Activities under the Healthy Environments standard aim to reduce exposure to health hazards and mitigate existing and emerging health hazard risks, including climate change.
These efforts include: collaboration with municipalities and relevant partners, identifying priority health needs related to the built and natural environment, and implementation of public health interventions based on local needs. Boards of health are also required to inspect facilities where there is an elevated risk of health hazards, investigate potential health hazard exposures, and respond to reports of health hazards.
Examples of data used to identify local priorities and influence program implementation include:
- From 2007 to 2017, the rate of heat-related ED visits in WEC ranged from 6.8 to 13.6 cases per 100,000 residents. Between 2011 and 2016, notably, the rise in heat-related ED visits correlates with the record number of heat days experienced during these years.
- Annually, between 2003 and 2014, there were 13 days (median) with smog advisories in Windsor and Essex County.
- The WECHU has approximately 690 seasonal housing accommodations that require inspections every 8 months, as required by Services Canada.