Restaurants must post scores: Health dept. launches new inspection protocol

The Albany County Health Department is launching a new inspection system where restaurants will need to post the results of their health inspections inside their facilities. Restaurants rated Unsatisfactory must close until they fix violations.


Beginning on July 1, 2012, inspectors will begin using a new ratings grid. Ratings will be categorized as “Excellent Compliance”, “Good Compliance” and “Fair Compliance” depending upon the number and severity of violations found.


For example:

	Critical violations
Non critical violations	0	1	2	3+
0-4	Excellent	Excellent	Good	Fair
5-8	Excellent	Good	Fair	Fair
9-12	Good	Fair	Fair	Unsatisfactory
13 or more	Fair	Fair	Unsatisfactory	Unsatisfactory

All restaurants will be required to post the “Notice of Inspection” in a prominent, conspicuous location in their restaurant.

If the restaurant receives an excellent sanitary rating, it may post either the “Excellent” Notice of Inspection or it may wish to post the Notice that has all ratings on it with the excellent rating box checked. 


In the event that a restaurant receives a “Good” or “Fair” compliance rating, it must display the notice with the rating checked until a reinspection is performed. There will be one chance to improve the rating based upon inspectors’ time and availability to reinspect. The rating received on the second inspection must be posted until the next regular inspection occurs. 


Any restaurant receiving an Unsatisfactory rating will be requested to voluntarily close until a satisfactory sanitation level has been reached and the establishment has been cleared to open by health department personnel. 

The yearly restaurant re-inspection frequency schedule will be as follows:                 

Excellent Compliance                -           Yearly

Good Compliance                    -           Yearly

Fair Compliance                       -           6 Months

Unsatisfactory                           -           Checked within 1 to 2 weeks then rechecked in 3 months

All restaurant/catering inspections conducted after July 1, 2012 will receive a Notice of Inspection and owners/operators will be required to immediately post it.

Any violation of this regulation is a violation of the Albany County Sanitary Code and enforcement actions shall be inaccordance with Albany County Sanitary Code and New York State Public Health Law.  Pursuant to Public Health law, violations may be subject to a monetary penalty of up to $2,000.00 per day of non-compliance if an operator knowingly and willingly violated this regulation.

In the next few months, inspectors will be available between the hours of 8:30 AM and 9:30 AM and 3:00 PM and 4:00 PM if you should have questions regarding this new procedure.

Please feel free to call (518) 447-4620 and an inspector or supervisor will be happy to answer any question that you may have.

Questions? The Central Business Improvement District is interested in holding a webinar Q&A with the representatives from the health department to help answer your questions. Please call us to find out how to participate (518) 462-4300.