Welcome to the July issue of the Safety Suzy Newsletter!
| | | | As fireworks light up the sky and the nation marks the Fourth of July, our country’s 249th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, the safety and health landscape is anything but quiet. This month brings sharp focus to silent risks, from rising secondhand smoke exposure to asbestos threats after storms. EPA and OSHA are stepping up with new tools, factsheets, and webinars, while legal and funding battles continue over 9/11 survivor care, school asbestos management, and the asbestos-chlorine supply chain. We also spotlight cutting-edge research on silica-linked lung disease, reveal data-backed safety strategies in construction, and track major shifts in the U.S. office market. As always, find our updated summer course schedule at the end. | | | | | | EPA Reconsiders Asbestos Ban Impacting Chlorine Supply | | The EPA asked a federal court to pause litigation over its asbestos phase-out rule to reassess provisions affecting chlorine manufacturers. The agency may revise worker safety requirements and consider whether parts of the 2024 rule exceeded legal mandates. Industry groups argue the ban disrupts chlorine production; labor groups say it doesn’t go far enough.
| | | | Secondhand Smoke & Vape Aerosol | |
The EPA has released a new factsheet highlighting the dangers of secondhand exposure to tobacco smoke, marijuana smoke, and e-cigarette aerosols. These emissions contain toxic chemicals linked to cancer, heart disease, and respiratory issues. The factsheet urges avoiding smoking or vaping near others—there is no safe level of exposure.
| | | | | | | | Atmospheric CO₂ Hits Record High | | CO₂ levels hit a record high in May 2025, exceeding 430 parts per million at Hawaii’s Mauna Loa Observatory for the first time. Scientists warn this milestone signals accelerating climate change, driven by fossil fuel emissions and amplified by El Niño, with levels now unmatched in at least 14 million years. | | | | Philly Schools, DOJ Delay Asbestos Agreement Vote | |
A planned vote on an agreement between the Philadelphia School District and the DOJ over asbestos management was postponed after federal officials said they weren’t ready to proceed. The deal relates to an ongoing investigation into how the district handles asbestos risks in schools, several of which have closed in recent years due to contamination.
| | | | | | | ABC Report Reveals Five Safety Practices That Dramatically Cut Construction Injuries | | | |
Construction firms that implement proactive safety measures see major drops in workplace injuries, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors’ 2025 Health and Safety Performance Report. Analyzing over 1 billion work hours from participating contractors, ABC identified five top safety practices: - in-depth new hire orientations
- substance abuse prevention programs
- daily toolbox talks
- executive engagement, and
- tracking leading indicators.
Companies using these methods reported up to 79% lower injury rates compared to peers. For instance, employers holding daily toolbox talks had a 78% lower Total Recordable Incident Rate (TRIR), while those with comprehensive new hire training saw a 52% TRIR reduction. The findings underscore the outsized impact of cultural and procedural safety investments on jobsite outcomes. ABC urges construction leaders to go beyond compliance and adopt these data-backed strategies to improve worker safety and well-being.
| | | | | Asbestos Exposure After Hurricanes: 10 Tips That Could Save Lives | | | |
As hurricane season begins, the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization warns that storm damage to older buildings can release deadly asbestos fibers into the air—posing serious health risks to residents, first responders, and cleanup crews. With asbestos still present in millions of homes and schools built before the 1980s, even minor damage can trigger exposure. ADAO urges prevention over reaction, offering 10 safety tips including:
Engage a licensed asbestos professional Avoid entering damaged older buildings Wear N100 masks and proper protective clothing Do not sweep or vacuum fire or storm debris Dampen debris before handling Avoid disturbing suspicious materials Dispose of debris properly Isolate contaminated areas Hire licensed abatement contractors Educate your community
| | | | | ‘Silicosarcoidosis’ Highlights Lung Risk for Silica-Exposed Workers | | | | Researchers have coined the term silicosarcoidosis to describe a granulomatous lung disease linked to long-term occupational exposure to respirable crystalline silica (RCS), commonly found in construction, mining, and stonework. A case series of 35 workers across the U.S., Israel, and Taiwan revealed overlapping features of silicosis and sarcoidosis, including granulomas and dust-related lung damage. Quantitative dust analysis showed significantly higher particle density in affected workers versus healthy controls. The study warns that small lung biopsies may miss the disease, urging clinicians to take detailed work histories when diagnosing sarcoidosis-like symptoms in high-risk professions. | | | | | 9/11 Health Program Faces Cuts Amid Rising Needs of Survivors | | | | Nearly 24 years after 9/11, the federal World Trade Center Health Program—vital to over 140,000 survivors and first responders—is at risk due to staff layoffs and stalled funding. Volunteers like Curtis Andrews, who developed cancer from exposure to Ground Zero’s toxic dust, rely on the program for lifesaving screenings and treatment. But staffing cuts and congressional inaction are delaying diagnoses, denying certifications, and putting lives in danger. Advocates, including attorney Michael Barasch, warn that a $3B shortfall could collapse the system, with some patients waiting eight months for care. Survivors like Vincent Caprio and Ira Bindman spent years getting certified, only to face uncertainty about whether compensation will come through. Despite bipartisan outcry, the program’s future remains unclear—raising fears that the country is failing those it vowed to protect. As Barasch puts it, “When you have cancer, eight months can be the difference between life and death.”
| | | | | Webinar Recording: Managing Indoor Air Quality Before and During Wildfire Smoke Events | | | |
The EPA’s new on-demand webinar, Smoke-Ready Schools, offers essential strategies for managing indoor air quality (IAQ) before and during wildfire smoke events. Designed for school administrators and public health professionals, the session highlights health risks to children—especially those with asthma—and shares practical guidance on ventilation, filtration, and preparedness using EPA resources and the new ASHRAE 44-2024 guideline. | | | | | OSHA: New Heat Safety Tools for Workers With summer jobs ramping up, OSHA released two new resources to combat heat illness:
- A fact sheet for young workers
- A five-minute safety talk guide for employers. The tools aim to raise awareness, prevent heat-related injuries, and encourage critical jobsite conversations—especially for youth, who face higher risks of work-related harm, according to CDC data.
| | | | | | | U.S. Office Market Shrinks for First Time in 25 Years | | | |
For the first time in at least 25 years, more U.S. office space is being demolished or converted than built. With 23.3 million square feet set for removal and only 12.7 million being added, the overall footprint is contracting.
Vacancy rates remain high at 19%, but rising demand, falling supply, and ongoing conversions—especially to housing—may stabilize the market and improve returns.
| | | | | 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. | | | | | |
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 30-Hour Construction Safety and Health Course
- Aug 12, 14, 19, & 21, 6:45 AM - 3:30 PM, Nassau County
Mold Courses: - Keeping Your Family Safe Mold Awareness - Online
- Mold in Construction Awareness Course - Online
- Mold Assessment Initial
- Aug 25-28, 8:30 AM - 5:45 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- NYS Mold Refresher
- Aug 8, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Virtual
- Aug 22, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- Mold Remediation/Supervisor Initial
- Aug 25-27, 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 Inspector Refresher
- Aug 15, 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM, National Grid Inc.
- Sep 4, Oct 2, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Virtual
- Sep 16, Oct 10, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- Asbestos Management Planner Refresher
- Sep 4, Oct 2, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Virtual
- Sep 16, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- Asbestos Operations & Maintenance Refresher
- Aug 20, 08:30 - 12:30 AM, Suffolk County
- Asbestos Project Designer Refresher
- Jul 28, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Virtual
- Aug 18, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- Asbestos Project Monitor Refresher
- Aug 1, Sep 17, 08:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- Sep 29, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Virtual
- Asbestos Supervisor Refresher
- Aug 13, 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM, National Grid Inc.
- Sept 15, Oct 23, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- Oct 14, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Plattsburgh, NY
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! | | | | |
