| | Welcome to the December issue of the Safety Suzy Newsletter! | | | | | As we reflect on this season of gratitude, we’re reminded to appreciate the workers, safety professionals, and community leaders who keep our workplaces and environments healthy throughout the year. This month’s updates bring important insights, from rising concerns about aggressive driving and new research on indoor air quality to emerging dementia risks linked to air pollution. We’re also celebrating FED’s own Angelo Garcia III, honored with the 2025 GreenBIZ Award for his decades of leadership in sustainability and safety. 🎧 Don’t miss After the Refresher, our YouTube podcast hosted by Angelo Garcia III, where we dive deeper into asbestos, mold, and OSHA compliance. We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and are gearing up for a safe, festive season ahead. | | | | | | 96% of Drivers Admit to Aggressive Driving | | | A new AAA survey shows that nearly all U.S. drivers have acted aggressively on the road in the past year, with over 10% admitting to violent behaviors like confronting or threatening other motorists. Stress, rushing, and retaliation fuel these actions. AAA urges calmer driving habits and warns that aggressive driving fuels aggression in other drivers around you. | | | | Classroom 3D Printers Raise Air Pollutants, but Health Risks Stay Low | | | A new CIRI and Khaos Foundation study finds that classroom 3D printers can temporarily increase ultrafine particles and VOCs, especially with ABS and poor ventilation. However, levels stayed well below health standards when low-emitting printers were used. Researchers say proper ventilation, maintenance, and monitoring keep indoor air safe for students and teachers. | | | | | | | Celebrating Sustainability: The 2025 HERALD GreenBIZ Awards | | | | | We are proud to announce that Angelo Garcia, III at FED has been selected as an honoree for the inaugural HERALD GreenBIZ Awards, recognizing leaders who have made significant contributions to environmental stewardship and sustainable business innovation. This prestigious award celebrates our decades-long impact in advancing eco-friendly practices, championing workplace health and safety, and shaping Long Island’s commitment to sustainability. | | | | | Key Takeaways from Safety+Health’s November 2025 Issue | | | | | The November 2025 Safety+Health issue highlights strong salary growth for EHS professionals and new guidance for preventing serious incidents. Top median salaries appear in Utilities ($128k), Consulting ($120k), and Construction ($119k), with Directors earning $130k. Master’s degree holders reach $122k, and supervising staff boosts pay to $120k. New ASTM standards urge focusing on critical-risk reduction rather than injury rates alone. The issue also reinforces lifesaving emergency skills, from FAST stroke recognition to naloxone use for overdoses. Research shows adaptable safety leadership and high workplace social capital can significantly cut injuries, while silica exposure and combustible material violations remain key hazards.
| | | | | Two Decades of Mesothelioma: Who’s Most at Risk? | | | | | A new retrospective study using CDC WONDER data tracks mesothelioma trends in the United States from 1999 to 2020. Incidence rose steadily until peaking in 2011, then gradually declined, mirroring the long-term impact of asbestos regulations. The disease was far more common in adults 75+, men, and White populations. Older adults showed the highest crude rate (7.97 per 100,000), while men had over three times the incidence of women. Despite overall declines, the study underscores mesothelioma’s severe prognosis and long latency, reinforcing the need for targeted prevention, continued asbestos control, and improved screening for high-risk groups. | | | | | The Right Gloves to Save Hands | | | | | Safety gloves only work when workers actually wear them, and comfort, material, and task fit all play a major role. Glove 101 breaks down the five main types: - Leather, prized for heat and abrasion resistance;
- String knit, offering engineered-yarn protection with varying gauges for either durability or dexterity;
- Mechanics gloves, built from layered materials for targeted protection zones;
- Chemical gloves, fully coated to resist specific liquids and chemicals; and
- Disposable gloves, commonly used in food and healthcare settings.
Understanding glove construction, hazards, and comfort helps employers select PPE that workers will wear consistently and safely. | | | | | Helmet Ratings vs. Safety Standards: Don’t Confuse the Two | | | | | The International Safety Equipment Association cautions employers that Virginia Tech’s new construction helmet ratings, while valuable, are not a substitute for OSHA-required standards. The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab recently evaluated 17 helmets for their ability to reduce linear and rotational head acceleration in severe fall scenarios. ISEA stresses that ANSI/ISEA Z89.1 compliance remains the baseline, with updated standards expected next year. Employers should conduct hazard analyses and choose head protection that meets OSHA regulations and matches specific jobsite risks. | | | | | Questions are mounting over whether the Trump administration and its contractors followed federal asbestos-safety rules during the rapid demolition of the White House East Wing. Sen. Edward Markey has demanded proof that required inspections and abatement occurred, as experts warn there’s no public evidence of proper safeguards. The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and medical specialists caution that even brief unprotected exposure can be dangerous. With polling showing strong public opposition, lawmakers are pressing for documentation and accountability. | | | | | The Air We Breathe Is Harming Our Brains | | | | | Growing evidence shows that long-term exposure to fine particulate pollution (PM2.5) may significantly increase the risk and severity of dementia. New research, including the largest autopsy study to date, links higher PM2.5 levels to greater Alzheimer’s damage and increased rates of Lewy body dementia. Scientists warn that these microscopic pollutants can reach the brain and trigger harmful changes. As federal policies roll back clean-air measures, experts caution that worsening air quality may endanger millions of aging Americans. | | | | | 🎙️ Tune In to After the Refresher!🎙️ | | | | | | Join Angelo Garcia III of Future Environment Designs as he takes you beyond the classroom to unpack the latest in asbestos, mold, indoor air quality, and OSHA compliance. From New York project phases and EPA bans to the ARBAN bill and new contamination guidance, this podcast keeps you ahead of the curve on regulations, safety, and industry trends. There are currently three episodes: - Episode One – Intro
- Episode Two – Interviewing John Paciulli of Insight Environmental
- Episode Three – North Country, Plattsburgh, NY
🔥 Stay informed. Stay compliant. Stay refreshed. 👉 Subscribe now to After the Refresher on YouTube and never miss an episode! | | | | | | | Advertise with Us (Help Wanted Ads) | | | | | | Use SafetySuzy10FEDTC at checkout to get 10% off of any of our health and safety courses. Don’t forget that our loyal customers get 15% off, so please get in touch if you’d like to find out more. | | | | | | | | Important Links | | | Upcoming FEDTC Courses (virtual, in-person, online). FED Creates Asbestos Air Sampling Tables That Can be Used In the Field or the Office
Order Here! ELEVATE YOUR SAFETY PROGRAMS with SiteDocs and Future Environment Designs. Contact SiteDocs here. “Do As I Say, Not As I Did! What I’ve Learned After 30-Years of Being in Business” – book by Angelo Garcia III
Order Here! FEDTC Training Library: Click Here to access our Library.
Additional Resources
FEDTC’s Recent Blog Post: Asbestos LinkedIn Group Recent Discussion: PACNY’s Response to OSHA’s Proposed Changes to Respiratory Protection Requirements in the Asbestos Standards (29 CFR 1926.1101; 29 CFR 1910.134). Join the conversation and become a member of a thriving group of health and safety professionals. | | | | | | | | OSHA Courses (Online & In-person): - AHERA/OSHA Asbestos Awareness
- OSHA/NYSDOL 4-hr Apprentice Asbestos Awareness (NEW) – Online
- OSHA Respirator User
- OSHA Crystalline Silica Standard for Workers
- OSHA Hazard Communication
- OSHA Hazard Communication plus NYS Right-to-Know
- Covid-19 Awareness Course
- Respirator Hierarchy
- Lead in Construction Awareness Course
- Mold in Construction Awareness Course
- Blood-borne Pathogen 4-Hour Course
- OSHA Lead in Construction Awareness Course – Online
- OSHA 10 or 30-Hour Construction Safety and Health Course
- Dec 8 – 11, 7:30 AM – 4:15 PM, Queens College
- OSHA 10 or 30-Hour General Industry Safety and Health Course
Mold Courses: - Keeping Your Family Safe Mold Awareness – Online
- Mold in Construction Awareness Course – Online
- Mold Assessment Initial
- Jan 20 – 23, 2026, 8:30 AM – 5:45 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
- NYS Mold Refresher
- Dec 1, Jan 9, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Virtual
- Dec 12, Jan. 16, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
- Dec 16, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, EMS Restoration Corp
- Mold Remediation/Supervisor Initial
- Jan 20 – 22, 2026, 8:30 AM – 5:45 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
- Mold Abatement/Worker Initial
- Jan 20 – 21, 2026, 8:30 AM – 5:45 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
Asbestos Courses: - AHERA/OSHA Asbestos Awareness Course – Online
- OSHA/NYSDOL 4-hr Apprentice Asbestos Awareness (NEW) – Online
- NYCDEP Handler/Supervisor Exam Prep – Online
- NYCDEP Investigator Exam Prep – Online
- AHERA LEA’s Designated Person Training – Online
- NYS/NYC Asbestos Supervisor Initial
- NYS Asbestos Inspector Initial
- Jan 26 – 28, 2026 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, FEDTC’s, Syosset
- NYS/NYC Asbestos Supervisor Refresher
- Dec 18, 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM, National Grid
- Jan 15, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
- NYS Asbestos Project Designer Refresher
- Dec 15, Jan 13, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
- Jan 7, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Virtual
- NYS/NYC Asbestos Inspector Refresher
- Jan 8, 2026, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Virtual
- Jan 14, 2026 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, FEDTC’s Syosse
- Dec 19, 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM, National Grid
- NYS Asbestos Project Monitor Refresher
- Dec 17, Jan 29, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
- Jan 12, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Virtual
- NYS Asbestos Project Sampling Technician Refresher
- Dec 17, Jan 29, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
- Jan 12, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Virtual
- NYS Asbestos Management Planner Refresher
- Jan 8, 2026, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Virtual
- Jan 14, 2026 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
For the most current schedule and additional courses, please visit Future Environment Designs’ website.
Please click on the individual courses’ link to discover more dates! | | | | | Don’t Forget Our Referral Program! If you refer asbestos, indoor air quality, or OSHA training to us we will provide you with a 5% discount on any training you book with us. This would be in addition to any other discounts we provide. Thank you to those who have taken advantage of this! | | | | |
