Read “Healthy Happenings,” the EHS Newsletter
Message from the Environmental Health & Safety Officer
Now that it’s June, let’s take a moment to explore how to stay safe this summer. The mission of NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Department is to ensure that all residents can enjoy a decent, safe, and sanitary environment, and so we would like to present the following information to promote the wellbeing of your family and your community during the summer season.
This edition of our newsletter, Healthy Happenings, focuses on rooftop safety, BBQ safety, and responsible pet ownership.
As always, residents, employees, and any member of the public can submit environmental health and safety concerns via on.nyc.gov/submit-concern. If you have questions about this or any environmental health and safety matter, please email ehs@nycha.nyc.gov.
Wishing you and your family a pleasant summer!
Patrick O’Hagan, NYCHA’s Environmental Health and Safety Officer
Rooftop Safety
Residents and their guests are not permitted in restricted areas at NYCHA developments, which includes roofs and roof landings (the platform immediately inside the door opening to the roof). Rooftops present a variety of dangers, and these restrictions are meant to keep you and the community safe.
Additionally, do not prop open emergency doors or disable door alarms leading to rooftop areas. Unsecured rooftop spaces can pose a danger to residents, especially children. There are other safety risks on roofs, including antennas and solar panel arrays (after they install a solar panel system, our solar panel vendors place informational warning stickers on the roof access doors).
Rooftop door with safety signage.
BBQ Season Safety
Summer is the season for outdoor grilling and barbecuing. Some NYCHA developments have picnic/barbequing areas for use by residents from May 1 to September 30 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. Authorization to use these areas must be obtained from your property management office by filling out Request to Use Picnic Area (NYCHA form 040.490) and submitting it to the property management office at least 10 days in advance of the requested date. If approved, property management will then provide you with the picnic/barbecuing area rules.
Please abide by these rules to ensure everyone’s safety. Safe barbecuing means constantly supervising a grill when it’s in use, disposing of used charcoal properly, and removing grease/fat buildup from the grill. Please also keep in mind that grilling indoors or on balconies is prohibited at NYCHA.
Family Days
NYCHA Family Days have long been celebrated at developments across the five boroughs to bring residents together to enjoy fun activities, music, and food and disseminate valuable resources from community partners. To ensure everyone’s safety, the development’s resident association must supervise the event, and also:
- Ensure that no physical alterations, including minor alterations, such as nailing into walls, are made to the indoor or outdoor spaces;
- Exercise the utmost care in the use of the development grounds or the community center on which the event takes place;
- Ensure that flyers and posters are prominently displayed to advise residents of prohibited activities; and
- Ensure set-up and proper clean-up, including the discarding of charcoal and garbage.
Responsible Pet Ownership
To foster a safe environment for everyone, here are some important reminders if you own a dog or cat:
- Residents must meet all applicable New York City pet registration requirements.
- New York City requires dogs to be registered and licensed and wear two tags around the neck – an NYC license tag and stainless steel NYCHA dog tag.
- Dogs must be vaccinated and neutered or spayed and registered with NYCHA.
- Cats must be registered with NYCHA.
- Residents must secure their pet when NYCHA staff visit their apartment for any reason, including apartment inspections and maintenance appointments. The pet must be secured for the duration of the visit so that it cannot roam freely and interfere with staff. Ways to secure a pet include:
- Keeping the pet in a separate room or in an animal cage away from NYCHA staff;
- Having a household member hold the pet; or
- Restraining the pet on a leash not more than six feet in length.
- Residents must pick up their dog’s solid waste and dispose of it in a proper outdoor trash receptacle, as required under the City of New York’s Canine Waste Law.
Visit these websites for more summer season safety tips: