How Austin Public Health completes thousands of health inspections each year

In Travis County and some parts of Williamson County, Austin Public Health bears the responsibility for checking restaurants, pharmacies, schools and other necessary locations for sanitation in order to safeguard public health.

AUSTIN (KXAN) — In Travis County and some parts of Williamson County, Austin Public Health bears the responsibility for checking restaurants, pharmacies, schools and other necessary locations for sanitation in order to safeguard public health.

But with thousands of inspections each year, how does the task get done?

Anne Cline, APH environmental health officer, joined the department after 20 years working in restaurants.

"The main goal is to make sure that no foodborne illnesses are occurring and to make sure that the operators are complying with public health regulations. We also want to make sure that they're providing safe food... and people are safe, protecting public health," Cline said.

In 2023, APH completed more than 7,000 inspections. All locations that require a health inspection to operate must be inspected twice a year.

In order to accomplish more than 600 inspections each month, the agency employs Cline and 39 other officers. Cline estimates that an officer might inspect "four to five" locations in a day.

"We want to make sure that our inspections are not quick and easy and that we are very thoughtful about our inspection. So sometimes they can take longer, sometimes they can be really fast," she said. "That can back up or speed up the amount of inspections that we do. It just depends on the place."

The best way to prepare for a health inspection is for a restaurant to review any violations listed in a previous report from the APH and to make sure everyone working has the correct certificates.

Cline notes that the arrival of a health officer causes tension at a restaurant, but she wants the staff to know she's been in their shoes.

"I love the [restaurant] staff. I know exactly what they're going through and the stress that can be involved on a hotline, especially in the summer," Cline said. "I love what I do--just think it's one of the best things that we can do for the public. If you think about how people ate long ago, when foodborne illness wasn't even talked about like we're doing now, I don't think anybody would want to go back."