Welcome to the October issue of the Safety Suzy Newsletter!

This month’s updates highlight both the persistence of old dangers and the rise of new ones. Fall Protection has once again topped OSHA’s “Top 10” violations, proving how stubborn safety gaps remain after decades of awareness. At the same time, mental health pressures in construction are escalating, with anxiety, depression, suicide, and overdose exacting a devastating toll on workers.

NIOSH is warning of counterfeit respirators putting employees at risk, while extreme heat is now recognized globally as a predictable occupational hazard, prompting governments to act. Together, these stories underscore the need for stronger, smarter training and cultural change in the construction industry.

Read on for essential insights and FED’s October course schedule.

Construction is among the most dangerous industries in the U.S., accounting for more than 1,000 worker deaths in 2023, with 421 caused by falls. But the crisis isn’t just physical. Suicide rates among construction workers are nearly four times the national average, making mental health as urgent a safety issue as ladders and scaffolds.

Training should be the first line of defense, yet too often it fails: disconnected from strategy, not reinforced by leadership, or treated as a box-ticking exercise that never changes behavior.

At Future Environment Designs, we’ve spent 40 years proving there’s a better way. 

We align every program with OSHA regulations and your business goals, ensuring workers don’t just attend training—they apply it daily. By working directly with employees and leadership, we embed training into culture, career development, and operations. Delivered online, on-demand, or on-site, our programs help organizations protect lives and equip their workforce to thrive.

For the 15th consecutive year, Fall Protection – General Requirements topped OSHA’s list of most-cited standards, with nearly 6,000 violations in FY 2025!

Despite decades of awareness, the numbers show that basic fall hazards remain one of the toughest challenges on worksites. Training—or the lack of it—plays a central role. Fall Protection – Training Requirements also climbed higher on this year’s list, signaling that workers are still not getting the knowledge or reinforcement they need.

The message for safety leaders is clear: consistent, hands-on training and refresher programs are essential to closing these gaps.

Today’s young people are breaking under a world that keeps shifting beneath them. The old promise of the U-curve of happiness, where life satisfaction rebounds with age, no longer applies. 

Instead, today’s teens and young adults are growing up in the middle of a constant poly-crisis—living with the long-term effects of the pandemic, uncertainty from global conflict, and the disruption of AI that continues to reshape the world of work.

NIOSH is warning employers and safety professionals about counterfeit and “misrepresented” respirators that claim NIOSH approval but may not provide real protection. 

Key tips from NIOSH:

• Always check for a valid NIOSH approval label with the approval holder’s name.

• Avoid sellers using vague claims like “genuine” or “legitimate.”

• Scrutinize marketplace listings for price swings, “unlimited stock,” or missing contact details.

Suspected counterfeit products should be reported to [email protected] with photos, approval numbers, and seller details.

As the UN Headquarters in New York marks its 75th anniversary in 2025, it’s worth remembering that this symbol of global unity was born out of fierce debate. 

Modernist master Le Corbusier and rising Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer clashed over competing designs—Corbusier favoring a single block, Niemeyer envisioning open space and multiple buildings. The final plan, Proposal 23/32, merged their ideas after tense negotiations. Inaugurated in 1949, the headquarters remains proof that even rivalries and bruised egos can give rise to a lasting symbol of peace and international cooperation.

As climate change drives record-breaking heat waves, governments worldwide are scrambling to protect workers from heat stress.

Southern Europe halted outdoor work during afternoon peaks, Japan imposed fines for inadequate protections, Singapore mandated heat sensors and rest breaks, and U.S. cities like Boston now require “heat illness prevention plans.” 

Still, enforcement remains patchy, and vulnerable groups such as gig and migrant workers often face the greatest risks. According to the WHO, heat stress affects 2.4 billion workers globally, causing nearly 23 million illnesses and 19,000 deaths annually. Regulators increasingly view extreme heat as a predictable occupational hazard requiring permanent safeguards.

New CPWR research shows anxiety among construction workers rose from 12.6% in 2018 to 18.4% in 2024, while depression also increased. Suicide and overdose remain devastating issues, with 5,000 suicides and nearly 16,000 overdoses reported in 2023 alone. 

Cost barriers to care are worsening, leaving more workers untreated. Experts stress that cultural change is vital: workers may be more willing to support peers than seek help themselves, making “be the helper” a practical first step. CPWR urges contractors to adopt resilience training, opioid awareness, physician alerts, and mental health toolbox talks to foster safer, healthier worksites.

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 10 or 30-Hour Construction Safety and Health Course
  • Dec 8 - 11, 7:30 AM - 4:15 PM, Queens College
    
• OSHA 10 or 30-Hour General Industry Safety and Health Course 

Mold Courses:

• Keeping Your Family Safe Mold Awareness - Online
• Mold in Construction Awareness Course - Online
• Mold Assessment Initial
  • Jan 20 - 23, 2026, 8:30 AM - 5:45 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
    
• NYS Mold Refresher
• Oct 3, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
• Nov 7, Dec 12, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
  
• Nov 20, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Virtual
 
• Mold Remediation/Supervisor Initial
  • Jan 20 - 22, 2026, 8:30 AM - 5:45 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
• Mold Abatement/Worker Initial
  • Jan 20 - 21, 2026, 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
  • Nov 24 - 26, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's, Syosset
• Asbestos Supervisor Refresher
• Oct 23, Nov 17, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
• Oct 14, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, CVPH
 
• NYS Asbestos Project Designer Refresher
• Oct 28, Nov 13, Dec 15, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
 
• NYS Asbestos O&M Initial
• Oct 20 & 21, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, CVPH
 
• NYS/NYC Asbestos Inspector Refresher
• Nov 14, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Virtual
• Oct 31, Nov 10, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
 
• NYS/NYC Asbestos Project Monitor Refresher
• Nov 5, Dec 17, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syossetok
 
• Asbestos Management Planner Refresher
• Nov 10, 1:00 PM - 5:00 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!