Read the SafeNYCHA Quarterly Newsletter

Winter 2025 Edition

The SafeNYCHA Newsletter is back!

Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to bring back the SafeNYCHA Quarterly Newsletter! The Environmental Health and Safety Department (EHS) is dedicated to fostering a culture of safety across the organization, and this newsletter is a vital tool to keep you informed about important updates, safety protocols, and best practices that support a safe, healthy, and injury-free workplace. Each newsletter issue will explore health and safety topics that impact daily operations, while highlighting the incredible work of EHS staff and safety leaders throughout NYCHA.

Thank you for reading – and please share these engaging and practical updates with your colleagues!

Ava-Gay Blagrove, EHS Director

FROM THE EHS OFFICER’S DESK

NYCHA’s Core Safety Principles

As we enter a new year, our department invites all employees to reaffirm their commitment to NYCHA’s core safety principles — values that have been in place for many years. This is an opportunity to assess whether our daily operations align with the following SafeNYCHA principles (not just on paper but also in practice), making safety a cornerstone of our work:

• Employee safety is the primary consideration whenever a task is planned or performed.
• All employees are responsible and accountable for taking the necessary actions to provide a safe workplace.
• All employees are accountable for identifying hazards in the workplace. Employees have the right and responsibility to communicate the nature of hazards and ideas for eliminating such hazards.
• Collaboration with all stakeholders is critical to achieve a safe workplace.

 

“A strong safety culture requires an intentional and ongoing commitment from every employee.”

SAFETY LEADER SPOTLIGHT

Meet Mallory Harold, EHS’ Deputy Director, Employee Safety Oversight

Mallory is a passionate advocate for building a strong safety culture at NYCHA. With a background in environmental engineering, Mallory began her career as an environmental planner with HPD and later transitioned to NYCHA’s A&CM division. When the opportunity to join EHS as a Program Manager arose, she saw a perfect match for her skills and dedication to safety. Today, Mallory leads the Employee Safety Oversight Unit, working to ensure that safety remains a core focus across NYCHA’s operations.

A typical day for Mallory involves providing guidance to her team of safety specialists and trainers while overseeing projects that enhance the organization’s overall safety culture and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. She also facilitates NYCHA’s relationships with key partners such as the Department of Labor and unions. Mallory balances these responsibilities with the hazards of raising a very rambunctious toddler.

Mallory believes that a strong safety culture starts with empowerment. “Employees feeling safe and empowered leads to better morale, engagement, and productivity,” she explains. She also believes that a safer NYCHA requires the entire organization’s commitment – such as taking a proactive approach to safety which identifies and addresses potential hazards before they result in incidents. Mallory’s work at NYCHA is driven by the following SafeNYCHA principle: “Employee safety is the primary consideration whenever a task is planned or performed.”

SEASONAL SAFETY TIPS

Snow, ice, and freezing temps can be tough to handle, but with a little planning, you can stay safe and injury-free all season long – whether you’re clearing snow, working outside, or braving the chill.

Cold Stress Awareness

Cold stress can sneak up on anyone working in low temperatures. It happens when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, potentially leading to frostbite or hypothermia. Stay protected with these tips:

• Monitor your physical condition and that of your coworkers.
• Wear several layers of loose, warm clothing for insulation, and avoid tight clothing that restricts blood circulation to the extremities.
• Protect your ears, face, hands, and feet with waterproof and insulated gear, including gloves, boots, and hats.
• Move into warm locations during breaks to limit exposure to extreme cold.
• Stay hydrated and carry extra socks, gloves, and blankets, as well as a thermos of hot liquid.
• Avoid touching cold metal surfaces with bare skin.

Snow Removal Safety

Clearing snow can be hard work, but a little preparation goes a long way:

• Warm up first by stretching or taking a short walk to reduce the risk of muscle injuries.
• Push snow instead of lifting it whenever possible, and always lift with your legs — not your back.
• Shovel small amounts at a time, taking breaks to stretch and avoid overexertion.
• Never twist your body while shoveling; instead, turn your entire body to move snow.
• Wear boots with good traction and cleats for icy surfaces, take short steps, and walk slowly to react to changes in traction.

For more tips and guidance, review the cold stress and snow removal advisories on the SafeNYCHA Connect page.

TEST YOUR SAFETY KNOWLEDGE: SPOT THE HAZARDS!

Can you identify all the hazards in the following image? The first three NYCHA staff who correctly identify the hazards (and email them to ehs@nycha.nyc.gov) will get a shout-out in the next newsletter and receive a token prize!

We Want Your Input!

Your feedback is integral to building and maintaining a strong safety culture at NYCHA. If you have any questions or suggestions for future content or have a safety concern, please email us at ehs@nycha.nyc.gov.