RINCON — Running a restaurant is a tough job. Making sure it is safe for customers is also challenging.

Darrell O’Neal, the environmental health manager for the Coastal Health District of Georgia, recently discussed the details of a health inspector’s job with the Effingham Herald.

“Our main goal is to prevent foodborne illnesses,” he said. “By inspecting food service facilities for proper food preparation, employee actions and good retail practices, we determine if there is a risk of illness. The bottom line is — we perform inspections to protect the public’s health.”

The Effingham County Health Department conducts inspections on restaurants at least two times a year, according to O’Neal. The nature of each inspection remains a surprise in order to gather an unbiased and accurate picture of employee practices, he said.

See the Nov. 8 edition of the Effingham Herald for more details.