Environmental health workers are often the unsung heroes — those protecting the public behind the scenes.

From restaurant inspections and swimming pool checks, to smoking ban enforcement and mosquito control, environmental health encompasses it all, according to Stacey Harris, environmental health supervisor at the Beaufort County Public Health Department.

“We do many things in our office,” Harris said. “We do a lot of things that people may not realize.”

These health workers ensure the cleanliness of public areas, as well as the safety of them, and while they are technically county employees, Harris said they are also authorized agents of the state’s Department of Health and Human Services. He said many people are not aware that environmental health falls under the umbrella of public health.

In his 19 years, however, Harris has seen a lot of improvements within the health department, and part of that includes educating the public.

One of the most recent projects of which he is proud was an outreach effort to teach elementary school students about how to get rid of standing water to prevent the spread of mosquitoes — the “Tip and Toss” campaign.

Although much of the work is behind the scenes, the positive aspects of Beaufort County’s environmental health initiatives do not go completely unnoticed.

Harris was recently recognized for his hard work and was awarded the Trenton G. Davis Award for the eastern district of the North Carolina Public Health Association’s Environmental Health Section.

The Davis Award, named after a former professor at East Carolina University, is given to a nominee who “performed professional duties in the field of environmental health above and beyond the usual employment requirements, so as to elevate the professional status of the environmental health specialist — especially activities which impact public health in the Eastern District membership area,” according to a DHHS release.

Harris remains humble about such high praise, however, and attributes his success to having a strong team.

“I read through these, and I’m like, ‘Who did all this stuff?’” Harris said of his colleagues’ nominations. “You’re only as good as your employees.”

Tackling in anything and everything regarding public health, Beaufort County’s environmental health workers make it their mission to protect the public, contributing to the overall quality of life in the area and ensuring it continues for future generations.