.Click on the Findings tab. 

19.Click the Non-Regulatory Concern checkbox. 

20.Click the Save button 

 The Create/Edit MOI button is now enabled 

Note: Clicking the save button, saves data from ALL the tabs on the 

Inspection Results page. 

Note: Using the Non-Regulatory Concern box is the method of 

creating an MOI that is linked to a specific task, e.g., mistreatment of 

live poultry when found during the performance of the Good 

Commercial Practices (GCP) task. 

21.Click the Cancel button 

22.Scroll down to the bottom of the My Dashboard tab to see the Smart 

Links Widget. 

The smart links widget at the bottom of the inspector’s homepage provides easy

access to information pertaining to inspections. The text is underlined indicating 

Inspection Methods 6-4 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHIS Log-in, Inspector’s Homepage, and Alerts 

7/18/2016 

that this is a link to other pages or databases. They are called “smart” because

they are customized to the inspector role. The links do not work on the training 

laptop computers because there is no internet connectivity. 

23. Click on the My Establishments tab on the homepage 

The My Establishment tab has four widgets: My Establishments, Non-compliance 

Record, FSA, and Appeals. Let’s use the My Establishments widget to get 

familiar with some PHIS grids and their controls. 

. 

24.Click on the Red Arrow button for Holland Point Foods in the My 

Establishments widget 

25.Scroll Down and browse the establishment homepage information 

that is displayed. 

Note: The Establishment homepage can also be accessed using the 

left navigation menu on the inspector’s homepage.

26.Click the Home link bread crumb to return to the homepage 

 You are here: > Home > Domestic Profile > Establishment 

Homepage 

27.Click the My Inspections and Samples tab 

The My Inspections and Samples tab has three widgets: Inspection Agenda, 

Inspection Note, and Lab Sample Collection. Let’s use the Lab Sample Collection 

widget to get familiar with some PHIS grids and their controls. This widget 

identifies the sampling projects and provides a sampling history. 

28.Click the All Lab Submissions drop down list arrow to select the lab 

sample status 

29.Highlight and click Sent to Lab 

 Only the samples sent to the lab appear in the grid 

30.Click the Red Arrow in the left column next to the to review the 

details of the lab sample collection data 

31.Click the Go Back button 

The left navigation menu appears on ALL on PHIS pages for the CSI role. Menu 

items that have a down arrow will have sub menu links that access additional 

data. 

32.Click on the Down Arrow next to Establishment Profile in the left 

Navigation Menu 

 Sub-menu links are displayed 

33.Click on the Up Arrow next to Establishment Profile in the left 

Navigation Menu 

 The sub-menu collapses 

Inspection Methods 6-5 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHIS Log-in, Inspector’s Homepage, and Alerts 

7/18/2016 

34.Click Inspection Verification in the left navigation menu 

35.Click Select Establishment 

36.Click the Radio Button in front of Groveton Meats. 

Note: Anytime “Select Establishment” is a sub menu item, IPP must

select an establishment before clicking on any other sub menu item! 

IPP must click the radio button in front of the establishment they 

intend to select even if the radio is already selected. If not, an error 

message will appear at the top of the page. Only the Establishment 

Profile and Inspection Verification on the left navigation menu have 

“Select Establishment” as a sub menu item. 

37.Click the Memorandum of Interview sub-menu 

38.Click the Edit icon (pencil) for the finalized MOI. 

 The “Save” button is disabled (grayed) and a blue “Finalized” 

message is on the top of the page. If the MOI was not finalized, 

then the “Save” would be enabled.

39.Click the Red X in the top right corner to sign out 

. 

Inspection Methods 6-6