Future Environment OSH Asbestos Mold Supervisor Courses & Training

PACNY’s 27th Annual Environmental Conference: Insights and Innovations Unveiled at Turning Stone Casino, Part One.

August 29, 2024 7 Comments

Future Environment Designs, Inc. (FEDTC) was a proud Sapphire Sponsor at the 27th Annual Environmental Conference hosted by the Professional Abatement Contractors of New York (PACNY). Held at the illustrious Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York, on February 15th and 16th, 2024, this two-day event was packed with enlightening presentations, industry updates, and valuable networking opportunities. FEDTC’s Booth at PACNY’s Environmental Conference Day One Highlights: A Deep Dive into Environmental Challenges The conference kicked off with an array of expert speakers, setting the tone for an engaging and informative event. Ben Reich of Eurofins opened the sessions with his talk on “Interpretation of Laboratory Results: Complicated Considerations Challenging Mold Sample Reporting.” Reich’s detailed analysis shed light on the complexities of mold sample reporting, emphasizing the need for meticulous interpretation of laboratory results. Ben Reich of Eurofins Also opening the conference on the second track was Charles Merritt of Merritt Environmental Consulting Corp. who educated us with “PFAS: Primary Introduction, ‘What is all the talk about?” Merritt’s comprehensive overview of PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances are a group of synthetic chemicals that have been used in consumer products and industrial processes since the 1940s) provided attendees with crucial knowledge on this emerging environmental concern. Charles Merritt of Merritt Environmental Consulting Corp. Brent Kynoch of the Environmental Information Association (EIA) followed on the first track with “Compliance Chronicles: Understanding Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead Rules.” His presentation provided a thorough overview of the current EPA lead regulations, helping attendees navigate the intricate compliance landscape. Brent Kynoch of EIA Lisa Rogers of Mycometer and Frank Ehrenfeld of Eurofins collaborated on “American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM) Standards: Reducing Risk and Adding Value for the Analytical, Environmental, and Occupational Health & Safety Professional.” Their presentation highlighted the importance of ASTM standards in mitigating risks and enhancing value across various sectors, including analytical, environmental, and occupational health and safety. Frank Ehrenfeld of Eurofins, and Lisa Rogers of Mycometer

The Fallacy of Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM) Clearance Air Sampling, or 5 Reasons Why We Should Stop Using PCM for Clearance.

August 2, 2024 6 Comments

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) regulation introduced the requirement of clearance sampling after an asbestos abatement project was completed. Remember the AHERA regulation applies to schools from Kindergarten to 12th grade (K-12), both public and private schools. However, for all intents and purposes, the AHERA method serves as the industry standard when final clearance is performed for most asbestos abatement projects, especially when areas are to be re-occupied. The requirements for clearance are found in two sections of the rule: Response Actions; §763.90 (i) Appendix A (to Subpart E) – Interim Transmission Electron Microscopy Analytical Methods – Mandatory and NonMandatory – and Mandatory Section to Determine Completion of Response Actions AHERA allows final clearance air sampling to be done by phase contrast microscopy (PCM) methodology for projects less than or equal to 160 square feet (SF) or 260 linear feet (LF) by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 7400 methodology (Issue 3: 14 June 2019 is the current issue). For projects greater than 160 SF or 260 LF clearance shall be done by the AHERA transmission electron microscopy (TEM) method (requirements at 763.90 (i) (4) and Appendix A). Since this article’s purpose is to discuss why we should not be using the PCM method we will focus our discussion on this method specifically. An important point to remember is that the method was designed for personal sampling of workers in environments with actual asbestos exposures. AHERA adapted the method for clearance requiring that each sample must be less than or equal to a limit of quantitation (LOQ) for PCM of 0.01 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc). Over the years, it has become abundantly clear that the PCM method should not be used for clearance sampling. The top five reasons it should not be used for clearance sampling are: Size of the Fibers Analyzed The rules for

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July 23, 2024 6 Comments

Chrysotile Asbestos Banned? More Like Certain Conditions of Use Will Be Eventually Banned!

April 8, 2024 9 Comments

Many of you, as did I, read about the “Ban of Chrysotile Asbestos” and rejoiced over something long overdue. However, after reading this so-called ban it is obvious that it is not a ban. Just reading the title of the rule tells you it is not a ban. “Asbestos Part 1 – Chrysotile Asbestos; Regulation of Certain Conditions of Use Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)”. This rule is only regulating “certain conditions of use”. We would say the media needs a dictionary if they actually think after reading the title this is a ban. What is the definition of a ban? Ban is to prohibit or forbid especially by legal means (as by statute or order). After reading the rule, it is obvious this is not banning all uses of chrysotile asbestos, but banning or restricting its use in very specific industries. In addition, what about the other types of asbestos: amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, actinolite, or the Libby amphiboles? No mention of these there! Since this is not a ban and 40,000 Americans die annually from asbestos-caused diseases it is even more important that we Tell Congress to Ban Asbestos! The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) has developed a coalition of firefighters, public health, and safety officials who are calling on the public’s support in their decades-long fight to convince the U.S. Congress to ban deadly asbestos. Now, you have an opportunity to write your own message to US Senators and US Representatives to ask them to support the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act (ARBAN). This act would prohibit the manufacture, processing, use, and distribution of commercial asbestos in commerce – a known carcinogen that is still widely in use across the U.S. Make your voice heard on this link. It takes only a minute. Chrysotile Asbestos Before

That Time of Year! Conferences, Posting Requirements, and OSHA Violations Increased!

March 5, 2024 3 Comments

It’s that time of year again. We’re between conferences. February 15-16, 2024 was the Professional Abatement Contractors of New York (PACNY) Environmental Conference and the Environmental Information Association (EIA) National Conference & Exhibition is March 18 – 21, 2024. This year we have the honor of speaking at both conferences. We are speaking on the “Fallacy of PCM Clearance” in other words 5 reasons PCM should not be used for clearance. We are speaking on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at 1:00 PST if you happen to be in San Diego, California come down and say hello! We’re looking forward to arriving early and seeing the San Diego Wildlife Park and the Zoo, two different areas. Our speech was very well received at the PACNY Environmental Conference. If you would like to see the posts from the PACNY Conference visit PACNY’s Linkedin page. FEDTC’s Booth at PACNY Conference There are other things also happening at the beginning of the year. For example, remember to post your Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 300A if you have 10 or more employees, see last month’s post for more information. The 300A, which is the summation of injuries and illnesses your company had in 2023, should be posted from February 1st, 2024 to April 30, 2024. Also, remember certain employers must electronically submit the OSHA 300A information directly to OSHA by March 2, 2024. 300a Must Be Posted & For Some Must be Submitted On January 16, 2024, the OSHA maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations increased from $15,625 per violation to $16,131 per violation. The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations also increased from $156,259 per violation to $161,323 per violation. These increases happen every January 15th. This year’s increase was delayed because January 15th was a Federal holiday (Martin Luther King Day). Looking Forward to EIA’s Conference

It’s That Time! Remember to Post Your 300A Form and Electronically Report Your 2023 OSHA 300A Data to OSHA Using a New Login Procedure.

January 17, 2024 7 Comments

Every year at this time the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers with 10 or more employees to post the OSHA 300A form from February 1 to April 30th, 2024. Each year certain employers must electronically submit the OSHA 300A information directly to OSHA by March 2, 2024. If you remember, the 300A form summarizes the injury and illness information that was kept on the OSHA 300 log form. In addition, remember COVID-19 is a recordable and reportable illness if confirmed, work-related, and led to a loss of workdays (see below for a further discussion). It would be recorded as a respiratory illness on the OSHA 300 form. Because this is an illness, if an employee voluntarily requests that his name not be entered on the log, the employer must comply as specified under 29 CFR 1904.29(b)(7)(vi) and list it as a privacy case. OSHA 300A Form – Posting/Reporting Form If you need assistance in completing the OSHA 300A form we did a webinar together with Keevily Spero & Whitelaw on completing the OSHA 300 & 300A form. You can find the webinar here or watch it below. Remember covered employers are required to prepare and maintain records of serious occupational injuries and illnesses that occur at a workplace on the OSHA 300 log form. At the end of the year, covered employers are required to tally the totals on each column and enter the totals on the OSHA 300A form. The information should be used by employers to evaluate safety in the workplace and determine ways to eliminate or reduce hazards in the workplace. OSHA’s 300A form is required to be posted until April 30, 2024, and must be retained for 5 years. During the retention period, you are required to update the log to add new information regarding the occupational injuries and illnesses recorded on it. OSHA has a

Happy New Year!!!! Here’s to Hoping Your Holidays Were Merry and The New Year Will Be Fabtastic!

December 31, 2023 15 Comments

Happy New Year! Future Environment Designs, Inc. wishes that all of you had a Merry Holidays and will have a Happy New Year! This year was a little of a roller coaster ride for us starting with some ups at the beginning of the year, some downs at the middle of the year, and then back to some ups at the end! We like that we ended on a high note and it looks to continue into the new year. With us entering our 36th year in business we continue to adjust our offerings to meet your training requirements. Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center Starting in September 2024, individuals who have Site Safety Training (SST) cards that will expire in September of 2025 must take a refresher course to renew the SST cards (which expire after five years), That refresher course consists of a 4-hour fall prevention course and 4-hour supported scaffold user course that we are bundling together and will be part of our regular schedule. To read more about these training requirements for New York City construction workers read our blog post “Final Phase of New York City Training Requirements for Construction Workers Arrives on March 1, 2021“. We have teamed with All New York City Training to offer the SST refresher course and the SST initial course at our facility in Syosset or their facility in Ridgewood. We are also working with them to start offering the Environmental Protection Agency‘s Lead Renovator, Remodeler, and Painting (RRP) Course at both facilities, too. Bergdorf Goodman Window Display We continue to offer training throughout Long Island (we have a mold worker and remediation/supervisor initial course coming up in East Hampton), Plattsburgh, Rochester (we are planning a mold worker/remediation/supervisor/assessor in the future), Queens, and Manhattan. In other words, we will provide

Asbestos Floor Tile Debate Results

July 12, 2017 10 Comments

… … … This debate regarding asbestos floor tiles started at the Professional Abatement Contractors of New York’s (PACNY’s) 2017 Environmental Conference. At the conference,

New York State Mold Licensing & Minimum Standards Law Is Signed By Governor Cuomo

February 7, 2015 7:39 am

On January 29, 2015 Governor Andrew Cuomo signed New York State Senate Bill S3667D-2013 which will create Article 32 to the Labor Law. This article

When Do Asbestos Certificates (Hard Cards) Expire Under COVID-19? New Update: No more extensions!

April 24, 2021 7:30 pm

… … … This question is the overwhelming number one question we at Future Environment Designs (FEDTC) are being asked at this time. So, to answer this question we must remember that there are two agencies that regulate asbestos licensing and training. The license (companies are licensed; individuals get certificates) or more appropriately the asbestos certificate (hard card) is issued by the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL). This certificate expires annually on the last day of your birth month. Currently, NYSDOL is enforcing expiration dates on certificates. You may continue to work with your existing cards as long as it is not expired.

NYS Department of Labor Publishes Two New Mold Fact Sheets

November 21, 2017 7:03 pm

Since January 1, 2016, New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) was designated the responsibility of enforcing the New York State Mold Law, Article 32 “Licensing of

AHERA Bulk Sampling Rules and Other Requirements that Apply to Asbestos Surveys.

July 11, 2022 9:35 am

In 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responded to a question by the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) regarding the minimum number

NYS MOLD REFRESHER

Always thorough into the point

David S September 3, 2026

NYS ASBESTOS OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE INITIAL

Angelo was very informative and knowledgeable. He explained the material clearly, kept the class engaging, and made sure everyone understood the important aspects of asbestos safety. I would highly recommend him as an instructor.

Greg S September 2, 2026

Very dated visuals.

Dave S September 2, 2026

NYS Asbestos Operations & Maintenance Refresher

Nice job, good information 👍

Edward O August 27, 2026

Angelo makes the course interesting

Michael M August 27, 2026