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.

Aliso Viejo, CA — A recent survey of nurses shows that fewer than half believe their organization values their safety and health, a drop of more than 30% in three years.

Washington — The House has passed legislation that would eliminate a rule requiring health care industry employers who participate in Medicare and Medicaid to ensure their workers are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Washington — Two lawmakers have reintroduced a bill that would mandate nurse staffing levels in hospitals in an effort to create better working conditions.

New York — Registered nurses, social and other behavioral health workers, and people in health care support face a significantly higher risk of drug-overdose death, according to the results of a recent study.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency wants feedback as it considers a training program for health care providers on recognizing, treating and reporting pesticide-related illnesses and injuries.

Washington — NIOSH has published a step-by-step process for improving the mental health of hospital health care workers.

Washington — OSHA’s proposed rule on infectious diseases in “health care and other high-risk environments” has been submitted to the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for final review.

Park Ridge, IL — A recently published voluntary consensus standard is intended to reduce the risk of “heat stress due to heat exposures” among construction and demolition workers.

Washington — The most common crane-related hazards – and how technology may help solve them – are detailed in a new report from the National Safety Council’s Work to Zero initiative and the NCCCO Foundation.

East Lansing, MI — Falls involving portable ladders caused 84 on-the-job deaths from 2001 to 2021 in Michigan, prompting a new hazard alert from Michigan State University.

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

Springfield, IL — Driver’s education courses in Illinois must now feature lessons on safely navigating roadway construction zones, under a new state law.

Silver Spring, MD — Nearly 1 out of 5 construction workers report having anxiety or depression, and the overwhelming majority of them haven’t sought expert help, a new report shows.

What can be done to make facilities safe when lithium batteries are present?

The use of flavored e-liquids in vaping devices may lead to the formation of nearly 300 different harmful substances, results of a recent study out of Ireland suggest.

Tampa, FL — Practicing mindfulness each day may help reduce workers’ stress and limit negative thinking on the job.

Nijmegen, Netherlands — “The greater the mental effort, the greater the unpleasantness experienced by participants,” a recent study by Dutch researchers concludes.

Washington — Optimizing the health and performance of workers’ brains is the goal of a new NIOSH initiative.

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.

Washington — A new Environmental Protection Agency decision framework for determining the eye irritation or corrosion potential of new chemicals aims to “provide results more relevant to humans” – without animal testing.

Washington — Employers whose workers use 3D printers in non-industrial settings can take steps to limit employee exposure to emissions from heated filaments, polymers and powders, NIOSH says.

Washington — A new hazard alert from OSHA is aimed at increasing awareness and ensuring actions are being taken to reduce the “alarming number” of serious, preventable injuries in poultry, meat and other food processing establishments.

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency will ban most industrial and commercial uses of the carcinogenic chemical methylene chloride, under a final rule announced April 30.

Washington — The National Fire Protection Association’s voluntary standard on preventing fires and uncontrolled chemical reactions at hazardous waste facilities carries significant influence from the Chemical Safety Board – and CSB officials appreciate it.

Washington — Federal action aimed at easing restrictions on marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act “may have considerable negative consequences for highway safety and safety-sensitive industries,” the American Trucking Associations claims.

Washington — As the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration considers updating the methodology it uses to determine if truck and bus companies are fit to operate safely, the agency has scheduled a public listening session.

Greenbelt, MD — Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance inspectors placed 11.6% of the trucks and buses they examined out of service for brake-related violations during a recent safety blitz.

Washington — The Department of Transportation is accepting comment on a proposed rule that would allow the use of electronic forms and signatures for drug and alcohol testing.

Greenbelt, MD — The results of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual Brake Safety Week are in.

Eighty-two firefighters died while on duty in 2018, six fewer than the previous year, according to an annual report recently released by the U.S. Fire Administration.

Consumers are looking for nutritious and delicious products with enhanced protein that also taste good. They also seek non-GMO, gluten-free, vegetarian and sustainably sourced ingredients in the products they purchase.

Washington — A new training tool developed by NIOSH is aimed at helping miners recognize the signs of heat-related illness and provide appropriate first aid.

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

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.

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.

The reactor will expand the company’s maleic anhydride capacity ahead of anticipated long-term growth in the global acidulants market. It further integrates Bartek’s upstream raw material production with its downstream finishing capacity.

Elo also expects to open a Series B financing round later this year to further scale and commercialize its sweetener products, and expand its R&D pipeline with additional healthy and sustainable ingredients.

Bolthouse Fresh Foods will carry on the century-old legacy of Bolthouse Farms as a leading supplier of fresh carrots to retailers across North America, with nearly 700 million pounds of carrots sold annually. 

Jackson Safety* Nemesis* Safety Glasses offer impact protection for many different work environments.

U.S. Safety glasses are designed to provide solution-based eyewear protection.

Sightgard Discovery II Safety Glasses are lightweight and flexible and feature a soft rubber nose bridge for non-slip support.

White River Soy Processing, LLC (White River), a developer and operator of oilseed processing plants in the US, announced that it purchased Benson Hill Ingredients, LLC, which operates an established food grade soybean processing facility in Creston, Iowa, from Benson Hill, Inc.

Featuring Little Leaf Farms' fan-favorite Baby Crispy Green Leaf lettuce, the new Sesame Ginger Salad Kit includes Thai seasoned wonton strips, sliced almonds, toasted quinoa and sesame ginger dressing, delivering a convenient, fresh, flavor-packed meal ready to be enjoyed anytime.

Silicon Valley-based cellular agriculture company Mission Barns announced a $24M Series A to scale up its cultivated fat technology and build a pilot manufacturing plant in the Bay Area.

The addition of Park 100 will complement OSI’s existing business while providing a significant presence in the attractive soup, sauce, and macaroni and cheese categories.

The 75th annual report surveyed food retailers’ and suppliers’ 2023 developments and expectations for the year ahead, finding that while the industry made key strides in addressing longstanding labor and transportation capacity issues, inflation and other financial hurdles caused industry profit margins to fall to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels.

More than 80% of people in the US aren’t eating enough vegetables, fruit and dairy. And most people consume too much added sugars, saturated fat and sodium. The proposed rule is part of the agency’s ongoing commitment to helping consumers improve nutrition and dietary patterns to help reduce the burden of chronic disease and advance health equity. 

The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) released its final 2023 estimates and its latest 2024 Food Away-From-Home (FAFH) Industry and Segment Projections.

The company had a new product on hand, which was a large slab of plant-based meat; and a cubed product specifically geared toward fast-casual restaurants.