Welcome to the November issue of the Safety Suzy Newsletter!
| | | | As the election season is coming to an end, our focus remains steadfast on health and safety updates. First, we'd like to wish you all a peaceful Thanksgiving surrounded with family and friends. November is always a great month to reflect and appreciate all the wonderful things we have in our lives. Now, onto the news. A new ruling has been issued that instructs water systems to identify and replace all lead pipes across our nation in the next 10 years. The number of cranes in the U.S. and Canada is shrinking, but construction projects are still going strong. And EPA has shared some new updates on how to handle flooding from hurricanes. These are some of the topics you can read about in this issue. At the bottom is our updated course schedule for the upcoming few weeks.
Any questions, please reply to this email.
| | | | | | 3M Sells LeadCheck to Luxfer Magtech | | 3M has sold the formulation and trademarks related to 3MTM LeadCheckTM Instant Lead Tests to Luxfer Magtech Inc. 3M had previously notified customers that 3M was suspending production and sale of these products. LeadCheckTM Swabs are used to determine if lead-based paint is present on wood, metal, drywall, or plaster surfaces.
| | | | Lead Pipes to Be Replaced within 10 Years | | A new ruling has made it mandatory that water systems identify and replace all lead pipes across the U.S. within the next 10 years. Lead is a potent neurotoxin, and there is no safe level of exposure nor a known antidote. Service lines, which connect a home’s plumbing system to the water main in the street, are typically the most significant source of lead in drinking water, per the EPA. | | | | | | | OSHA Updates Comm Guidance on Communicating with Next of Kin | | | | OSHA has updated its instructional directive on how to communicate with family members after a worker's death. This includes updates to: - multiple definitions, including “next of kin,” as well as the addition of terms such as “national family liaison” and “OSHA representative”
- Ways to identify and the general order of next of kin
- The number of phases of interaction and guidance on how to determine next of kin
- The initial communication order
- Follow-up communications
- Post-inspection communications
- Final order/closing communication phase added to the interaction and communication order with next of kin
- Communication with the national family liaison
| | | | | Managing a Multi-Generational Workforce | | | |  | | | Employers across the board have a great resource at their hands, which can also be a challenge - a multi-generational workforce. Workers from different generations not only have different ways of working and learning, but they also communicate differently and expect different things when it comes to recognition. For instance, Purdue Global research shows that although phone calls or face-to-face conversations are usually the preferred forms of communication for baby boomers and Gen Xers, “digital natives” such as millennials and Gen Zers most often prefer using text messages, social media and instant messaging platforms. Learning follows a similar path. Jill Stabinski, a part-time instructor at the National Safety Council, says that while she uses different types of technology in class, she's also comfortable with printing hard copies for baby boomers who prefer a physical paper in their hands.
"It’s important to make sure everybody knows how to participate in the training, and I’m always striving to make training interactive and participatory," Stabinski adds. | | | | | | | | | Reminder for Amendment Requests into Engineering Services Unit The New York State Department of Labor has sent a reminder to file any amendment requests to [email protected]. | | | | | | | Fewer Cranes, but Construction Projects are Going Strong | |  | | The total number of cranes in the U.S. and Canada dropped 5%, or by 15 cranes, from the first quarter to the third quarter of 2023, according to an Oct. 4 report released by New York City-based consultancy firm Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB). While the majority of cranes are stationed on residential (37%) and mixed-use projects (31%), other sectors like healthcare, education and infrastructure are also driving significant construction efforts. Los Angeles has by far the most cranes in the country. Seattle, which has the second highest number of cranes, saw a 26% drop in cranes, losing 10 total. Toronto, on the other hand, has most cranes than any other U.S. city with 83 in the core area. | | | | | | | | OSHA: 50 Years of Whistleblower Protection | | | | | Five decades ago, OSHA was given the authority to protect workers against employers who didn't follow regulations and to help them recoup losses brought on as a result of retaliation. The Whistleblower Protection Program enables the awarding of back wages, legal fees, job reinstatement, and damages to workers who suffer misconduct at the hands of their employer. | | | | | | | Protect Yourself Against Hurricane Season | | | | | Hurricane Milton has wreaked havoc across Florida, causing incredible damage to infrastructure, people's lives and their homes. This is an incredibly sad time, but also an opportunity to remind ourselves of some of the other dangers hurricanes bring to us - floods and compromised indoor air quality. EPA has shared detailed guidelines on how to deal with flood waters which can be a breeding ground for a lot of viruses and bacteria. Some of the recommendations include: - How to stay safe when cleaning up
- How to clean and dry everything that got wet
- When is a flood cleanup complete
- a number of very useful flood cleanup videos
You can read to original email with all the links here, or you can visit EPA's website directly from the button below. | | | | | | | | | 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. | | | | | | | Deadly Fire in Brooklyn Set Off by a Lithium-ion Battery | | | | | This month, a fourth person died as a result of a fire caused by a lithium-ion battery failure. On October 16, fire broke out in an apartment building after the battery in a scooter malfunctioned and set on fire. Two people got injuried, however, a 69-hour man died as the scooter was blocking his access to the exit door. "That's a message that we've been pushing out from the start - do not put these devices between you and the front door. You have to have a plan, make sure you can get out," says FDNY Chief Fire Marshal Dan Flynn.
Fire officials added the lithium-ion battery was purchased online and did not appear to be a certified device. They also stressed the importance of calling 911 right away and making sure smoke detectors are in working order; fire officials said there were no smoke alarms in the apartment where the fire broke out. | | | | | | | | 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:
FED Celebrates 36 Years in Business New York Asbestos LinkedIn Group Recent Discussion:
Important Information on "Updated AIHA White Paper on Mold and Dampness in the Built Environment". 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
Dec 13, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Virtual
- Jan 9, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's 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 Initial
Nov 25-27, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset - Asbestos Inspector Refresher
Dec 3, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Virtual
Nov 13 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
Dec 20, 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM, National Grid Inc. - NYS/NYC Asbestos Handler Refresher
Nov 18, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
Dec 14, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, IUOE - NYS Asbestos Project Sampling Technician Refresher
Nov 12, Dec 18, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- Asbestos Management Planner Refresher
Nov 13, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, FEDTC's Syosset - Dec 3, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Virtual
- Asbestos Supervisor Refresher
Nov 21, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
Dec 19, 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM, National Grid Inc. - Asbestos Project Monitor Refresher
Nov 12, Dec 18, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset - Asbestos Operations and Maintenance Refresher
Nov 18, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
Dec 14, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, IUOE - Asbestos Project Designer Refresher
Dec 2, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Virtual - Dec 16, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
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! | | | | |
