Welcome to the February issue of the Safety Suzy Newsletter!
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This Valentine’s season, we’re spreading the love for workplace safety! The FDA has proposed stricter talc testing regulations following concerns about asbestos contamination in cosmetic products. OSHA has officially terminated its COVID-19 rulemaking in favor of broader infectious disease protections and restructuring regional offices to improve response times. The NYC DEP Asbestos Control Program Rules and Regulations (RCNY Title15 Chapter 1) have been revised and will become effective on February 14th, 2025 (Valentine's Day).
ASHRAE has released a new guideline on wildfire smoke safety, offering critical insights into protecting indoor air quality. Plus, FEDTC is proud to sponsor PACNY 2025, which will be happening February 27-28! Don’t miss the expert panel on asbestos inspections. Check out our updated course schedule and secure your training spot today. Wishing you a safe and successful year ahead!
| | | | | | OSHA Terminates Rulemaking on COVID-19 | | Effective Jan 15, the agency has terminated its rulemaking on occupational exposure to COVID-19 in healthcare. The agency plans to instead focus on completing its rulemaking on infectious diseases, which would protect healthcare workers more broadly. | | | | | | | | OSHA Restructures Regional Offices | | The Department of Labor has reorganized OSHA’s regional offices, adding a new Birmingham Region to improve operations in the Southeast. The restructuring aims to enhance worker protections and reduce response times to safety incidents. | | | | New ASHRAE Guideline for Wildfire Smoke Safety | | ASHRAE has released Guideline 44-2024 on protecting building occupants from wildfire smoke, available for free until February 11. The guide offers crucial strategies for maintaining indoor air quality during fire events. Access guidelines here. | | | | | | | | EIA Survey on the Role of Women in H&S | | The Environmental Information Association is conducting a survey to assess the current role of women in the environmental health and safety industry. The association is welcoming feedback from all gender identities who work in this industry at various levels and capacities. Responses can be submitted until
February 21, 2025 https://environmentalinformationassociationeia.growthzoneapp... | | | | | | | Save the Date: PACNY 2025 February 27-28,
Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York. FEDTC will be sponsoring the Professional Abatement Contractors of New York’s (PACNY’s) Environmental Conference again this year! In addition, Angelo Garcia, iII will be moderating a distinguished panel discussing the importance and differences of asbestos inspections (surveys). The panel will consist of Tom Laubenthal of TGL Consulting and the ASTM E2356 Chairman, Chris Alonge from DASNY, Marc Rutstein from Env. Consulting & Mgmt. Services, and Matt Brooks from IAR. This is your reminder to book your spot and not miss this important panel discussion. We've attended and sponsored the conference for many, many years and have found it to be one of the most educational and informative environmental abatement conferences. | | | | | | | Ancient Rome’s Lead Pollution Linked to IQ Declines | | | |
New research from DRI reveals that lead pollution from silver mining in Ancient Rome likely lowered the European population’s IQ by 2-3 points. Using Arctic ice core records, scientists tracked pollution levels from 500 BCE to 600 CE, showing how industrial activity has impacted human health for millennia. This study is the first to quantify historical cognitive effects of pollution, highlighting parallels to modern concerns about lead exposure. | | | | | NIOSH: Better Hearing Protection for Workers | | | | NIOSH now recommends individual, quantitative fit testing for hearing protection devices to ensure workers receive the necessary noise reduction. Unlike traditional estimates, this approach measures the actual sound attenuation a worker experiences, providing a Personal Attenuation Rating (PAR) for accuracy. With new fit-test systems available, employers are encouraged to integrate them into hearing loss prevention programs for improved workplace safety.
| | | | | Better Air Quality Boosts Workplace Creativity | | | |  | | | A new study in the CogFx Global Buildings Study reveals that lower carbon dioxide levels and optimal indoor temperatures (22–26°C) significantly improve divergent creative thinking among knowledge workers. Higher CO₂ levels were linked to reduced fluency, flexibility, and originality in problem-solving tasks. Researchers monitored environmental conditions at workstations, tracking CO₂ levels, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), temperature, and humidity while participants completed the Alternative Uses Test, a widely used assessment of creative thinking. The findings indicate that: - A 100-ppm increase in CO₂ is linked to a 3-11% decline in creativity scores, affecting the ability to generate unique ideas and think flexibly.
- Higher PM2.5 levels also showed potential negative effects on creative thinking, though sensor limitations prevented definitive conclusions.
- The 22–26°C temperature range was consistently associated with higher creative performance, reinforcing the importance of climate control in office settings.
The research underscores the importance of proper ventilation and air quality control in offices to enhance productivity, innovation, and overall cognitive performance. | | | | | | | | | New York to Launch Lead Paint Rental Registry | | Starting November 2025, New York will implement a lead paint rental registry for pre-1980 buildings to protect children from lead poisoning. The program targets 25 high-risk communities, requiring regular inspections and landlord compliance with lead safety standards. This initiative is part of a $120 million statewide effort to eliminate lead hazards, with potential savings of up to $327 per dollar invested in healthcare and education costs. Public hearings took place on January 8, with public comments open until February 23 via email, phone at (518) 473-7488, or mail addressed to DOH, Bureau of Program Counsel, Reg. Affairs Unit, Room 2438, ESP Tower Building, Albany, New York 12237. | | | | | 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. | | | | | | | 5 Overlooked Wintertime Hazards for Outdoor Workers | | | |
Winter safety plans go beyond hypothermia prevention. Key risks include:
- Dehydration due to reduced thirst and dry air.
- UV exposure from reflected sunlight on snow.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning from portable heaters in confined spaces.
- Incorrect layering of flame-resistant clothing, which can compromise safety.
- Cold's impact on fall protection equipment, like self-retracting lifelines, which may freeze and malfunction. Employers should ensure proper hydration, UV protection, ventilation, and cold-weather equipment checks.
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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 30-Hour Construction Safety Course
- March 11, 13, 18, & 20 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 Refresher
- Feb 14, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Virtual
- Mar 21, 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 Asbestos Handler Refresher
- Feb 19, 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM, National Grid, Inc.
- Feb 25, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, VAMC
- NYS Asbestos Inspector Initial
- Mar 25-27, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- NYS/NYC Asbestos Inspector Refresher
- Feb. 21, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, PSEG
- Mar 7, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- Asbestos Operations & Maintenance Refresher
- Feb 19, 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM, National Grid, Inc.
- Feb. 25, 8:00 AM -12:00 PM VAMC Northport
- Asbestos Supervisor Refresher
- Mar 3, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, CVPH
- Mar 14, 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM Bergen Point Treatment Plant
- Asbestos Project Designer Refresher
- Feb 18, 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM, National Grid, Inc.
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! | | | | |
