Public Health Week Profiles from Previous Years

 State-certified workers clean up drug labs to protect public health

Greg McKnight has worked in public health since he was 22 and believes “...one of the core values of public health is to protect people from the things they cannot control.”

McKnight works in the clandestine drug lab program to certify private workers and supervisors who clean up contaminated properties after clandestine drug labs have been removed. Hazardous chemicals are used to make illegal drugs such as methamphetamine; the chemicals can contaminate structural materials, furnishings, wastewater systems, and soil. McKnight’s job helps give confidence to people in communities that there’s a process to help them after property has been used as a drug lab — and by making homes and other areas safe to reoccupy.

The state Department of Health clandestine drug lab program works with local health partners to provide support, worker certification, and information on the most up-to-date science available to clean up contaminated properties. Cleanup workers get yearly training on new technologies. It’s also an opportunity for them to tell the Department of Health about new challenges they face in the field.

Clandestine drug labs seem to have leveled off on the west coast in the past several years, still there are over 300 properties currently listed as contaminated in our state. The Department of Health still gets new lab reports each month.

McKnight started out in public health in Denver after getting a bachelor’s degree in biology at Northland College and then traveled to the east coast. He has been with the Department of Health over two years and enjoys all sides of public health from field work to management.

The east coast is now experiencing meth labs in their communities. They are able to draw on the knowledge of the west coast and share the valuable lessons learned. States, counties, communities helping each other — it’s part of those core public health values that keeps Greg McKnight energized about his work.