Making a Difference for Residents
Meet Yelena Tkach, Indoor Air Quality Oversight Team Administrator
We’re periodically featuring the hardworking staff members who are making a difference for residents. Learn more about how we’re improving residents’ homes and becoming a better landlord through their efforts. In this installment, meet Yelena Tkach, Indoor Air Quality Oversight Team Administrator in the Environmental Health and Safety Department. According to Ava-Gay Blagrove, Deputy Director of Environmental Hazards, “Ms. Tkach and her team of Indoor Air Quality Specialists go above and beyond trying to get resolution to the mold and indoor air quality issues that impact residents – they invest time and effort to work with residents and development staff to get these complaints resolved.”
“When my team receives a complaint related to health hazards such as mold, asbestos, or indoor air quality, we review the unit’s work order history, interview the necessary parties, and schedule an appointment with the resident and the development staff to conduct an inspection. When we perform the inspection, we use various instruments, depending on the complaint. We also take the opportunity to do a comprehensive health and safety assessment of the unit to identify any other hazards that need to be addressed. For example, if the investigation is for a mold complaint but we see signs of pest infestation or possible disturbed lead-based paint, we also try to get these issues resolved. During our visits, we are accompanied by development staff so that we can bring any hazards to their attention for a faster resolution. If it’s not possible to remediate the health hazard immediately, we’ll monitor the situation until it’s resolved. Our specialists communicate extensively with property management staff and residents. The findings of our investigations are then shared with the Compliance Department. I’m proud of my team’s high level of professionalism, customer service, and commitment to the health and safety of our residents.
“I spent most of my 21-year NYCHA career in the Technical Services Department. My last position was as the Fuel Oil Remediation Unit Coordinator; I helped maintain fuel oil tanks in compliance with environmental regulations and conducted spill remediation and emergency deliveries of oil, among other tasks.
“I love my job. I can do something to make living conditions better for residents, and it’s an amazing feeling. You feel like you achieve something when you help people – you can see the results of what you did, and it’s really, really awesome.
“Environmental Health and Safety is such a great department, filled with very helpful people, all professionals. My team is great, my supervisors are very supportive, and we communicate and work as a team, working well together and getting so much done. I feel very lucky.”
