Future Environment OSH Asbestos Mold Supervisor Courses & Training

The Fallacy of Phase Contrast Microscopy (PCM) Clearance Air Sampling, or 5 Reasons Why We Should Stop Using PCM for Clearance.

August 2, 2024 6 Comments

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) regulation introduced the requirement of clearance sampling after an asbestos abatement project was completed. Remember the AHERA regulation applies to schools from Kindergarten to 12th grade (K-12), both public and private schools. However, for all intents and purposes, the AHERA method serves as the industry standard when final clearance is performed for most asbestos abatement projects, especially when areas are to be re-occupied. The requirements for clearance are found in two sections of the rule: Response Actions; §763.90 (i) Appendix A (to Subpart E) – Interim Transmission Electron Microscopy Analytical Methods – Mandatory and NonMandatory – and Mandatory Section to Determine Completion of Response Actions AHERA allows final clearance air sampling to be done by phase contrast microscopy (PCM) methodology for projects less than or equal to 160 square feet (SF) or 260 linear feet (LF) by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 7400 methodology (Issue 3: 14 June 2019 is the current issue). For projects greater than 160 SF or 260 LF clearance shall be done by the AHERA transmission electron microscopy (TEM) method (requirements at 763.90 (i) (4) and Appendix A). Since this article’s purpose is to discuss why we should not be using the PCM method we will focus our discussion on this method specifically. An important point to remember is that the method was designed for personal sampling of workers in environments with actual asbestos exposures. AHERA adapted the method for clearance requiring that each sample must be less than or equal to a limit of quantitation (LOQ) for PCM of 0.01 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc). Over the years, it has become abundantly clear that the PCM method should not be used for clearance sampling. The top five reasons it should not be used for clearance sampling are: Size of the Fibers Analyzed The rules for

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July 23, 2024 5 Comments

Chrysotile Asbestos Banned? More Like Certain Conditions of Use Will Be Eventually Banned!

April 8, 2024 9 Comments

Many of you, as did I, read about the “Ban of Chrysotile Asbestos” and rejoiced over something long overdue. However, after reading this so-called ban it is obvious that it is not a ban. Just reading the title of the rule tells you it is not a ban. “Asbestos Part 1 – Chrysotile Asbestos; Regulation of Certain Conditions of Use Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)”. This rule is only regulating “certain conditions of use”. We would say the media needs a dictionary if they actually think after reading the title this is a ban. What is the definition of a ban? Ban is to prohibit or forbid especially by legal means (as by statute or order). After reading the rule, it is obvious this is not banning all uses of chrysotile asbestos, but banning or restricting its use in very specific industries. In addition, what about the other types of asbestos: amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, actinolite, or the Libby amphiboles? No mention of these there! Since this is not a ban and 40,000 Americans die annually from asbestos-caused diseases it is even more important that we Tell Congress to Ban Asbestos! The Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) has developed a coalition of firefighters, public health, and safety officials who are calling on the public’s support in their decades-long fight to convince the U.S. Congress to ban deadly asbestos. Now, you have an opportunity to write your own message to US Senators and US Representatives to ask them to support the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act (ARBAN). This act would prohibit the manufacture, processing, use, and distribution of commercial asbestos in commerce – a known carcinogen that is still widely in use across the U.S. Make your voice heard on this link. It takes only a minute. Chrysotile Asbestos Before

That Time of Year! Conferences, Posting Requirements, and OSHA Violations Increased!

March 5, 2024 3 Comments

It’s that time of year again. We’re between conferences. February 15-16, 2024 was the Professional Abatement Contractors of New York (PACNY) Environmental Conference and the Environmental Information Association (EIA) National Conference & Exhibition is March 18 – 21, 2024. This year we have the honor of speaking at both conferences. We are speaking on the “Fallacy of PCM Clearance” in other words 5 reasons PCM should not be used for clearance. We are speaking on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at 1:00 PST if you happen to be in San Diego, California come down and say hello! We’re looking forward to arriving early and seeing the San Diego Wildlife Park and the Zoo, two different areas. Our speech was very well received at the PACNY Environmental Conference. If you would like to see the posts from the PACNY Conference visit PACNY’s Linkedin page. FEDTC’s Booth at PACNY Conference There are other things also happening at the beginning of the year. For example, remember to post your Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 300A if you have 10 or more employees, see last month’s post for more information. The 300A, which is the summation of injuries and illnesses your company had in 2023, should be posted from February 1st, 2024 to April 30, 2024. Also, remember certain employers must electronically submit the OSHA 300A information directly to OSHA by March 2, 2024. 300a Must Be Posted & For Some Must be Submitted On January 16, 2024, the OSHA maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations increased from $15,625 per violation to $16,131 per violation. The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations also increased from $156,259 per violation to $161,323 per violation. These increases happen every January 15th. This year’s increase was delayed because January 15th was a Federal holiday (Martin Luther King Day). Looking Forward to EIA’s Conference

It’s That Time! Remember to Post Your 300A Form and Electronically Report Your 2023 OSHA 300A Data to OSHA Using a New Login Procedure.

January 17, 2024 7 Comments

Every year at this time the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires employers with 10 or more employees to post the OSHA 300A form from February 1 to April 30th, 2024. Each year certain employers must electronically submit the OSHA 300A information directly to OSHA by March 2, 2024. If you remember, the 300A form summarizes the injury and illness information that was kept on the OSHA 300 log form. In addition, remember COVID-19 is a recordable and reportable illness if confirmed, work-related, and led to a loss of workdays (see below for a further discussion). It would be recorded as a respiratory illness on the OSHA 300 form. Because this is an illness, if an employee voluntarily requests that his name not be entered on the log, the employer must comply as specified under 29 CFR 1904.29(b)(7)(vi) and list it as a privacy case. OSHA 300A Form – Posting/Reporting Form If you need assistance in completing the OSHA 300A form we did a webinar together with Keevily Spero & Whitelaw on completing the OSHA 300 & 300A form. You can find the webinar here or watch it below. Remember covered employers are required to prepare and maintain records of serious occupational injuries and illnesses that occur at a workplace on the OSHA 300 log form. At the end of the year, covered employers are required to tally the totals on each column and enter the totals on the OSHA 300A form. The information should be used by employers to evaluate safety in the workplace and determine ways to eliminate or reduce hazards in the workplace. OSHA’s 300A form is required to be posted until April 30, 2024, and must be retained for 5 years. During the retention period, you are required to update the log to add new information regarding the occupational injuries and illnesses recorded on it. OSHA has a

Happy New Year!!!! Here’s to Hoping Your Holidays Were Merry and The New Year Will Be Fabtastic!

December 31, 2023 14 Comments

Happy New Year! Future Environment Designs, Inc. wishes that all of you had a Merry Holidays and will have a Happy New Year! This year was a little of a roller coaster ride for us starting with some ups at the beginning of the year, some downs at the middle of the year, and then back to some ups at the end! We like that we ended on a high note and it looks to continue into the new year. With us entering our 36th year in business we continue to adjust our offerings to meet your training requirements. Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center Starting in September 2024, individuals who have Site Safety Training (SST) cards that will expire in September of 2025 must take a refresher course to renew the SST cards (which expire after five years), That refresher course consists of a 4-hour fall prevention course and 4-hour supported scaffold user course that we are bundling together and will be part of our regular schedule. To read more about these training requirements for New York City construction workers read our blog post “Final Phase of New York City Training Requirements for Construction Workers Arrives on March 1, 2021“. We have teamed with All New York City Training to offer the SST refresher course and the SST initial course at our facility in Syosset or their facility in Ridgewood. We are also working with them to start offering the Environmental Protection Agency‘s Lead Renovator, Remodeler, and Painting (RRP) Course at both facilities, too. Bergdorf Goodman Window Display We continue to offer training throughout Long Island (we have a mold worker and remediation/supervisor initial course coming up in East Hampton), Plattsburgh, Rochester (we are planning a mold worker/remediation/supervisor/assessor in the future), Queens, and Manhattan. In other words, we will provide

Save the Date for PACNY’s 2024 Environmental Conference February 15-16, 2024!

November 27, 2023 4 Comments

The Professional Abatement Contractors of New York (PACNY) have announced the dates for next year’s Annual Environmental Conference. The Environmental Conference will be held on February 15th & 16th, 2024 at the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, New York. We are looking forward to attending the premier conference for the New York asbestos abatement industry. Dale Chihuly’s sculpture “Tree of Peace” This year we have been part of the Conference Committee and it has been working hard (as in past years) to make this conference better than last year! The Keynote Speaker of the conference this year is: Michael Rubin OSHA Attorney at Ogletree He is a shareholder and OSHA lawyer at Ogletree Deakins, a premier labor and employment defense firm with offices worldwide. He has over 20 years of experience and focuses his practice exclusively on handling OSHA matters nationwide in federal and state-plan jurisdictions. He has handled OSHA matters in over 30 states, including construction and environmental contractors. He is also a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), demonstrating his knowledge and commitment to occupational safety and health. “My mission is to help employers protect their workers, their businesses, and their reputations from OSHA inspections, citations, and enforcement actions. I guide employers through the OSHA inspection process, from the opening conference to the closing conference, and assert their rights and interests at every stage. I also contest and litigate OSHA citations, including through trial, and develop and audit safety programs and policies. I counsel employers on risk-management strategies and best practices to ensure compliance and prevent accidents. I am passionate about delivering effective and efficient OSHA defense solutions to my clients and staying updated on the latest OSHA developments and trends.” The conference will start at 8:00 AM on Thursday, February 15, 2024, with multiple sessions by Industry

Asbestos Floor Tile Debate Results

July 12, 2017 9 Comments

… … … This debate regarding asbestos floor tiles started at the Professional Abatement Contractors of New York’s (PACNY’s) 2017 Environmental Conference. At the conference,