NYS Education Department Issues Clarification on Asbestos Material Testing

New York State Education Department's Office of Facilities Planning newsletter #107 (July 2011) issued clarifications regarding asbestos material testing that were brought up by the New York State Department of Health' Environmental Laboratory Approval Program's (ELAP) FAQ.  Major points from the newsletter:

• Review your management plans and data, and determine if the ceiling tile results were obtained through an appropriate test, ELAP items 198.6 or 198.4.  If the tiles were correctly tested in accordance with the current protocols and the data are available, no additional testing is required. If that information is not available, or if the results were not obtained in accordance with ELAP items 198.6 or 198.4, school districts should consider testing as either part of an existing or planned capital improvement or as an independent analysis prior to disturbance.
• Be aware that ceiling tiles and other products purchased today can still contain asbestos, but many manufacturers offer documentation as to the asbestos free nature of their products.  Some manufacturers date stamp ceiling tiles.  If you can provide documentation of when and where the tiles were purchased and installed, the manufacturer should be able to provide documentation or certification that they do not contain ACM, and your management plan should be updated accordingly.
• If you have documentation that your ceiling tiles or other materials are non-ACM, additional testing is not required, however, as in any investigation, actual bulk sample results would supersede documentation in an analysis of the situation.
• Check the ELAP list, contained in the web links above, to see if any other materials in your school that may be disturbed such as vinyl tile, mastic, caulking, etc, were tested under the correct protocol, and the results are available.  If these items were not tested properly under the current protocol with negative results they should be considered for additional sampling prior to any disturbance.
• If ceiling tiles and other materials are found to be asbestos containing under the current analysis method, the schools asbestos management plan must be updated in accordance with AHERA regulations.  Areas with significantly damaged ceiling tiles must be isolated and the damaged areas removed in accordance with AHERA and code rule 56.  Districts should consider whether to undertake capital projects if certain ceilings must be accessed on a regular basis.

Considering my reccent article in Future Focus, it seems like someone else is thinking along the same lines as myself.

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Where Should Your Necktie Tip Fall?

Image via WikipediaThis interesting video teaches you where you necktie tip should fall.  Menswear expert Antonio Centeno gives you a definitive answer as to how long you should tie your tie.  Mr. Centeno has some great videos helping us guys with dressing properly and purchasing clothes.  Find the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyNISJUiKf4&feature=uploademail.  For safety reasons you should make sure you tie you necktie above the belt buckle and strongly recommend you make sure your tie is in your shirt when inspecting equipment.  This way the necktie will not catch in the equipment.  Leading to serious injuries.

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Future Environment Designs sponsors Bacillus anthracis and Anthrax Video

Image via WikipediaFuture Environment Designs is proud to sponsor a new informational video on Bacillus anthracis and Anthrax.  This video is designed as a public service awareness video on the topic of Anthrax which is caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis.  Future Environment Designs can provide hazard specific training on this subject, especially for office staff that may be concerned regarding suspicious packages or mail. 

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Do You Agree That The U.S. Remediation Market Grows Nearly 3% in 2010?

News Release -- San Diego, Calif. -- The U.S. remediation business grew 2.9% in 2010 to $7.7 billion in total revenues, up from 1% in 2009, according to annual research conducted by Environmental Business International Inc. and published in its updated EBI Report 319 on Remediation & Industrial Services.  See Table of Contents and List of Figures for EBI Report 319.  Purchase EBI Report 319

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Major Recall of Shock Absorbing Lanyards Under Way

Petzl America Inc. of Clearfield, Utah, has voluntarily recalled about 375,000 Scorpio and Absorbica shock-absorbing lanyards that have been sold since 2002, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced July 12. Some of the lanyards are missing a safety stitch on the attachment loop, which could cause the lanyard to separate from the climbing harness, the posted announcement states.

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Did You Know?

Under the New York State Department of Labor's (NYS DOL) Industrial Code Rule 56, if you have an Asbestos Certificate (any one of them project monitor, inspector, etc.) and want to work for yourself (self-employed or working on an IRS 1099 form), you also need to get an Asbestos Company License.  In New York State if you employ a person with an Asbestos Certificate they can work under your license.  However, if they are independent, subcontractor, or 1099 worker they must have their own Asbestos Company License (either non-abatement or abatement, dependent upon what certificate the individual has).  The fine for not having a company license is $2,500.  The cost of a company license is $500 for the initial license and $300 for the renewal (which is annual).

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Deutsche Bank Fire Defendants All Acquitted Of Charges.

Last week, the three defendants charged with manslaughter and other charges of causing the fatalities at the former Deutsche Bank building, were acquitted of all charges.  The jury cleared two former managers, Jeffrey Melofchik and Salvatore DePaolo, on June 29, while the Criminal Court Judge Rena K. Uviller acquitted Mitchel Alvo, on July 6.  Uviller also tossed out the major charges against the subcontractor, The John Galt Corp., convicting the company only of a misdemeanor count of reckless endangerment.

Image via Wikipedia

The former Deutsche Bank building was undergoing asbestos abatement and demolition at the time of the fire in 2007, that caused the death of firefighters Robert Beddia 53, and Joseph Graffagnino, 33, who died trying to fight the blaze.  Charges included multiple counts of negligent homicide, manslaughter and reckless endangerment.
Defense attorneys were able to convince the judge and jury that the actual causes were more complicated.  Those complications included:

• New York City Fire Dept. did not abide by the 15-day rule of inspections
• Errors made by the Lower Manhattan Development Corp. (LMDC)
• The negative air system used in the abatement caused rising smoke to descend and block the firefighters vision.

It seems this may not be the end of the Deutsche Bank fire issues, because the Uniformed Fire Officers Association, which felt that the wrong people were charged, and thought the defendants were scapegoats, released the following statement: "We urge the Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance heed his self-described duty as to do what is right in every case without fear or favor, wherever that may lead by re-opening an investigation into the Deutsche Bank fire.  In fact, we are demanding that the District Attorney conduct an investigation into the LMDC."