Changsha, China — Night shift workers who have high blood pressure may be at increased risk of developing heart disease and diabetes, or experiencing a stroke, results of a recent study show.

Cologne, Germany — Workers who engage in healthy lifestyle behaviors and encourage their colleagues to do the same can help create a more healthful workplace, results of recent study show.

If you have allergies or asthma, clean your smartphone more often to minimize reaction triggers that may be lurking on the surface, researchers recommend in a recent study.

Washington — OSHA is requesting public comment on a proposed rule that would revise the agency’s standards on occupational exposure to lead in general industry and construction.

Washington — In response to multiple stakeholder requests, OSHA has extended until Oct. 28 the comment period on a proposed rule that would revise the agency’s standards on occupational exposure to lead in general industry and construction.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus – more commonly known as MRSA – is a potentially dangerous type of staph bacteria that can lead to difficult-to-treat infections. MRSA is resistant to certain antibiotics and, although an infection may begin as a skin sore, it can become serious and potentially deadly, NIOSH warns.

Many workers have been diagnosed with some form of lung condition, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which means working in a lung-friendly workplace is key.

Confined space covers provide a best-practice, all-in-one solution of signage and barrier protection to exceed the OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146 standard for permit-required confined spaces.

Washington — A companion bill to the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 1195), passed by the House in April 2021, has been introduced in the Senate.

Silver Spring, MD — Around 7 out of 10 recently surveyed nurses say staffing has gotten slightly or much worse recently, while nearly half of hospital nurses report an increase in workplace violence.

Columbus, OH — Legislation recently introduced in the Ohio Statehouse would direct health care employers to develop and implement a workplace violence prevention plan within six months.

Schaumburg, IL — The Emergency Nurses Association and the American Organization for Nursing Leadership have updated their Guiding Principles on Mitigating Violence in the Workplace and related toolkit.

Tallahassee, FL — Legislation in Florida that would strengthen criminal penalties for assault or battery on hospital workers has advanced out of two Senate committees.

Washington — Newly introduced legislation would direct OSHA to issue a standard requiring employers in the health care and social services sector to develop and implement a workplace violence prevention plan.

Queensland, Australia — Patient aggression toward receptionists in general medical practices has become a “serious workplace safety concern,” a recent research review concludes.

Salem, OR — Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in Oregon would strengthen the penalty for assaulting a hospital worker and require hospitals to work harder on preventing violence.

The Venom Faceshield provides serious protection against workplace hazards with a molded, contoured design.

As with most personal protective equipment, comfort is paramount for workers who use head and face protection. Manufacturers know this and have responded.

Salem, OR — Oregon OSHA is offering for free its latest training course on keeping workers safe in confined spaces.

Salem, OR — Oregon OSHA has launched a Spanish version of its training course on keeping workers safe in confined spaces.

A 41-year-old framer had been working for two weeks at a residential subcontractor at the site of a new apartment complex. The framer and a co-worker planned to use two scissor lifts in tandem to raise and insert a glulam wooden beam into the side of a horizontal I-beam more than 8 feet above the concrete floor.

Why is workforce positivity for marijuana a problem?

When it comes to the legal use of marijuana, how do we balance safety and worker rights?

How can I perform effective periodic inspections to ensure compliance with OSHA’s standard on lockout/tagout (1910.147)?

What is the OSHA standard on walking-working surfaces for general industry (1910 Subpart D) and why is it important to the safety of workers?

How can facilities proactively address and mitigate common workplace hazards?

Tumwater, WA — A new webpage offers resources for fostering mental wellness in the workplace and supporting workers who have a diagnosed mental illness.

New York — Increased stress, long hours and apprehension about disclosing mental health concerns are some of the most pressing challenges affecting women in the workplace, according to a new report.

Denver — Half of workers have experienced a mental health issue in the past year, results of a recent survey show.

Washington — Workers in private industry experienced fewer injuries and illnesses on the job last year than in 2022, according to Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses data released Nov. 8 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Sydney — Global work-related deaths have jumped more than 12% since 2000, according to estimates from the International Labour Organization.

Portland, ME — The University of Southern Maine, in conjunction with the Maine Small Business Development Center, has launched a series of free online training modules intended to help employers and workers in the retail and food service industries prevent workplace violence.

ReadiCream® ND is a non-dairy, PHO- and allergen-free product that—when hydrated—is designed to be 1:1 replacement for liquid heavy cream or other dairy products. Although replacing real dairy, ReadiCream® ND provides an authentic fresh dairy taste and excellent mouthfeel resulting in no loss of quality in finished product.

Health conscious consumers soon will be able to enjoy indulgent foods with drastically fewer calories without sacrificing taste or flavor thanks to Epogee™ (esterified propoxylated glycerol) Fat Replacement. Epogee was developed by Choco Finesse LLC.

Washington — A Mine Safety and Health Administration final rule that would require mine operators to have a written safety program for mobile and powered haulage equipment is a step closer to publication.

Over time, the body loses the ability to produce the enzyme (lactose) that digests the carbohydrate in dairy foods, causing bloating, gas, and sometimes diarrhea. Taking a lactase enzyme (Lactaid tablets) when you drink milk or eat dairy foods, will usually prevent symptoms of lactose intolerance. A food sensitivity, on the other hand, can produce symptoms that are unrelated to food allergies or intolerances.

Prepared Foods speaks with Susan Guerin, CEO of World Finer Foods, Inc. and Cutting Vedge, Inc., makers of burgers, meatballs, crumbles, and sausage replacers from artichokes.

North America was the second top region for energy drinks launches during a recent one-year period, with Europe as the leading region. Approximately one-fifth of global energy drink launches are released in North America. However, price differences between North America and other regions lead to a larger and dominant North American share for energy drinks sales value.

The US yogurt category is already seeing high levels of low/no sugar development, with 20% of all launches in 2018 carrying such claims, up from just 4% in 2013.

Men's nutritional needs get recognition with new ingredients, solutions.

More than half of all participants in a recent survey report actively reducing their sugar consumption. US consumers also try to limit or reduce purchases of high sugar ingredients. Interestingly, consumers are unwilling to give up indulgences and they also look for healthier versions of indulgent foods.

Earlier this year, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that spending on food-ordering apps for deliveries from full-service restaurants quadrupled between pre-pandemic months and 2022. 

SWAP's 'Umisation' protein platform employs a technique to transform plant proteins into structured fibers without high heat or pressure. The approach uses just eight familiar ingredients and no artificial flavors, colorants, or texturizers.

Robots in picking, packing and palletizing applications have performed some new feats—thanks to clever system integrators who have given them sensitive touch, better grips and keen vision.

The new ECOsurfaces Desert & River commercial flooring line from Ecore, a company that transforms reclaimed materials into high-performance products that make people’s lives better, offers the architect and design community an innovative solution that fuses aesthetics and sustainability with ergonomics, acoustics and safety.

A brewer turns to Siemens for its turnkey Blockchain-based Trusted Traceability Solution to expedite future recall scenarios throughout the brewer’s extensive supply chain.

This new technology not only gives consumers confidence is knowing their food is safe, but helps supply chain participants and restaurants pull bad products.

Sherwin-Williams High-Performance Flooring seamless flooring systems offers up durable, chemical resistant systems that cover a range of commercial applications, ranging from moderate to heavy use.

Architect Scott Faucheux is an expert at bringing magic to retail environments. Having worked on concepts for Urban Outfitters and Anthropology, Faucheux is now creative director at TPG Architects. Learn what he has to say about the role flooring plays in the design of retail spaces. 

At NeoCon 2024, Floor Trends & Installation met up with AHF Products Chief Commercial Officer Jennifer Zimmerman and Vice President of Commercial Fred Reitz to learn more about the company’s commercial channel strategy, incorporating AHF Contract, Armstrong Flooring, Crossville Tile and Parterre brands.