In our ongoing A Day in My Life series, Ceredigion County Council environmental health officer Owain Jones take us through what his job entails.

My work gives me an opportunity to meet and communicate with a wide variety of individuals and businesses in communities throughout Ceredigion.

Although it’s a challenging role, it provides ample opportunities for problem solving, which ultimately makes a difference to people’s lives.

I was once told that, during each day in the lifetime of every man, woman and child, an environmental health practitioner would have had an influence on their lives somehow; whether it is the standard of the home they live in, the safety of the water they drink, the quality of the air they breathe, making sure they are safe at work, the hygiene of the food they eat, preventing the spread of disease or improving their health and wellbeing.

Helping to ensure all these factors are addressed is why I enjoy my job so much.

I am part of the Commercial Services Team. We’re a small team of 11 officers who specialise in food hygiene, infectious diseases, health and safety and animal health across the county.

Being part of a team helps with knowing that you don’t have to face the challenges the role brings alone.

I’m very fortunate to be part of a fantastic team who are highly experienced and dedicated.

This is not a role in which you are isolated; I work closely with many different sections of the council, including legal services, licensing, trading standards, planning, education and corporate health and safety.

We also work closely with other local authorities and organisations.

Each day is like a box of chocolates; you’re never really sure what you’re going to get!

My background and training allows me to transfer skills to a wide variety of situations in order to carry out the duties of the council relating to both human and animal health protection.

A majority of my proactive work revolves around carrying out food hygiene inspections at commercial food businesses within Ceredigion.

These can range from small domestic cake bakers to large food factories.

Essentially, anywhere or anyone that produces food other than for their family will have an inspection.

I am responsible for providing the food businesses with a food hygiene rating of between zero and five.

Zero means urgent improvement is necessary and it goes up to five which means very good.

We benefit from the backing of strong legislation which, among other things, allows us to enter food premises unannounced. The element of surprise paints a true picture!

The majority of food business in Ceredigion are scored highly, with a large number achieving a Food Hygiene Rating of five, although there are of course the exceptions.

Any food business found not to be displaying a valid or correct Food Hygiene Rating sticker is given an on-the-spot fine (Fixed Penalty Notice) of £200.

Alongside these proactive inspections, I also undertake a lot of reactive work. This reactive work is what makes the job unpredictable.

See this week’s south papers for the full story, available in shops and as a digital edition now