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OSHA and MSHA civil penalty amounts get annual bump

Washington — OSHA’s maximum penalty for willful or repeat violations will be increasing approximately 3.2%.




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MSHA final rule on respirable crystalline silica under White House review

Washington — A long-anticipated Mine Safety and Health Administration final rule intended to reduce miners’ exposure to silica has been sent to the White House Office of Management and Budget for review.




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MSHA shares tips on safely operating haulage vehicles

Arlington, VA — Miners dumping cargo from haulage vehicles should always load trucks or trailers properly and dump only on level surfaces, free of spillage, the Mine Safety and Health Administration says.




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MSHA issues alert on rotating conveyor rollers

Arlington, VA — Spurred by recent incidents involving rotating conveyor rollers that resulted in permanent disabilities for three miners, the Mine Safety and Health Administration has issued a safety alert.




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CDC study explores severe injury trends in oil and gas extraction industry

Washington — Oil and gas extraction operators should include contract workers in site safety management plans, improve job and equipment hazard training, and reinforce safety practices, a recent study concludes.




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MSHA repeating its warning about operating mobile equipment near water

Arlington, VA — Miners operating mobile equipment near water should always examine the worksite, remain a safe distance from the water’s edge and wear a seat belt.




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MSHA releases tool to help miners with health care searches

Unveiled March 6, the tool allows users to locate multiple types of health care facilities and specialists.




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Two emergency medical techs is too many for small coal mines, Kentucky lawmaker says

Frankfort, KY — A bill that would reduce – to one from two – the number of mine emergency technicians required during each shift at small underground coal mines is advancing in the Kentucky Legislature.




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MSHA optimistic about ‘downward trend’ of fatalities, silica rule development

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration has recorded 70% fewer miner deaths through the first 10 weeks of 2024 than during the same period in 2022 and 2023.




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New law keeps safety agencies’ FY 2024 budgets steady

Washington — OSHA’s budget will remain unchanged in fiscal year 2024, under new legislation signed into law March 23.




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Senate confirms mine review commission nominee

Washington — The Senate has confirmed the nomination of Moshe Marvit to serve on the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.




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NIOSH black lung screening program to visit 4 states

Washington — Aiming to identify cases of black lung disease in current and former miners, NIOSH will provide free, confidential health screenings in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.




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Can safe driving policies reduce deaths in the oil and gas industry?

Washington — Risky driving behaviors are more common among oil and gas extraction workers whose employers don’t have a motor vehicle safety policy, NIOSH researchers say.




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MSHA final rule lowers limit for miner exposure to silica

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration has issued a long-anticipated final rule that lowers miners’ permissible exposure limit to respirable crystalline silica.




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New alert warns miners of arc flashes

Arlington, VA — Eleven miners in the past six months have been injured as a result of an arc flash, according to a new safety alert from the Mine Safety and Health Administration.




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MSHA issues alert for customer truck drivers

Arlington, VA — Six fatal incidents involving customer truck drivers in the past three years have prompted the Mine Safety and Health Administration to issue a safety alert.




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Offshore safety agency issues alert on hand tool use

Washington — Alarmed by a rising trend of hand and finger injuries caused by improper use of hand tools, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement has issued a safety alert.




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MSHA to mining community: Let’s all stand down for safety

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration’s second annual Stand Down to Save Lives is set for May 22.




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Offshore safety inspections lead to alert on welding and burning

Washington — Recent Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement performance-based risk inspections have uncovered “several critical issues” related to welding and burning operations, according to an agency safety alert.




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MSHA issues alert on mobile equipment

Arlington, VA — Spurred by the deaths of six miners who were struck by mobile equipment in underground production areas, the Mine Safety and Health Administration has issued a safety alert.




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Sen. Bob Casey urges fellow lawmakers to strengthen miners’ black lung benefits

Washington — Easing access to health care and other benefits for coal miners who have black lung disease can help remedy a “devastating” development in the mining community, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) says.




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MSHA issues alert on battery-powered devices

Arlington, VA — A recent explosion and fire resulting from an object striking a lithium battery-powered device has prompted the Mine Safety and Health Administration to issue a safety alert.




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MSHA issues alert for stored energy in belt conveyors

Arlington, VA — Spurred by recent deaths and injuries caused by the sudden release of energy from belt conveyor systems, the Mine Safety and Health Administration has issued a safety alert.




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Fire spurs MSHA safety alert on polyurethane foam

Arlington, VA — An underground coal mine fire stemming from the injection of polyurethane foam into a roof cavity has prompted the Mine Safety and Health Administration to issue a safety alert.




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Miners’ union calls provision in House bill ‘a direct attack’ on coal miners

Triangle, VA — A legislative attempt to block federal enforcement of a rule intended to protect miners from exposure to silica is “morally reprehensible,” United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts says.




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MSHA head: Mining industry ‘in much better shape’ as worker fatalities decline

Arlington, VA — Collaboration within the mining industry has spurred “significant improvement” in reducing fatalities, Mine Safety and Health Administration head Chris Williamson said during a July 10 stakeholder meeting.




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MSHA offering more than $10.5 million in state grants

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration is accepting applications for more than $10.5 million in state grants for safety and health training and retraining of miners.




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MSHA warns of tire explosions related to equipment fires

Arlington, VA — Tires on mobile equipment may explode during equipment fires and after flames are extinguished, the Mine Safety and Health Administration is warning miners.




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MSHA providing $1M in safety grants

Arlington, VA — The Mine Safety and Health Administration is accepting until Sept. 9 applications for its Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants.




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MSHA warns miners about dangers of unsupported roofs

Arlington, VA — Miners should never travel or work under an unsupported roof, the Mine Safety and Health Administration says in a recent safety alert.




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MSHA sees spike in Pattern of Violations offenders

Arlington, VA — Mine Safety and Health Administration officials recently identified multiple Pattern of Violations offenders during a single screening period – an action the agency says is unprecedented in its history.




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MSHA warns of health hazards stemming from diesel exhaust

Arlington, VA — Prolonged exposure to diesel particulate matter can increase the risk of cardiovascular, cardiopulmonary and respiratory disease, including lung cancer, the Mine Safety and Health Administration is warning.




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Offshore safety agency final rule bolsters approval process for ‘new or unusual technology’

Washington — A new Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement final rule codifies existing agency practice related to the review and approval of projects that will feature “new or unusual technology” – including equipment used in high-pressure or high-temperature environments.




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Entrapment incident spurs MSHA safety alert on bulldozers

Arlington, VA — The recent entrapment of a coal mine bulldozer operator has prompted the Mine Safety and Health Administration to issue a safety alert.




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Combating opioid use in mining: New guide from MSHA and NIOSH

Washington — Employers can help prevent opioid use disorder among mine workers through a series of strategies, the Mine Safety and Health Administration and NIOSH emphasize in a new resource guide.




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Offshore near-miss involving helicopter and crane spurs safety alert

Washington — Offshore oil and gas workers should be mindful of potential hazards – and maintain frequent communication with co-workers – when helicopters operate near cranes at offshore facilities.




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Capsoil FoodTech: Gummy Solutions

Opening the door to the inclusion of soluble lipids will bring gummy producers new opportunities to offer ingredients such as MCT’s; omega fatty acids; vitamins A, D, E, K; coenzyme Q-10; carotenoids, and lipid-soluble botanicals, such as terpenes and cannabinoids, in flavorful chewy formats.




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Calyxt Achieves Phase 1 Milestone in Collaboration Agreement to Develop Alternative to Palm Oil

Calyxt has begun the second and final phase of the research collaboration and expects to receive a final milestone payment upon completion. 




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Cargill: Sweet (Smart) Treats

In time for National Baking Month, new research from Cargill finds consumers want the best of both worlds – indulgence and health – and they’re willing to pay more for baked goods that deliver on both attributes.  




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AAK: Plant-based Fat, Oil Solutions

AAK’s plant-based oil solutions address today’s dynamic marketplace demands and help manufacturers make products better tasting, healthier and more sustainable.




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Columbus Vegetable Oils Names New R&D Leadership

Columbus Vegetable Oils, a supplier of high-quality oils, shortenings, sauces and dressings, announced the hire of Jenn Farrell as director of research & development and quality. 




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Wesson Plant Butters

Wesson Plant Butters expand the home cooking possibilities with a 100% plant based, dairy and preservative free, vegan option.




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FDA Proposes to Ban Food Additive, Continues Assessments of Additional Chemicals

The US Food and Drug Administration proposed to revoke the regulation authorizing the use of brominated vegetable oil (BVO) in food. The agency concluded that the intended use of BVO in food is no longer considered safe after the results of studies conducted in collaboration with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found the potential for adverse health effects in humans.




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Acme-Hardesty: Sustainability Silver Rating

This is the third consecutive year that Acme-Hardesty has been recognized by EcoVadis for its outstanding performance in environmental, social, and ethical aspects. This is also the first time that Acme-Hardesty has reached the Silver level, which places it among the 85th percentile of companies assessed by EcoVadis.




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C16 Biosciences Increases Focus in Food Industry

C16 Biosciences, makers of Palmless™, the platform for sustainable palm oil alternatives, is ramping up its capabilities in the food category, fueled by a $3.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as well as a $1 million investment from Elemental Excelerator.




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Corbion, Kingswood Capital Management Announce Agreement in Divestiture of Emulsifiers Business

The divestment of Corbion's emulsifiers business follows Corbion’s Advance 2025 strategy, announced in March 2020, focusing on further growing a set of core competencies built around advanced expertise in fermentation that are essential to fulfilling the company's central purpose, to "preserve what matters."   




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Cargill:Trans Fat Free

As of Jan. 1, 2024, every Cargill food customer, no matter where they are in the world, can be confident that the company’s fats and oils comply with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended maximum tolerance level for industrially produced trans-fatty acids (iTFA) in fats and oils. 




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AAK: Sustainable, Plant-Based

AAK expanded its AkoPlanet™ platform for plant-based foods in the U.S. The expansion introduces a coconut oil that abides by high sustainability standards and supports AAK’s commitment as a leading supplier of sustainable plant-based ingredient solutions, while supporting farmers, and features traceability to the farm. With the introduction of AkoPlanet™ CNO 16-001 in the United States, this product is now available globally.




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Innophos: Upcycled Cheese Texture

Upcycled cheese products are quickly gaining popularity with consumers, yet manufacturers face challenges achieving consistent firmness and meltability.




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AAK: Improve Plant-Based Meat

AAK’s new AAK AkoVeg® 163-14 is a coconut oil and insoluble fiber flake offering that makes it possible for formulators to create a plant-based meat that contains less total fat and no cholesterol—yet offers similar visual appeal and cooking attributes as traditional marbled meat products.