Welcome to the September issue of the Safety Suzy Newsletter!
| | | | As we're approaching the first month of fall, we're bringing you updates on indoor and car air quality and protection against work-related injuries like head trauma, low-back pain and exposure to harmful substances. September is also Mesothelioma Awareness Month, a time for us to spread awareness about this devastating disease. Mark your calendars for Mesothelioma Awareness Day on September 26th, when we will come together to honor the lives lost, support those currently battling the disease, and reinforce our commitment to prevention by ensuring workers currently working with and exposed to asbestos know how to protect themselves. On a separate issue, if you have a driver's license from a state other than New York, as of September you need to keep a record of your New York State ID number. The DMV will have that number and the image stored in their system for future asbestos license renewals. Please follow their instructions and return the non-driver’s ID as per their request. You can find more info here.
Read on for more industry news and updates on our safety courses. | | | | | | OSHA Hearing on Emergency Response Standard Set for Nov 12 | | OSHA is reviewing the full set of hazards emergency responders are facing and wants to hear from the public. The hearing is set to start at 9:00 AM Eastern Time on November 12 and is planned to continue throughout the week. In addition to replacing its standard on fire brigades (1910.156), the agency wants to address major changes in performance specifications for protective clothing/equipment. The standard will also require employers to obtain baseline medical screenings for first responders and ensure continued medical surveillance when responders are exposed to the byproducts of fires and explosions more than 15 times a year.
| | | | The NYCDEP's Asbestos Control Program Announces Public Hearing | | The New York City Department of Environmental Protection Asbestos Control Program has proposed several changes to the current Asbestos Regulations (Title 15) which is published in the City Records. Above is the link to the proposed rules in City Records for review and to submit formal comments during the comment period. The public hearing on the proposed rule is scheduled for September 25, 2024. | | | | | | | Building Owners to Prioritize Emmissions Reduction by 2026 | | | |
State and local governments are imposing Building Performance Standards (BPS) which seek to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions across the U.S. Currently, 13 cities have implemented these standards and it is expected that by 2026 there would be over 40 cities that would do the same. Municipalities that have passed BPS to date include Seattle; Chula Vista, California; Denver; St. Louis, Missouri; Montgomery County, Maryland; Washington, D.C., New York City; Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Boston. Outside of penalty avoidance, owners should consider other factors, like: energy cost savings, the property’s net operating income, impact on property value, market demand for low-carbon workspaces and tenant attraction and retention. | | | | | SVOCS: Your Car Might Not Be as Safe as You Think | | | |  | | | Car cabins contain semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) which are not chemically bound to the material and open up a risk of human exposure under certain conditions. A new study looked at 18 potential endocrine disrupting chemicals in car cabin air (gas phase and airborne particles) and dust, and how their concentration varied based on temperature and ventillation.
The study found that heat and poor ventillation increased their concentration, so to limit human exposure it is recommended to ventilate a warm car before entering and have the ventilation on during driving. | | | | | | | | | Construction Suicide Prevention Week | | | | | September 9 - September 13
The week-long event is organized during the National Suicide Prevention Month which will include a national stand-down and moment of silence at 2:50 p.m. Eastern on Sept. 9. | | | | | | | ADAO's 20th Anniversary Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference | | The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO's) conference will be held on September 14th in Washington, D.C. The theme of this year's conference is “Exploring the Intersection of Asbestos Prevention, Policy, and the Law,” reflects the heart of the ADAO's mission. They will gather at the Westin Crystal City Reagan National Airport with some of the most passionate advocates, experts, and survivors to unite in our fight for a world free from asbestos. Befitting the 20th Anniversary celebration, this will be the first awards dinner since COVID, where they will gather to present awards and recognition to incredible and deserving honorees. | | | | | | | | Respiratory Protection Week | | | | | September 3 - September 6
Millions of workers across the United States rely on respiratory protection to keep them safe on the job. During this annual weeklong event, NIOSH highlights the importance of respiratory protection in the workplace. The organization also offers resources to help you make informed decisions when selecting and wearing a respirator. | | | | | | | What Happens to Recycled Materials? | | | | | Recycling rose in prominence in the past 50 years as an easy way for people to make a meaningful impact on environmental conservation. The practice has gained significant momentum by going from 6% of waste being recycled or composted in 1960 to a whooping 32% in 2018. Still, not all materials are the same when it comes to their recycling lifespan. Glass, aluminum, and steel are 100% recyclable, meaning they can be turned into new products indefinitely if they’re not contaminated. Paper, however, can be recycled only five to seven times before it becomes too degraded. Plastic is a different story altogether as most of the plastic waste in the U.S. is being exported to Southeast Asia (China until the ban in 2019, Malaysia and Viernam since then). Only 5% to 6% of U.S. plastics were recycled in 2021, down from about 9% in 2018 before China’s ban. | | | | | | | | | 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. | | | | | | | Mitigating Head Injuries at Work | | | | Construction workers are at an ongoing risk of head injuries, yet until recently there wasn't a clear study which demonstrates what headgear best protects against such injuries. The sports industry, in contrast, has been analyzing sportst helmets for years. Some leaders in constructon have already switched from hard hats, which protect the worker only from injuries from the top, to helmets which can sustain blows from different angles. Virginia Tech is currently conducting an 18-month study to better understand the types of head impacts workers sustain in the workplace and what's the best gear to protect against each. | | | | | Key Risk Factors for Work-Related Low Back Pain | | | | A NIOSH study has found that there are many factors which contribute to low back pain in the workplace.
Looking at 2015 data for more than 17,000 adult workers who participated in the National Health Interview Survey, the researchers found that the rate of low back pain was “significantly elevated” among those who reported: | | | | | | - high job demand;
- low control over their work;
- job insecurity;
- work-life imbalance;
- non-traditional work shifts
- physical exertion.
The study was published online in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. | | | | | | 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:
Sellers Required to fill out NYS Property Condition Disclosure Form by Chuck Merritt, President/LEED AP of Merritt Environmental Consulting Corp. New York Asbestos LinkedIn Group Recent Discussion:
Major NY nursing home operator accused of whistleblower retaliation. 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
Sep 12, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
Oct 11, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Plattsburgh - Nov 8, 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 Refresher
Sep 5, Oct 4, Nov 7, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Virtual
Sep 18, Oct 25, Nov 13 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset - NYS/NYC Asbestos Handler Refresher
Sep 14, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, IUOE - Oct 8, 7:30 AM - 3:30 PM, Northport Power Plant
- Oct 16, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Plattsburgh
- NYS Asbestos Project Sampling Technician Refresher
Sep 9, Oct 2, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, Virtual
Sept 17, Oct 21, Nov 12, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
- Asbestos Management Planner Refresher
Sept 5, Oct 4, Nov 7, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Virtual
Sep 18, Nov 13, 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, FEDTC's Syosset - Asbestos Contractor/Supervisor Refresher
Sep 16, Oct 22, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset - Oct 15, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Plattsburgh
- Asbestos Project Monitor Refresher
Sep 17, Oct 21, Nov 12 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, FEDTC's Syosset
Sep 9, Oct 2, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Virtual
- Asbestos Operations and Maintenance Refresher
- Sep 14, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, IUOE
- Oct 8, 7:30 AM - 11:30 AM, National Grid
Oct 16, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Plattsburgh - Asbestos Project Designer Refresher
Oct 7, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM, Virtual
Sep 19, Oct 23, Nov 11, 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! | | | | |
