Welcome to the March issue of the Safety Suzy Newsletter!

This month’s updates reflect a safety landscape that continues to evolve across regulation, jobsite culture, and long-term health risks. New York City is adding mental health training to construction safety cards, while the EU strengthens asbestos protections and U.S. lawmakers seek answers about asbestos controls during the White House demolition.

We’re also seeing fresh research on COPD risks in construction, advances in lung-sparing mesothelioma surgery, and new evidence showing how environmental rules dramatically reduced lead exposure. Add in digital PPE fit tools, updated head protection guidance, and major EPA climate changes and it’s clear that staying informed is more important than ever.

Senator Jeff Merkley and Representative Suzanne Bonamici are demanding documentation confirming that proper asbestos testing and abatement occurred before the October demolition of the White House East Wing. 

Citing mesothelioma risks and D.C. regulations requiring permits for pre-2000 buildings, the lawmakers warn that airborne asbestos could have endangered workers and the public. They allege required safety records have not been provided and are seeking pre-demolition testing results, abatement certifications, air-monitoring data, and agency correspondence.

Construction deaths fell to 1,034 in 2024, 41 fewer than the prior year—bringing the fatality rate down to 9.2 per 100,000 workers (the lowest since 2011). 

Yet the sector still accounts for roughly one in five US workplace deaths and remains among the most hazardous industries. Falls led the toll (389 deaths, 38%), followed by transportation incidents (244) and exposure to harmful substances (187). 

While overall US workplace fatalities declined to 5,070, construction’s risk level continues to hover stubbornly high compared to most industries, reinforcing the need for sustained safety focus on persistent jobsite hazards.

Fungi recycle nutrients and sustain ecosystems, but some species turn dangerous. Over 1 million types exist, including molds and yeasts, and while most are harmless, certain strains contaminate food, trigger asthma, and cause infections.

In the US alone, fungal diseases cost an estimated $19 billion annually, lead to 130,000 hospitalizations, and cause around 7,300 deaths each year. 

Climate change may accelerate fungal adaptation to higher temperatures, increasing their ability to survive in the human body and raising the stakes for public health and hospital safety.

Head protection only works when it’s selected, fitted, and maintained correctly. On jobsites with falling objects, electrical hazards, or fall risks, safety teams should focus on four essentials:

• Use the right type: Bump caps aren’t hard hats. Type I protects the top; Type II adds side impact protection. Class E or G is required for electrical hazards.
• Conduct a hazard assessment: OSHA requires matching PPE to real jobsite risks.
• Ensure proper fit: Correct suspension, snug chin strap, and adequate clearance matter.
• Inspect daily: Replace after any impact, even if damage isn’t visible.

The Trump administration has revoked the EPA’s 2009 “endangerment finding,” the scientific basis for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act. 

The move eliminates federal limits on emissions from vehicles, power plants, and oil and gas operations, despite decades of research linking climate change to rising health risks and extreme weather. 

Critics warn the repeal could increase U.S. emissions, worsen public health outcomes, and trigger legal battles, while supporters call it the largest deregulatory action in U.S. history aimed at boosting industry and consumer choice.

A new study from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai reports that pleurectomy/decortication, a lung-sparing surgery for pleural mesothelioma, can be performed with very low early mortality in carefully selected patients.

Published in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, the research found zero in-hospital and 30-day deaths and a 4.2% 90-day mortality rate—significantly lower than rates reported in the 2024 MARS2 trial. 

Researchers attribute improved outcomes to rigorous patient selection, modern imaging, and surgical expertise. The findings reinforce surgery’s role within multidisciplinary mesothelioma care at experienced, high-volume centers.

Improperly fitting PPE continues to undermine safety programs and expose employers to OSHA violations. From modified safety boots to ill-fitting FR apparel and eyewear, poor fit drives unsafe workarounds that inspectors treat as employer failures, not worker misconduct.

Digital measurement and AI-driven fit verification tools are helping shift PPE selection from guesswork to precise recommendations. By capturing accurate body, foot, and facial data, employers can improve first-time fit rates, reduce modifications, and create auditable records that strengthen compliance defensibility during inspections and post-incident reviews.

If interested in posting a job opening, email us at [email protected] for rates.

EPA Lead RRP Courses:

• EPA Lead RRP 8-hour Course
  • Mar 25, 2026, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
  • Mar 26, 2026, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset

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
• 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
  • Apr 27 – 30, 8:30 AM – 5:45 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
• NYS Mold Refresher
• Apr 10, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Virtual
• May 8, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
 
• Mold Remediation/Supervisor Initial
  • Apr 27 – 29, 8:30 AM – 5:45 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
• Mold Abatement/Worker Initial
  • Apr 27 – 28, 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
• NYS/NYC Asbestos Supervisor Refresher
• Apr 7, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
 
• NYS Asbestos Project Designer Refresher
• Mar 16, Apr 14, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Virtual
 
• NYS/NYC Asbestos Inspector Refresher
• Mar 17, Apr 9, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, Virtual
• Apr 17, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
 
• NYS Asbestos Project Monitor Refresher
• Mar 23, 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM, Suffolk County
• Apr 13, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
 
 
• NYS Asbestos Project Sampling Technician Refresher
  • Mar 23, 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM, Suffolk County
  • Apr 13, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM, FEDTC’s Syosset
• NYS Asbestos Management Planner Refresher
  • Mar 17, Apr 9, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, Virtual

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!