Welcome to the April issue of the Safety Suzy Newsletter!
| | | | As we embrace the spirit of Easter, a season of renewal, let's also renew our commitment to workplace safety and environmental progress. The EPA has extended the comment periods for key initiatives on PFAS, allowing more time for public feedback on draft water quality and sewage sludge risk assessments. Meanwhile, Moldmap app, launched in February, aims to enhance indoor air quality awareness, facilitating user reviews to highlight spaces with superior air quality. In workplace safety, a report highlights a worrying rise in NYC construction worker fatalities, pushing the need for tighter safety measures. Plus, a recent study shows big gaps in PPE compliance, calling for better training and fit for diverse body sizes. We're also marking the 114th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, a solemn reminder of why vigilance in labor rights and safety is crucial.
| | | | | | Moldmap App to Enhance Indoor Air Quality Awareness | | Invivus Technologies launched Moldmap on February 26, an app for rating air quality in various indoor spaces. Moldmap allows users to share reviews on hotels, rentals, and homes, highlighting the importance of indoor air quality. The app aims to raise $100,000 and incorporates insights from environmental health experts. | | | | | | | Former FDA Head Challenges J&J Talc Settlement in Court Over Asbestos Claims | | | | David Kessler, former FDA head, testified against Johnson & Johnson's $9 billion settlement plan, arguing the company misled the public about asbestos in its baby powder. At a bankruptcy trial, Kessler disputed J&J's claims of safety, suggesting the company concealed asbestos risks for decades. The case continues in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court as J&J seeks to resolve ongoing litigation. | | | | | From Hazard to Hope: Asbestos Waste in Carbon Capture Innovations | | | |
In Newfoundland, the toxic legacy of a closed asbestos mine may find a new purpose through carbon mineralization technology. Local startup BAIE Minerals aims to turn harmful tailings into tools for carbon dioxide removal, potentially transforming environmental hazards into climate solutions.
The process involves extracting valuable minerals like magnesium and utilizing the residual materials to capture CO2, which could be a significant step toward addressing both environmental contamination and climate change challenges. The initiative is drawing attention for its innovative approach to repurposing industrial waste while addressing public health concerns and regulatory scrutiny. | | | | | New EPA Compliance Guide for Workplace Chemicals
As mentioned in a previous newsletter, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has become increasingly involved in workplace exposures, developed workplace exposure limits (NCEL, EPA STEL, etc.) and respirator requirements. Earlier this year (January 2025) EPA released a compliance guide to assist companies with an EPA compliant workplace chemical protection program (WCPP). If you’re not familiar with the EPA WCPP, here’s what they say in the introduction to their guide:
“The EPA evaluates chemical substances under section 6(b) of TSCA to determine whether the chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, without consideration of costs or non-risk factors, including potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations, under the conditions of use. If the EPA determines that a chemical substance presents an unreasonable risk to a potentially exposed susceptible subpopulation such as workers, the Agency must then regulate the chemical under section 6(a) of TSCA so that the chemical no longer presents such risk.”
When appropriate, the EPA may make certain requirements under the WCPP more stringent than OSHA requirements to ensure adequate protections are afforded to potentially exposed persons in the workplace. The EPA also has established exposure limits for some chemicals under section 5 of TSCA. For example, an NCEL is a limit called New Chemical Exposure Limit and NCELs include requirements for respiratory protection. An EPA STEL is defined as a short-term exposure limit, which is an EPA regulatory limit on workplace exposure to an airborne concentration of a chemical substance, based on an exposure of less than eight hours. When another exposure limit is applicable (i.e., OSHA), they refer to the acronym ECEL (Existing Chemical Exposure Limit).
For a table of EPA NCELs click here.
To obtain a copy of the EPA Compliance Guide for Workplace Chemical Protection Programs (document number 740B24012), use this URL.
| | | | | | | Record High Construction Worker Fatalities in NYC for 2023 | | | |
The New York Committee for Occupational Safety & Health (NYCOSH) reported a decade-high fatality count of 30 construction workers in New York City for 2023. The deaths occurred in various scenarios, including accidents at JFK International Airport. NYCOSH highlighted issues such as staffing shortages at regulatory bodies and a potential halt in OSHA's rulemaking.
With the construction industry's ongoing risk despite advances in safety, the report stresses the necessity of stringent safety measures and training. It also points out the legal liabilities construction companies face under New York State laws, underscoring the preventability of many accidents and the legal options available to victims.
| | | | | Brooklyn's New Senior Housing Built with Speed and Sustainability in Mind | | | |
In Brooklyn's East Flatbush, a new affordable housing complex for seniors, Bethany Terraces, showcases the benefits of modular construction. Built from prefabricated units transported from Pennsylvania, the complex was assembled significantly faster than traditional methods, taking only 22 months to complete.
This process not only cut down on interest payments but also expedited the availability of housing for seniors, including those who were previously homeless. The building adheres to passive house principles, featuring ultra-low energy demand and the capability to run on solar power, aligning with sustainability goals and reducing utility costs. The project represents a shift towards more efficient, eco-friendly construction methods in urban settings, potentially setting a new standard for future developments. | | | | | Study Highlights Challenges in PPE Compliance Among Workers | | | |
A recent study conducted by the International Safety Equipment Association and J. J. Keller & Associates reveals significant challenges in PPE compliance among workers. Despite regular discussions on the importance of personal protective equipment, 75% of employers report reluctance among employees to wear PPE due to discomfort and perceived lack of necessity. The study also points out difficulties in training and fitting PPE, especially for women and varying body sizes. The findings emphasize the need for enhanced training and better-designed PPE to improve safety compliance in workplaces. A webinar discussing these issues is scheduled for April 17th to further address these challenges.
| | | | | 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. | | | | | | | Reflecting on the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire: A Century of Lessons and Challenges | | | | On the 114th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire, which claimed the lives of 146 workers in 1911, the importance of ongoing vigilance in workplace safety and labor rights is revisited. Despite historical progress spurred by the tragedy, including reforms in labor empowerment and women's rights, the fight against regression remains crucial. An anniversary program featuring historians and the voices of pivotal women from the labor movement highlights the continuous need for active engagement and organizing to sustain and advance workers' rights. The narrative warns against complacency, emphasizing that gains in social justice and workplace safety are not permanent but require relentless advocacy and action.
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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
- May 23, 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM, Northport Power Plant
- OSHA 30-Hour Construction Safety and Health Course
- Aug 12, 14, 19, & 21, 6:45 AM - 3:30 PM, East Meadow
Mold Courses: - Keeping Your Family Safe Mold Awareness - Online
- Mold in Construction Awareness Course - Online
- NYS Mold Assessment Initial
- Apr 28 - May 1, 8:30 AM - 5:45 PM FEDTC's Syosset
- NYS Mold Remediation/Supervisor Initial
- Apr 28 - Apr 30, 8:30 AM - 5:45 PM FEDTC's Syosset
- NYS Mold Abatement Worker Initial
- Apr 28 - Apr 29, 8:30 AM - 5:45 PM FEDTC's Syosset
- NYS Mold Refresher
- May 9, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- Jun 6, 8:30 AM - 12:30 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 Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Initial
- Apr 14-15, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM FEDTC's Syosset
- NYS/NYC Asbestos Inspector Refresher
- Apr 18, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- Apr 24, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Virtual
- May 2, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- May 7, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Virtual
- Asbestos Management Planner Refresher
- Apr 24, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Virtual
- May 7, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Virtual
- Asbestos Operations & Maintenance Refresher
- Apr 25, 07:00 - 11:00 AM and 11:30 - 3:30 PM, PSEG Long Island
- Asbestos Project Designer Refresher
- Apr 22, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Virtual
- May 6, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Virtual
- Asbestos Project Monitor Refresher
- Apr 21, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Virtual
- May 5, 08: AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- Asbestos Project Sampling Technician Refresher
- Apr 21, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Virtual
- May 5, 08:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- Asbestos Supervisor Refresher
- Apr 17, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- May 8, 8:30 AM - 4:30 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! | | | | |
