Future Environment Designs Training Center specializes in asbestos, indoor air quality, industrial hygiene, and occupational safety training programs. We offer New York State asbestos and mold certification courses. We design, develop, and maintain the various indoor air quality, asbestos, and safety programs that are Keeping Your Employees Safe.
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Showing posts with label Environmental conference. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Environmental conference. Show all posts
Both of these conferences provide tons of information that helps keep our classes up-to-date. We are looking forward to several presentations that should provide information about some current issues such as "Managing Typical Regulated and Hazardous Wastes Generated on Abatement/Remediation Projects in NYS", "Asbestos Building Inspectors - an Open Discussion", "Exposure Assessments", "Asbestos-Myth Busters", and "What Your Injured Employee Think of You, Navigating the NYS Worker's Compensation Law and Related Benefits" just to name a few.
EIA Conference 2022 in Phoenix, AZ
We will have a table at the PACNY conference and we will be tweeting the conference using the hashtag #FEDTCPACNY. We will be selling our asbestos air sampling tables ($15 per table) and we will be selling and signing our book "Do As I Say, Not As I Did" ($15 per book) at the table. Come by and say hello! Sheryl Esposito will be womaning the booth as she has for the past couple of years. Our co-host for Two Guys Talking Pumps, Dan Crothers, the International Sales Director of FermionX maker of the Airbox Sampling Pump, will also be attending the conference and is also a sponsor. To know more about the Airbox sampling pumps see our YouTube video "Two Talking Pumps" below or visit him at his booth where he will have the Airbox sampling pump in person! Looking forward to seeing you there.
On Thursday, March 3, 2022, the Professional Abatement Contractors of New York's (PACNY's) 25th Annual Environmental Conference opened after a one-year hiatus. The conference was held at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York, and the hotel and casino didn't seem to change much, however, the Lodge had a new bar that was beautiful and was very peaceful. As usual, the service at the hotel/casino and the TS Steakhouse was personable and professional!
John from TS Steakhouse making the Gotham
The conference began with opening remarks and a conference welcome from Craig Kaputa, PACNY's President, Kevin Hutton, PACNY's Vice President, and Deb Sanscrainte, of Aramsco, Inc., PACNY's Conference Chair. The first presentation, "Tribute to Past President - Chuck Kirch", was by Joe Cantone, Colden Corporation, it achieved the right balance of somber, respectful, and funny. Chuck Kirch passed away in November 2021. Brent Kynoch from the Environmental Information Association (EIA) invited us to become members of the EIA and then updated us on what's happening at the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) regarding asbestos and the "Draft Risk Evaluation of Asbestos - Part 2". The last presenter before the break was Mark Gonzales, of Cornerstone Training Institute, speaking about "Cannabis in the Workplace". Since the New York State Cannabis Law does not define the term "specific articulable symptoms." Mr. Gonzales discussed the difficulties with assessing employee impairment from cannabis use, however, it is evident that an employer can act against an employee unable to perform their job duties or who poses a safety hazard due to their use of cannabis. The break was to let the attendees go see the vendors in the exhibit hall and get some refreshments.
Refreshments with the Vendors in the Exhibit Hall
After the break, the presentations began again with a virtual presentation by Tom Laubenthal, of AirQuest Environmental, Inc., on "Lead-Based Paint; EPA & Housing and Urban Development (HUD), A Review and Updates of Recent Changes in Rules". Mr. Laubenthal's presentation went through a host of lead regulations from EPA,HUD, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regarding Target Housing, Child-Occupied Facilities (both are based on pre-1978 construction), certifications, real estate transactions, and the different numbers and procedures for handling lead-based paint. The amazing part was that Mr. Laubenthal was able to fit his whole presentation within 45 minutes. Angelo Garcia, III, Future Environment Designs, Inc., was the last presentation before the lunch break. Mr. Garcia's presentation was on the "Trials & Tribulations of Training During a Pandemic" to see the presentation click on the link, which will take you to our dropbox folder on conference presentations (our presentation is in the 2022 PACNY Presentations folder). We discussed how the pandemic has affected our company and the training industry with supporting data from Ms. Karen Cummings, M.P.H., Director of the New York State Department of Health's (NYSDOH's) Asbestos Safety Training Program, and Mr. Chek Beng Ng, P.E., Professional Engineer, of the New York State Department of Labor's (NYSDOL's) Engineering Services Unit (A Big Thank You to the both of you!). A buffet lunch was served in the Oneida Room. In our next post, we will discuss the presentations after lunch! Until then!
We will be attending the Environmental Information Association (EIA) 2022 National Conference and Exhibition. It is being held at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Phoenix and it is also being held virtually. If you wish to register for the conference click here!
Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin West
Our love of Phoenix, Arizona started when we became a member of the American Council for Accredited Certifications (ACAC) Certified Indoor Environment Consultant Board. Our meetings were always in January/February time period which is an absolutely perfect time to visit Phoenix. The weather gave us a break from the winter of the Northeast. It's not too hot during the day and not too cold at night. Meeting members of the ACAC boards was a fantastic networking event! This year the ACAC was planning a meeting of the Boards, however, attendance by ACAC members was not as hoped. But we are still planning on getting together and will attend Adam Andrew's presentation in Session 4 - "Asking the Right Questions: Inbound marketing with professional certification."
Some of the ACAC Board Members we're hoping to see!
The EIA conference starts on Monday, March 21, 2022. The opening of the General Session starts at 8:30 am and the schedule for this session includes the introduction of EIA governance, a short presentation by EIA Managing Director J. Brent Kynoch, EIA President Steve Fulford, and EIA 2022 Conference Chairs Chris Gates and Vessa Roberts. This session also features the presentation of the 2022 Jack Snider Jr. Award and the EIA 2022 keynote address. The EIA's 2022 Keynote Presentation: "National Environmental Public Health Tracking: From Data to Action" Centers for Disease Control (CDC) National Centers for Environmental Health Environmental Public Health Tracking Program, CDC & AZ Department of Health Jena Losch, CDC, Public Health Advisor, National Center for Environmental Health and Hsini Linn, AZ Department of Health, Deputy Office Chief for Environmental Epidemiology.
We are looking forward to the Technical Program and seeing several sessions in addition to Adam Andrew's presentation. We are looking forward to Lee Poye's, Eurofins - J3 Resources, presentation on "Libby Amphibole, Talc, Erionite, and Other Respirable Elongate Mineral Particles – Nonregulated Hazards?", Dylan Staack's presentation "Qualitative vs. Quantitative Fit Testing: Understanding the Gaps in Your Respiratory Protection Program", Danaya Wilson's,CHC Training, & Tom Laubenthal's, Air Quest Environmentalplenary session on "Asbestos Regulation 101: Past, Present, Future", Michael P Menz's, CIH, CHMM, Indoor Environmental Concepts, LLC, Deregulated Asbestos Floor Tile Removal Using Dry Ice Technique", and Peggy Forney's, EPA - Retired, "Enforcement of Asbestos Abatement Projects." To see the entire schedule of events click here. We hope to see you at the conference and look forward to writing about the various presentations.
The Professional Abatement Contractors of New York (PACNY) have announced the dates for their annual Environmental Conference to be held on March 3rd and 4th, 2022. It will be held at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York. Visit Turning Stone Casino'swebsite for pandemic questions. To register for the conference or sponsor the conference click here!
Return of New York State Department of Labor Panel
Obviously, due to the pandemic, last year's conference was not held. This year's conference goes back to the original format of two days - Thursday & Half-day Friday. Thursday is usually the Professional Day and we're looking forward to the following presentations: a presentation by a New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) Inspector by Elizabeth Kirkland; The Evolving Role of the NYS Project Monitor, and a roundtable discussion by PACNY experts on mold, that will include Jack Springston of ATC. PACNY has asked us, (Angelo Garcia, III's, of Future Environment Designs, Inc. (FEDTC)), to speak and we will be presenting on the "Trials and Tribulations of Training During a Pandemic". We hope our presentation will be an entertaining look into trying to maintain a training program during a pandemic. We would like to thank Ms. Karen Cummings, M.P.H., Director of the New York State Department of Health's (NYSDOH)Asbestos Safety Training Program for providing us with data for our presentation regarding the number of asbestos training certificates issued during the last four years. We would also like to thank Mr. Chek Beng Ng, P.E., Professional Engineer, of the NYSDOL Engineering Services Unit, for also providing us with the mold training data, since 2015, for our presentation. With this information, it will be interesting to see the impact the pandemic had on training and in extension on the available workforce. After the last presentation, we will head over to the Exhibition Hall with the Vendors/Sponsors of the conference and network with the attendees at the open bar. Yes, that's right Happy Hour is back!
Happy Hour At the Exhibition Hall
FEDTC is one of the sponsors of the conference again and will have a booth in the Exhibition Hall. Ms. Sheryl Esposito is returning to be the woman at the booth. Come by and say hello! As we have in the past, we will be tweeting the conference. To follow the conference on Twitter, you can search for the hashtag #FEDTCPACNY or you can follow on our Twitter account at https://twitter.com/angelogarcia3.
Sheryl Esposito at the FEDTC Booth
Half-day Friday is Regulatory Day with the NYSDOL'sAsbestos Control Bureau usually doing a brief presentation and then doing a questions and answers session. One question certain to be asked will be when will the Fast Track Variances return? Mr. Ed Smith, P.E., Program Manager of the NYSDOL Engineering Services Unit will be expected to answer that question. This year we will have new people on the podium. Dr. Eileen Franco has retired and the new director is Amy Phillips. Mr. Kirk Fisher takes over for Mr. James Meacham, P.E. as head of the Enforcement Unit. This ponders the question of who takes over the Licensing and Certification Unit? Mr. Paul Demick, Associate Safety & Health Inspector, will be on the podium for the NYSDOL License & Certificate Unit. Lunch on Friday is the last meal of the conference and the last chance to network with the attendees. It will be good to get back to Turning Stone and see all our friends and business associates, again. Hoping to see you there!
The Professional Abatement Contractors of New York (PACNY) have announced the dates for their annual Environmental Conference to be held on February 26th through February 28th, 2020. It will be held at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York. To register for the conference or sponsor the conference click here!
NYSDOL Asbestos & Mold Control Bureau
This year Future Environment Designs is working with PACNY to put together the Wednesday, February 26th, 2020, Proficiency Day. We are working with the regulatory bodies to start the conference with a bang and get the professional development points for professional engineers/architects, which would also apply for the American Council for Accredited Certifications (ACAC) and the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH). We are focusing on Asbestos Contamination Assessments - what is expected by the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) Engineering Department to approve a Site-Specific Variance and What NYSDOL Enforcement expects in the cleanup process?
Professional Presentations
On Thursday, February 27, 2020, will be the Professional Day this day will include information on Vinyl Asbestos Tile (VAT) removal; exposure updates on talc; mercury flooring; waste management, recycling, and your carbon footprint; New York State (NYS) harassment training; and NYS Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)/Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE) requirements. The Vendor Exhibit Hall will also open on Thursday. As usual Future Environment Designs will have a booth and we will have our book for sale "Do As I Say Not As I Did" and it can be signed by the author Angelo Garcia, III.
Vendor Exhibit Hall
On Friday, February 28, 2020, will be Regulatory Day. The day will open with a round table panel and discussion including survey requirements expert panel discussion. Afterward, the NYSDOL Asbestos Control Bureau will once again be present to update us and answer questions from the attendees. It plans to be another fantastic conference and we look forward to seeing you there!
The second day of the Professional Abatement Contractors of New York's (PACNY's) 23rd Annual Environmental Conference at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York, started in the Vendor Exhibit Hall with the realization that there were quite a few new vendors on display. To be exact 5 additional vendors added to the usual 23 vendors the conference usually has. To provide access to the presentations PACNY has loaded most of the presentations from the three-day conference at their website, click here.
Video of the Vendor Exhibit Hall at Turning Stone Casino
Opening remarks & conference welcome were done by Chairman Deb Sanscrainte of Aramsco, and PACNY President Joseph Cantone, of Colden Corporation. The first presenter for the second day was Sue Rossi, CHMM the Sr. Industrial Account Manager of Waste Management, her topic was "Asbestos and other special wastes". Her presentation informed us that New York State in 1988 had 227 landfills and now there are only 26 active landfills, many closed due to tougher environmental regulations. Her presentation also informed us that NYS requires landfills to treat non-friable asbestos-containing materials (ACM) that are placed into an asbestos labeled waste bag (class 9 bags) as friable. Even if they are put into class 9 bags that were turned inside out. If the bag rips open at the landfill, the landfill will back charge the contractor for the additional fee for disposal as a friable instead of the nonfriable charge. Ms. Rossi also discussed that Waste Management's High Acres Landfill can accept polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) bulk product (e.g., caulk, paint, mastics, sealants) waste. The approval checklist and backup information for the handling of PCB bulk product wastes and a copy of her presentation can be found here.
Sue Rossi, CHMM of Waste Management speaking about Friable ACM waste
Our next presenter was Timothy W. Pullis, ARM, Construction Practice Leader of Brown & Brown of NY, Inc., discussing "Workers' Compensation EMR Fundamentals". Mr. Pullis discussed a drugfree workplace credit of 5% (worth 5 points); experience mod was explained as a formula that calculates the ratio of "expected" losses compared to "actual" losses, the experience mod is a statistical comparison of risks using the same job class codes and similar payroll, and the result adjusts the annual workers compensation premium based on the prior loss experience by "modifying" the manual premium; and EMRs over one (1) could exempt people from certain contracts. Our presenter before coffee break was Adam Schrader, President of Ecospect and George Schambach, President of NYS American Association of Radon Scientist and Technologist (AARST) Professional Home Inspection Service discussing "Current Radon Legislation in NYS, and current national American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/AARST Standards for testing and mitigation in all building types". Mr. Schambach discussed pending NYS legislation Assembly Bill #A8605 and Senate Bill #S6851 to amend the real property law, in relation to radon service professional licensing. Radon service professionals would include - radon measurement professional defined as radon service professional who deploys and retrieves radon detectors and provides a report of the associated measurement results that are generated by a radon analytical laboratory and radon mitigation professional defined as a radon service professional who interprets radon test results and determines the most effective way to manage radon concentrations within buildings.
Corey Briggs of Colden Corporation - Freeze Framed!
After taking our break in the Vendor Exhibit Hall, Kevin Canaan, of AAC Contracting, started the presentations by awarding Joseph D. Lane, President of Environmental Protection Services, PACNY's Lifetime Achievement Award for his many years of service above and beyond normal PACNY duties. Corey W. Briggs, MSPH, CIH, CET, FAIHA, Senior Consultant of Colden Corporation, led a presentation titled "Freeze Frame - Focus on H&S" that was entertaining for the many pictures of unsafe acts. Next up was Brian Sampson, of the Associated Builders and Contractors Association, discussing "Trends and Issues of Concern for the Construction Community". His discussion touched on the legalization of recreational marijuana and the extension of prevailing wage to private work.
Mike Rubin of Goldberg Segalla - Proactively Establish Your Defenses
After lunch and the Vendor Exhibit Hall Mike Rubin Esq., Partner at Goldberg Segalla, discussed "Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Top Ten Tips - Minimize and Eliminate Exposure". Mr. Rubin's presentation touched on the employer's rights during an OSHA inspection, creating an OSHA response plan, asserting your rights during an inspection, and points necessary for a proactive defense. After another visit to the Vendor Exhibit Hall, Mike Waller, PhD, of Rochester Regional Health, spoke on "Sustainability/Solutions and How to Balance". Dr. Waller started his presentation with "how do you define sustainability." His definition was thought-provoking "development that meets the needs of the current generation without compromising the needs of future generations" or in other words "Solving today's challenges without creating future problems". The presentations ended with Rob DeMalo, Member of the Board of Directors of the Environmental Information Association (EIA) and Senior Vice President of EMSL Analytical, Inc, presentation on "Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) Regulatory Update". Discussing the Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Vendor Reception - Food and an Open Bar
After the presentations, the Vendor Reception was held in Vendor Exhibit Hall including food and an open bar. The vendor reception included the usual suspects Aramsco, DiVal, Frederico Demolition,Healthy Indoors, and Future Environment Designs, click here for a full list of Sponsors/Vendors. One of the interesting new vendors was Sundstrom displaying new respirators for asbestos and silica and Red Roof Inn with a special discount for conference attendees. The second day is called Professional Day and all the presentations definitely met the definition of professional with a lot of valuable information provided and may takeaways. Stay tuned for the final day Regulatory Day!
Here we are again! The Professional Abatement Contractors of New York's (PACNY's) 22nd Annual Environmental Conference is 13 days away. As usual, we are excited for the conference and looking forward to going to Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York to hear some presentations, gamble a bit, and enjoy some great networking. We are sponsoring the conference, again. So come visit Future Environment Design's (FEDTC) at booth 18! Ms. Sheryl Esposito will be womaning the booth! As we have done in the past, we will be tweeting the conference live at twitter.com/angelogarcia3 with the hastag #FEDTCPACNY on Twitter. There are some exciting presentations we look forward to hearing, this year!
Long Island is Usually Represented by Some Entertaining Characters!
Linda Reinstein, President & Co-Founder of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and the Global Ban Asbestos Network, presentation on Thursday, March 1, 2018, is the keynote speaker. She is inspiring and we are looking forward to hearing an update about the ban of asbestos under the current administration. Mr. James Meacham, of the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL), presentation on Wednesday, February 28, 2018, "Solving the Mystery of the ACB" sounds intriguing. Considering all the problems we have experienced on Long Island (Clemente Park & Dix Hills) with the dumping of asbestos and other hazardous materials, Richard Clarkson, of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), presentation on Thursday, March 1, 2018, on "Part 360 Revisions and Solid Waste Regulations" should be very interesting! On the same day, Mr. Adam Andrews, of the American Council of Accredited Certifications (ACAC), presentation on "The Advantages of Certification for Indoor Air Quality" will give us a different perspective. Mr. Bob Krell of IAQ Technologies and Healthy Indoors Magazine, presentation "Avoiding Potential Pitfalls of Mold Investigations and Remediation Projects" will close out Thursday. Leading us into the cocktail reception in the exhibitor hall.
Cocktail Reception in the Exhibitor Hall
The final day of the conference typically starts with a presentation before NYSDOL's panel and round table discussion. This year, we are looking forward to hearing AAC's Peter DeLucia's presentation on "Managing the Many Facets of the Silica in the Construction Standard". It will be interesting to hear how a contractor is dealing with this new standard that went into effect in September 2017. The conference will close out with the Panel from the NYSDOL featuring Dr, Eileen Franco, Director; Mr. James Meacham, PE, Program Manager; Ed Smith, PE, Engineering Services Unit; & Mr. Kirk Fisher, Licensing & Certification Unit. They will be giving us an update on what they are doing and an opportunity to ask questions. If you wish to attend you can register for the conference at PACNY's website. We look forward to seeing you there. It always a good time!
Day Three of the Professional Abatement Contractors of New York's (PACNY's) 21st Annual Environmental Conference started with Mr. Angelo Garcia, III's, of Future Environment Designs, Inc, presentation "Changes Are A Coming." Our presentation can be found in our dropbox folder under conference presentations. We discussed the many changes that will affect the abatement/restoration industry including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (the new Director and Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA)); Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (the new Director, Silica, Beryllium, Safety & Health Programs, Recordkeeping & Reporting Requirements; & the increase in penalties); New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) proposed asbestos regulation changes to Industrial Code Rule 56; and changes coming from NYSDOL on the mold regulation (Article 32). Our presentation, was videotaped and is attached below.
The DiVal Safety Equipment Hospitality Suite caused a few late comers on Day Three
The next presenter was Mr. Jack Springston, of TRC Environmental, discussing "Mold Clearance Testing - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly." Mr. Springston's presentation discussed all the different sampling methods for mold from spore traps (has a capture zone that collects air about the size of a golf ball), particle counters (not specific), Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) (still under research) and culture plates (tried and true method). In addition, he discussed the variability of data from certified laboratories and the interpretation of the that data.
Mr. Jack Springston, of TRC Environmental
After Mr. Springston's presentation, we took one last break in the Exhibit Hall to network with exhibitors Admar Construction Equipment & Supplies and Paradigm Environmental Services. Our staff, Ms. Kimberly Granmoe, Ms. Sheryl Esposito, and I would like to thank all of you who visited our booth this year.
The NYSDOL Round Table as usual is the highlight of the PACNY Environmental Conference. Having NYSDOL regulators at the conference allows for questions and answers that can be timely and very useful. The panel consisted of Dr. Eileen Franko, Director-Division of Safety and Health, Mr. Ed Smith, P.E., Engineering Services Unit, Mr. Kirk Fisher, Licensing & Certification Unit, and Mr. James Meachum, P.E., Asbestos Control Bureau.
Dr. Franko, Mr. Smith, Mr. Fisher, & Mr. Meachum on the Dais, Left to Right
This year's presentation they came armed with alot of information that was very useful. They presented an update on the mold regulation from 2016 including the number of complaints (40), the number that was related to issues NYSDOL could address (16), while the remainder was outside of their jurisdiction (24). The number of mold training courses held in 2016 were 31 assessor (1348 attendees), 26 remediation (1,668 attendees), & 32 worker courses (2,284 attendees). There are 553 mold assessor companies (451 individuals); 526 mold remediation companies (526 individuals); 910 mold supervisors; and 1,941 mold workers. Compare that with the 21,237 asbestos handling certificates, and 1,539 asbestos handler licenses (companies). In 2016, NYSDOL conducted 2,457 asbestos inspections, and resolved 494 cases with 1,094 violations. The top violations include:
Discussing Top Ten Violations
Asbestos Survey Required;
Certification & Training Required; and
Licensing Requirements and Procedures
As many of you know, our biggest complaint about NYSDOL is that they don't do enough to go after companies that do asbestos without an asbestos survey, an asbestos license, and asbestos certified workers. These three were the top three violations issued by NYSDOL, which means we say BRAVO! NYSDOL keep up the good work! It was interesting to us that one of the top ten violations was not having a manometer or working one (this piece of equipment literally can be purchased for about $30-50, the fine can be $5,000). One of the biggest issues discussed was the need for a mold rule and at this point NYSDOL does not see the need for a rule. After some questions and answers the conference ended with lunch. This year's conference definitely seemed more technical than previous years. As a trainer, this year's conference has provided significant information to bring back to our classes and provide to our attendees. We look forward to seeing your next year, which Future Environment Designs will be celebrating 30 years in business.
In the past week, NYSDOL announced the training requirements for mold refresher training. All mold licensees will have to take a 4-hour refresher course to renew the licenses. We are currently working on the submittal to become approved for these courses. Below is the video from our presentation from the conference.
The second day of
the Professional Abatement Contractors of New York (PACNY) environmental conference at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY started with the Technical Sessions. The day started with opening remarks from
Sean Hart, of Energy & Environment, President of PACNY and Deb Sanscrainte,
of Aramsco, the Conference Chair. This
year's Technical Session seemed much more intense & focused with a lot of
good information presented. The
presentations kicked off with Dr. Martin Rutstein, of Ecological Consulting
& Management Services, discussing "Talc with Tremolite & Other
Amphiboles." Discussed the issues of talc contaminated with asbestos or
silica and the potential for diseases correlated to talc related asbestosis,
silicosis or talcosis. Dr. Rutstein's
presentations are always entertaining and are eye opening in regards to the
science of geology. The next presenter was
Mr. Tom Laubenthal, of The Environmental Institute (a division of ATC Group
Services) discussing "Using ASTM E2356 Standard Practice for Comprehensive
Building Surveys". Mr. Laubenthal's
discussion brought up interesting points regarding the use of Safety Data
Sheets (SDS) and Architect/Engineer Certifications of no asbestos containing
materials used as part of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's)
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) and its applicability for the
purposes of a "thorough inspection" under the EPA's National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS). After Mr. Laubenthal's presentation, we took
a break to wander the Vendor Exhibit Hall and meet with some of the vendors
like Grayling/ILC Dover (glovebags, etc.) and AMA Analytical (laboratory services).
We returned from the
break for Mr. Ed Stuber's, of Galson Laboratories, update on the
"Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) Silica
regulation." One of the key points
of his presentation is that the silica standard is no longer a moving
target. Previously, the standard was
based on a formula. The current standard
has a set permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter and
a set action level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter. In additions, it is very important to ensure
you see the lab's proficiency testing data because labs that analyze silica
samples have till June 23, 2018 to comply with the OSHA standard. Dr. Chris Goulah, of EMSL Analytical,
presented on "Legionella". The
presentation was on the New York City outbreak in 2015 and the regulations created by New
York City (NYC) and New York State (NYS) to protect against Legionella. Dr.
Goulah's presentation noted that Legionnaires' Disease is on the rise since 2000 and that most cases are the result of exposure to Legionella asssociated with building water systems (potable & non-potable). Mr. Jim Redmond, of Associated General Contractors of NYS, gave us a "Regulatory Update on OSHA." Mr. Redmonds discussed the electronic submission of injuries and illnesses (goes into effect on July 1, 2017 for more information visit OSHA's website) and construction industry citations based on the multi-employer work-site policy (creating, exposing, correcting, & controlling). We then broke for the buffet lunch and another stroll through the Exhibit Hall and meet vendors like DiVal Safety Equipment and Frederico Demolition.
Brent Kynoch of EIA
The afternoon started with Dr. James Haklar, from EPA Region 2, discussing "Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCBs) Case Studies". Dr. Haklar's presentation discussed the primary sources of PCBs in buildings (caulk, fluorescent light ballasts, paints and mastics) and secondary sources (building materials contaminated by releases of PCBs from the primary sources). Dr. Haklar's presentation also discussed exposure levels for evaluating PCBs in Indoor School Air (to keep the total exposure below the oral reference dose of 20 nanograms PCB per kilogram-day) and the EPA's agreement with NYC. Up next was Mr. Brent Kynoch, of the Environmental Information Association (EIA), updating us on "What Does Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) Reform Mean to the Asbestos Abatement Industry?" Mr. Kynoch discussed "unreasonable risk" and the EPA's need to take final risk management action within 2 years or 4 years if an extension is needed. In addition, Mr. Kynoch informed us that asbestos was selected in the "Top 10" chemicals for review by EPA and as of the PACNY conference the public comment period was open (it has since closed, here is the docket information: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0736). The final speakers for the day were Mr. Cole Stanton, of Fiberlock Technologies, and Mr. Fred Schauf, of Spectrum Environmental presenting on "Environmental Indicators: Changes in Policy and Practice that WILL Impact Restoration & Abatement in 2017 -2018 and Beyond." Mr. Stanton and Mr. Schauf discussed the 2016 Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) report to NYS Department of Labor (NYSDOL). This report indicated the following:
Mr. Cole Stanton, of Fiberlock Technologies, and Mr. Fred Schauf, of Spectrum Environmental
Remediators perform own assessments/final inspections
Mold Remediation Plans are incomplete:
No quantities per work area
No Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) mentioned
EPA registered biocides etc. without specifying a product
No method for remediation, only "industry standards"
No cost estimate
Non NYSDOL licensed assessors provide the inspection/assessment.
Real Estate agents are assessing and preparing Mold Remediation Plans for properties they are listing (does not appear to violate Article 32, it does appear to violate their code of ethics.)
Mold remediators are still providing homeowners with checklist used as assessment and mold remediation plan
and/or, No Mold Remediation Work Plans provided.
Training Quality needs significant improvement:
Incorrect information presented, such as: asbestos testing is not necessary as mold takes precedence over asbestos containing materials; a check list by the homeowner is OK; sampling is required; biocides are preferable to removal.
Classes last less than 5 hours a day
Mold assessment classes being taught by teachers without mold experience.
Vendor Reception in the Exhibit Hall
That ended the Technical Sessions on day 2. The Vendor Reception in the Exhibit Hall started, where further networking with the vendors and the attendees continued. It was a very informative day 2 and the amount of information was fantastic. Looking forward to day 3 and our presentation. Thank you to the Long Island contingent that attended the conference this year.
Part of the Long Island Contingent that Attended This Year
We had the honor and pleasure to speak at Professional Abatement Contractors of New York (PACNY) conference this year, again. We will discuss that in a later post on the 21st Annual PACNY Environmental Conference. We also had the pleasure to speak at the Environmental Information Association (EIA) Fall Technical Conference in Orlando, Florida, last year. Our presentation regarding the New York State Mold Law Article 32 "What Happens When Politicians Write Laws They Know Nothing About?" was well received and we had many comments from the audience and afterwards. For those who wanted a copy of our presentation you can find it in our FED Training CD-Link to the Dropbox Folder under Mold and Other IAQ Documents. This year we will be attending the EIA's 34th Annual Conference & Exhibition in Orlando Florida from March 25-29, 2017. In addition, on March 26, 2017 we will be attending the American Council for Accredited Certification's (ACAC) Board Meeting.
Our Presentation at the EIA's Fall Technical Conference
We are looking forward to the usual networking we get to do with the members of the ACAC and the EIA. Like the Fall Technical Conference we are looking forward to some of the presentations at the EIA's 34th Annual Conference. The brochure has quite a list of speakers, we are looking forward to Steve Compton's presentation on the "Resuspension of Settled Asbestos Dust - A Review of Exposure Assessments Related to Cleaning Asbestos"; David Branch's presentation on "Operating A Successful Environmental Business"; David Matson's presentation "Go Team! Consequences of Owners Picking the Wrong Team"; Andreas Saldivar's presentation on "Drywall Joint Compound by Visual Estimation, Point Counting and TEM"; and Lee Poye's presentation "Effectiveness of NIOSH 7400 for Post-Abatement Clearances - Do PCM Clearances Adequately Protect Public Health?" These are just the one's we're interested in, the brochure has over 21 sessions that all sound interesting. We hope to see you there!
The next conference after EIA is the 13th Annual Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO) International Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference being held at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Virginia from April 7-9, 2017. Another excellent conference that delivers some excellent presenters discussing the hazards of asbestos and providing information regarding asbestos internationally. Presenters this year include Dr. Barry Castleman, Alex Farquhar, Dr. Arthur Frank, Fernanda Giannasi, Dr. Richard Lemen, & Michael Borowick. In addition, Linda Reinstein, the President of ADAO, is a fantastic speaker. Visit ADAO's blog to learn more about the speakers.
We always enjoy conference season because of the networking and camaraderie that occurs at these events. It does involve some time away from the business, but we find that it renews us and we always bring something back from the conferences that keeps our training new and up to date. We highly recommend you take the time and attend these events. We hope it rejuvenates you as much as it does us.
This year the Professional Abatement Contractors of New York (PACNY) Conference seemed to sneak up on us. It's only two weeks away. The first day of the 21st Annual PACNY Environmental Conference is on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 at 11:30 AM. To register for the conference visit PACNY's website. The conference will start with lunch from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, with Kevin Malone of New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) kicking off the presentations. Mr. Malone is in charge of the division that regulates asbestos training providers. Next up will be Don Pierce from NYS Department of Labor (NYS DOL) updating us on the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) auditing (an EPA grant allows NYS DOL to perform the auditing for Environemtal Protection Agency (EPA)). Then the first day of the conference will end with a Variance Writing Workshop led by Kevin Hutton of Cornerstone Training.
Dival's Booth at PACNY
The second day of the conference has another great lineup of speakers. Dr. Marty Rutstein returns speaking about "Talc with Tremolite and Other Amphiboles"; and Tom Laubenthal also returns speaking about "Using ASTM E2356 to Meet "Thorough Inspection Requirements" Prior to Renovation and Demolition Activities". Dival Safety will be doing Fall Protection Demonstration, considering OSHA's emphasis on fall hazards it will be intereasting to see the different equipment avalable. Ed Stuber of Galson Laboratories will update us on the OSHA Silica standard; Dr. Chris Goulah will discuss "Legionella"; Jim Redmond will update us on OSHA; and Jim Haklar will discuss PCB Case Studies. Brent Kynoch of the Environmental Information Association (EIA) eill update us on EIA and the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). Then Cole Stanton of Fiberlock Technologies will update us on Mold/Fire/Water. That will close out the second day bringing us to the Vendor Reception and Happy Hour!
Vendor Reception
Angelo Garcia, III of Future Environment Designs, Inc (FEDTC) will start the last day of the conference. "Changes Are A Coming" is the title of our presentation and it will be about all the changes occurring in our industry this year. We will hand off to Jack Springston of TRC who will speak about the "Pitfalls with Doing Mold Clearance Sampling as Part of a Post-Remediation Verification" We are very much looking forward to Jack's presentation! Then the culmination of the conference with the NYSDOL panel consisting of Dr. Eileen Franko - Director of Division of Safety and Health; Kirk Fisher - Licensing and Certification; Ed Smith, PE - Engineering Services Unit; and James Meacham, PE - Asbestos Control Bureau. There is a rumor going around that the release of the new Industrial Code Rule 56 (ICR56) might happen at this meeting. As usual, we are excited about the event and several people behind the scenes do a significant amount of work to make the conference such a success each year. Very big thank yous to Lisa Brown and Deborah Sanscrainte for all the work they do to keep everyone focused and moving forward in putting this event together!
Deborah Sanscrainte Welcoming Everyone to PACNY
Future Environment Designs is a sponsor of the event and we will have our booth in the vendor hall. Kimberly Granmoe and Sheryl Esposito will be ladying booth 19 (next to Dival Safety Supplies) as they have in the past. So come and visit us. Our Twitter feed for the conference will be #FEDTCPACNY, we will tweet photos and major speaker points during the conference. We hope to see you at the conference!
Kimberly Granmoe, Sheryl Esposito, Veronica and Angelo Garcia, III
