Beyond Data Management Podcast podcast

Available Episodes

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Why Inspectors Pour Bleach on Food (and Other Wild EH Stories) | Idaho’s Bonnie Waldemarson - Ep 31
Happy Tuesday, EH Nation! Today we head to the Pacific Northwest with Bonnie Waldemarson (Senior Environmental Specialist, Idaho North Central District). We dig into rural, multi-program Environmental Health: food safety, onsite septic, drinking water, and what happens when a caterer “cans” centerpieces (hello, botulism risk). We also break down that viral clip of an inspector pouring bleach on food—when and why that happens.You’ll hear about:How Idaho’s district model covers 5+ counties with tiny teamsWednesday coliform result sprints & rapid operator outreachCanning at a catering gig (and the rules operators miss)Mobile food trucks culture shift in rural townsWorking across state lines (WA/ID) and tribal jurisdiction (Nez Perce)Childcare licensing changes and what parents should ask“Education first” enforcement—and the rare times product gets destroyedBoat-access inspections in Hells Canyon (yes, seriously)👀 Have photos or videos for us to analyze on-air?Email: [email protected] — note if you’d like to come on to tell the story.⏭ Next week: our Season 1 highlight reel (final episode of the year). Subscribe now and make sure to not miss it!Chapters below ⬇️Chapters / Timestamps00:00 Cold open & holiday setup00:40 Guest intro: Bonnie Waltmarson (Idaho North Central District)02:05 Idaho’s district structure & small-team reality04:10 On-call drinking water: lab pickups, coliform timelines07:05 Rural distances, courier vs. long drives to labs09:10 Multi-program life: food, septic, land division, solid waste11:30 The “rustic wedding” canning jars story (botulism talk)16:05 Why inspectors sometimes bleach and discard food at events19:25 Temporary events: temperature control & realistic volumes22:00 Mobile food trucks: culture shift and compliance24:45 Border & tribal jurisdiction: WA/ID & Nez Perce Nation28:10 What the public should ask vendors & daycares31:00 Childcare licensing changes & media/PIO lessons34:20 Photo contests, using pics for training & reports37:15 Septic mis-installs, when photos beat words39:30 Field perks: boat-in inspections in Hells Canyon41:20 Wrap + how to submit your pics/videos to the showSend us a textPlease remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas [email protected]
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1:05:54
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1:05:54
Tattoo Shop Fails Every Single Health Code Standard
Fresh off the holiday break, we’re back with a field-level masterclass. Cameron sits down with Zach Barr (Registered Sanitarian, Toledo-Lucas County, OH) — a next-gen EH generalist who inspects pools, beaches, body art studios, housing, campgrounds, solid waste and more. Zach walks us through his NEHA photo contest shocker: a so-called “clean room” in a piercing studio with visible growth in the sink and the wrong autoclave for hollow instruments — and exactly how a clean room should look (hint: hospital-esque).What you’ll learn-Body art safety: pre-enzymatic cleaning vs. scrubbing, autoclave basics (why a drying cycle matters for hollow instruments), records, and consumer tips (how to find inspection reports or use FOIA).-Pools without the spin: automatic chemical controllers (clean probes → replace probes → calibrate), combined chlorine, and the correct UV → filtration → chlorination order of operations.-Ventilation or chemistry experiment? Why poor pump-room ventilation + acid + chlorine = corrosive salt “snow” and potential chlorine gas hazards.-Beaches & rain: how total coliform sampling, rainfall timing, and advisories actually work.-Restaurant reality check: we review a viewer’s fry-station photo (open drink, glove misuse, grease build-up, uncovered food) and discuss what inspectors look for.Chapters00:00 Welcome back, EH Nation02:00 Zach’s path: exercise science → QC micro → EH generalist08:30 Pool literacy: salt vs. chlorine, UV, controllers & maintenance17:10 Pump-room ventilation & “crystalized” equipment (don’t gas your building)24:00 Beach monitoring, rainfall windows & advisories28:40 NEHA photo winner: the not-so-clean “clean room” (what right looks like)39:10 Autoclaves for hollow instruments & documentation that matters46:00 How the public can check inspection reports (and FOIA if needed)51:30 Viewer photo: line-cook red flags & quick fixes58:00 Takeaways + how to submit your photosGuestZach Barr — Registered Sanitarian, Toledo-Lucas County (OH)Got a wild field photo or question?📬 [email protected] — tell us if you want to come on and explain the story behind it.Programming noteWe’re sprinting to the end of the season, then quick holiday break. Back on Tuesdays!Hashtags#EnvironmentalHealth #BodyArtSafety #Autoclave #PoolInspection #Chlorine #UVDisinfection #BeachWater #FOIA #FoodSafety #EHNation #HSGovTechSend us a textPlease remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas [email protected]
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57:42
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57:42
Beyond Inspections: Bob Custard’s Playbook for Environmental Health Impact - Ep.29
If “death by PowerPoint” training isn’t changing behavior, you’ll love this one. Cameron sits down with Bob Custard (past NEHA President; Environmental Health Leadership Partners) — a globe-trotting EH trainer who’s worked on everything from MLB clubhouse food safety to global water & sanitation projects, and even won NEHA’s photo contest with a shot of a 1st-century AD public toilet in Ephesus (hello, ancient graywater reuse!).We cover:Why hands-on, scenario-based training beats lecturing — and the “Andy Griffith vs. Barney Fife” approach to complianceBuilding local Food Safety Advisory Councils that actually help (industry + schools + hospitals + consumers)Time as a Public Health Control (TPHC) in the wild (farmers markets & rib promos) and how to make it work responsiblyThe MLB clubhouse story: virtual inspections, performance nutrition, and preventing team-wide outbreaksKarst groundwater reality: mapping private well contamination with free lab & rainfall data (what spikes 2–3 days after heavy rain)Low-cost global wins: biosand filters, color-coded buckets, and teaching WASH where it matters mostThe Ephesus latrine: marble seats, running water, vinegar sponges… and what today’s EH can learn from itBigger vision, bigger impact: moving beyond “permits & inspections” to problem-solving and partnershipChapters (add timestamps after upload)00:00 Cold open & intro02:00 Bob’s path: geology → restaurants → EH → trainer/consultant09:30 MLB clubhouse food safety & virtual walk-throughs15:30 Training that sticks: hands-on, risk-factor focus, people skills21:30 Advisory councils that actually collaborate (not another meeting)27:30 Global work: low-tech WASH solutions that save lives34:00 NEHA photo winner: the Ephesus public toilet & graywater reuse40:00 Private wells & karst: using free data to map contamination48:00 Viewer Q: ribs at room temp, TPHC the right way56:00 Wild stories (colon hydrotherapy next to smoothies?!)1:03:00 Takeaways, links & how to reach BobGuestBob Custard — Environmental Health Leadership Partners • Past President, NEHA • AFDO instructor • Global Environmental Health Partnership founderContact: [Insert Bob’s preferred email/URL here]Callouts & Links (add final URLs)NEHA Environmental Health Leadership AcademyAFDO Retail Program Standards resourcesTPHC guidance (holding, logs, discard times)Private well testing & rainfall timing one-pagerPhotos from the Field: submit your inspection pics for a future episode → [submission link]HousekeepingKeep Summer Stevens’ father, Bobby, and family in your thoughts. 💙Thanksgiving break next week — back in two Tuesdays!Subscribe & shareIf you care about environmental health, food safety, retail standards, WASH, or just great stories with practical lessons, hit Subscribe and drop your biggest training win (or fail) in the comments.Hashtags#EnvironmentalHealth #FoodSafety #NEHA #AFDO #RetailProgramStandards #TPHC #PublicHealth #PrivateWells #Karst #WASH #EHNation #HSGovTechSend us a textPlease remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas [email protected]
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1:33:17
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1:33:17
Blocked Hand Sink, Big Lessons — NEHA Photo Winner Talks Food Safety
A handwashing sink…used as a shelf?! In this episode of Beyond Data Management - powered by HS GovTech, Cameron Garrison sits down with Marlene Johnson (City of Burlington, MA) - a NEHA Photo Contest winner and 20+ year Environmental Health pro.They unpack the viral photo, why handwashing still breaks systems, how Boston’s training pipeline launched her career, the unique “351 boards of health” reality in Massachusetts, and practical wins around CFPMs, food trucks, complaints, and consistent FDA Food Code adoption.What you’ll learn:-The photo: a blocked hand sink and the cascade of violations it revealed-Teacher not a cop: inspection philosophy that actually changes behavior-Massachusetts’ local Boards of Health model—benefits and headaches-CFPM coverage expectations, fines, and fair-but-firm enforcement-Mobile food pitfalls: hand sinks, hot water, hot/cold holding in motion-Complaint triage, FBDO follow-up (why 72-hour histories matter)-Training that sticks: 5 risk factors, multilingual materials, photo-based drills-Consistency gaps across jurisdictions & why operators get whiplashChapters00:00 Intro01:05 Marlene’s path: restaurant manager → inspector06:30 “Teacher not cop” & North End lessons11:35 Programs beyond restaurants: pools, body art, animals15:10 MA structure: 351 local boards & local regs19:00 CFPM coverage, fines & compliance24:45 Code enforcement cadence & frequent flyers29:10 Foodborne illness complaints: last-meal bias & callbacks33:00 Food trucks: sinks, temps, hot water reality37:10 Training that works: the 5 risk factors41:15 The hand sink as shelf photo - what went wrong & fixes47:50 More field stories (Crown Royal tea bag, missing sinks)53:40 Consistency & the Food Code adoption lag58:10 Optimism vs. worries for EH’s future1:02:00 Wrap & call for “Photos from the Field”Please Remember to Like and Subscribe:Subscribe for weekly EH stories + practical tech & training wins.Drop your wildest “What’s wrong with this picture?” in the comments - and send us photos for the upcoming Photos from the Field episode.--Cameron Garrison | Executive Director of Growth and OperationsCheck out The Beyond Data Management PodcastOffice: 704-317-2403Mobile: [email protected] Data ManagementSend us a textPlease remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas [email protected]
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Zombie Apocalypses & Green Funerals: Life as an EH Pro in the UK - Graeme Mitchell - Ep 27
🌍 Ever wonder in what ways food safety rules differ wildly between the UK and US?In this eye-opening episode of Beyond Data Management, host Cameron Garrison sits down with Graeme Mitchell, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Health at Liverpool John Moores University, for a transatlantic deep dive.What You’ll Learn:Why the US is “50 little countries” when it comes to food codes (and why the UK isn’t) The UK’s “Primary Authority” secret to consistent inspections nationwideCovid lessons: trust, hypocrisy, and the Boris Johnson party scandalFrom cholera pumps to mouse-in-bread nightmares: Graham’s wildest field storiesGreen funerals, AI in inspections, housing inequality, and the future of EH🎙️ Timestamps:0:00 Intro & UK vs US Food Law Chaos5:12 Covid, Brexit & Political Trust12:40 Graham’s Accidental EH Career18:22 The Invisible Profession & Zombie Apocalypses25:10 Mouse in Sliced Bread (Yes, Really)32:15 AI: Friend or Job-Killer for Inspectors?40:00 Green Burials & Death Avoidance48:30 Housing, Life Expectancy & Einstein’s Definition of “Environment”👉 Watch Next:“AI in Food Safety Inspections: The Future Is Here”“Green Funerals: Eco-Friendly or Regulatory Nightmare?”💬 Comment Below:Would you rather enforce in the UK’s uniform system or the US’s wild west?📌 Connect with Graham:Liverpool John Moores University | Search “Graham Mitchell Environmental Health”📺 Subscribe for weekly EH deep dives every Tuesday!Powered by HS GovTech www.hsgovttech.com #EnvironmentalHealth #FoodSafety #PublicHealth #UKvsUSA #PodcastSend us a textPlease remember to like and subscribe - and reach out to us with your stories and show ideas [email protected]
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1:25:24
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1:25:24