In 1995, the procedure for response to calls from the public regarding emergent threats were reviewed. The review process indicated that some citizen reports which were handled as routine complaints should, because of the potential for serious public health risk posed by the situation, be classified as an emergency situation and responded to as such. The principal criteria used to make that determination is the potential or perceived health effects of an incident on the citizens in the area. Consequently, the protocol was written to include all incidents where people are reporting adverse health effects. In most of the response incidents, a responsible party is immediately identified and takes the responsibility for clean up.
Staff are available twenty four hours a day to respond.
In 1996-97, staff spent 965 hours on emergency responses. Almost all emergency responses are handled with one or two responders. In an incident which poses a major health risk or impacts a large area, other staff are called to duty. In such events the Health Director is notified immediately. Staff from Health Promotion and Outreach may prepare news releases and advisories.