Welcome to the July issue of the Safety Suzy Newsletter!
| | | | The U.S. is going through a massive heat wave. The immediate culprit behind this is a heat dome that has settled itself over a large part of America from the Midwest to the Northeast. Below we share the symptoms of heat stroke and a live heat map to check the health risks of your area. Construction spending is in decline, but manufacturing construction spending is on the rise. Suicide rates among male construction workers are 75% higher than the general male population and efforts are made to curb this by normalizing talking about mental health issues more openly. Read on for more industry news and updates on our safety courses. | | | | | | Manufacturing Construction Spending up 17% in the past year | | Construction spending has seen a decline in the past year with commercial construction dropping 1.1% in April and remaining virtually unchanged in the past year.
Manufacturing construction, however, has seen a massive growth, giving the sector a much-needed boost. | | | | Why We Should Stop Using PCM for Clearance | | | Asbestos expert Angelo Garcia III of Future Environment Designs is at the helm for the Healthy Indoors cover story this week to explain the five reasons why we shouldn’t use phase contrast microscopy (PCM) for clearance. Learn about EPA’s AHERA and NIOSH’s 7400 methodology as well as what transmission electron microscopy (TEM) brings to the table.
| | | | | | | Artifical Intelligence is Taking On Workplace Safety | | | |  | | | In 2022, there have been over 5,000 work-related fatalities in the U.S. Workplace safety is, therefore, still an incredibly relevant topic as employers and health and safety professionals are trying to foresee and prevent work-related injuries and deaths. A new development in this area is the arrival of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) which can revolutionize workplace safety. From computer vision to natural language processing technologies, AI can alert workers of unsafe working conditions but also give workers the power to get better access to information in order to make better decisions. AI can also help workers receive hyper-personalized safety training that's tailored to their prior knowledge, learning style, and specific work requirements. Issues still remain, though, as people learn how to make the best use of this technology and accept the benefits AI can bring to the workplace. | | | | | | | | | PACNY 2024 Fishing Derby Returns July 10th 2024!!! | | | | | Join PACNY for a fun filled day on the water and some friendly competition with prizes, a trophy and bragging rights for the year!
Registration is open and boats are becoming limited! To reserve your favorite boat/captain, email Darren Yehl at [email protected].
For payment arrangements contact Lisa Brown at [email protected]. | | | | | | | Hurricane Season Has Arrived | |  | | The 2024 hurricane season has begun! Above-normal hurricane activity is expected in the Atlantic basin, with a range of 17 to 25 total named storms, including 4 to 7 major hurricanes. While forecasters are predicting below-normal hurricane activity in the eastern Pacific this year, it is still beneficial to be prepared. Here's how to protect yourself and your home before and after a hurricane: - Make an emergency kit and a family emergency plan.
- Cover windows with storm shutters and plywood.
- Know how to turn off your gas, electricity, and water in case you need to evacuate.
- Check your carbon monoxide (CO) detector's battery to prevent CO poisoning.
- Secure outdoor items.
- Designate a shelter area if you can’t evacuate. Rooms without windows are best.
- Ensure chemicals, such as paint, cleaning agents, and pesticides are secured or stored properly to prevent them from becoming released during hurricanes.
- For local information, listen to the radio, television, or your mobile news app, or check your cell phone for text alerts from the emergency alert system. Follow instructions from local officials.
| | | | | | | | Suicide rate skyrockets among construction workers | | | | | In 2022, an estimated 6,000 construction workers died by suicide. The numbers are hitting an all-time high as more workers are feeling the pressure of the job, but don't have the means or space to communicate how they're feeling. “In the construction industry, we’ve generationally been taught that if you talk to someone about a weakness or you’re struggling then you’re weak and you won’t get hired,” says Justin Azbill who worked as a safety director for a construction company during the pandemic. Azbill, was on the verge of taking his own life at one point, and now campaigns against suicide by encouraging workers to discuss their issues openly. The construction industry has one of the highest suicide rates among professions — with the rate among male construction workers 75% higher than men in the general population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. | | | | | | | | | 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. | | | | | | | EEOC releases anti-harassment guide for contractors | | | | In June, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released “Promising Practices for Preventing Harassment in the Construction Industry” to address bias within the building sector. In 2022, about six months after the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was signed into law, the EEOC held a hearing that probed construction’s culture of racism and sexual harassment. After a yearlong investigation, the agency issued a report in June 2023 detailing the continued prevalence of hate and bias on building jobsites, noting that construction stands out from other industries for “egregious incidents of harassment.” The guide lists five strategies that have generally proven effective in preventing and addressing harassment, along with detailed examples of each: - Committed and engaged leadership.
- Consistent and demonstrated accountability.
- Strong and comprehensive harassment policies.
- Trusted and accessible complaint procedures.
- Regular, interactive training tailored to the audience and the organization.
| | | | As big parts of the U.S. are facing blistering temperatures, experts warn against the risks of a heat wave. When our bodies overheat, blood rushes to the skin to help cool off the body, but that reaction can cause a cascade of bodily changes which can be fatal. | | | | | | Heat stroke is an increase in bodily temperature to 102 degrees or over without a clear source of infection. Here are the three major ways in which heat stroke can be fatal: - The digestive system—when blood rushes away from the stomach and intestines towards the skin, toxins otherwise confined to the gut area can leak out into the rest of the body. This can lead to sepsis and many other issues which can affect the whole system.
- The heart—when the blood rushes towards the skin, the blood pressure drops. This causes the heart to work extra hard to compensate and prevent us from passing out.
- Dehydration—our body needs copious amounts of liquids to shed off temperature via sweating. Losing too much liquid can strain the kidneys and progress into a shock where the organs start to shut down.
Heat can also cause confusion and prevent people from thinking clearly, further exacerbating the risk of death. Humidity also plays a key role in how our bodies respond, as even lower temperature of 87 degrees can be harmful if humidity is high. | | | | | Use This Live CDC Heat Map to Assess Health Risks in Your Area | | | |
In order to help assess your heat risk, the CDC has released a HeatRisk map tool that tells you the level of risk in your area today and throughout the week. Simply enter your zip code and select your location from a drop-down list. | | | | | | 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 Blogpost:
New York Asbestos LinkedIn Group Recent Discussion:
Chevron decision is major setback for the environmental industry! Join the conversation and become a member of a thriving group of health and safety professionals.
| | | | | | | OSHA courses (Online & In-person): - 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
Mold courses: - Keeping Your Family Safe Mold Awareness - Online
- NYS Mold Refresher
Aug 1, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, GoToMeeting
Jul 19, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- Mold Abatement Worker Initial
August 26-27, 8:30 AM - 5:45 PM, Syosset - Mold Remediation/Supervisor Initial
- August 26-28, 8:30 AM - 5:45 PM, Syosset
- Mold Assessment Initial
August 26-29, 8:30 AM - 5:45 PM, Syosset
Asbestos courses (check our website for the full schedule of upcoming refresher courses): - Asbestos Awareness Course - Online
- NYCDEP Handler/Supervisor Exam Prep - Online
- NYCDEP Investigator Exam Prep - Online
- AHERA LEA's Designated Person Training - Online
- Asbestos Inspector Refresher
Aug 7, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC Syosset
Aug 23, 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM, Suffolk County - NYS/NYC Asbestos Handler/Worker Initial
Jul 22-25, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Suffolk County - NYS Asbestos Project Sampling Technician Refresher
Jul 17, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- Asbestos Management Planner Refresher
Sept 5, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, GoToMeeting - Asbestos Contractor/Supervisor Refresher
Jul 15, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
Aug 22, 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM, Suffolk County - Asbestos Project Monitor Refresher
Jul 17, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- Asbestos Operations and Maintenance Refresher
- Jul 12, 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM, Suffolk County
- Asbestos Project Designer Refresher
Jul 16, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset - Aug 5, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, GoToMeeting
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! | | | | |
