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What is black lung?

Also known as coal workers’ pneumoconiosis, black lung is a “job-related disease caused by continued exposure to excessive amounts of respirable coal mine dust,” NIOSH says.




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The importance of comfortable hi-vis clothing

How important is properly fitted high-visibility clothing for safety on the job?




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Nursing organizations publish updated workplace violence guidelines, toolkit

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.




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Bloodborne and airborne pathogen exposure: Massachusetts DPH offers sample written control plans

Boston — Intended to give small health care employers an “easy-to-use format” for a written exposure control plan, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has published sample written plans for a respiratory protection program and bloodborne pathogen exposure control.




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OSHA proposed rule on infectious diseases moves closer to publication

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.




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Preventing struck-by incidents: New guide available

Toronto — The Infrastructure Health and Safety Association has published a guide on reducing the risk of struck-by incidents in the workplace.




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New hazard alert focuses on falls from portable ladders

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.




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Work zone crashes still a big problem, annual survey shows

Arlington, VA — Nearly 2 out of 3 highway construction contractors say motor vehicle crashes have happened in work zones under their firm’s operation in the past year, according to a new survey.




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Blackline GPS

The Loner Safety Monitoring Device provides instant emergency alerting accompanied by real- time location information, allowing organizations to exceed worker safety regulations. The Loner SMD will automatically send an alert to monitoring personnel in the event of an emergency or incident – even if the employee is unconscious or incapacitated.




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BlueWater Manufacturing, Inc.

The Guarddog Self-Closing Safety Gate from BlueWater Manufacturing, Inc. is tough, durable and easy to install. The gate is available in powder-coated, galvanized and stainless steel finishes, as well as in five nominal sizes. Provide your employees with the best safety gate available with the Guarddog.




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Leveraging wearables to improve worker safety

What are some features, benefits and examples of wearable technology in the workplace?




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Effective combustible dust removal

When a facility has multiple areas where combustible dusts are present, are central vacuum cleaning systems the only option?




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Universal cable lockout

The Safelex Universal Cable Lockout with Integrated Hasp is a lockout device designed to meet unique industry needs and allow safety professionals to better protect employees from energy releases during equipment maintenance.




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Thermal transfer printable tags

Thermal Transfer Printable Tags allow users to quickly create clear, professional-looking tags.




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Portable group lock boxes

Now available: enhanced portable group lock boxes made from 430-grade stainless steel to withstand the toughest environments.




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Retractable cable lockout device

The S866 Retractable Cable Lockout Device allows employees to address challenging lockout situations, including gate valve and electrical applications.




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‘Blowing off steam’ may not be the best way to handle your anger

You mad? Skip the venting – it’s not the answer to feeling better, results of a recent study suggest.




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Understanding long COVID: Workers’ comp insurer publishes pamphlet for employers

Albany, NY — People who continue to experience COVID-19 symptoms at least three months after contracting the virus have what’s known as “long COVID.”




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BLS: Nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses decrease in 2023

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.




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‘Incredibly destructive’: Safety board publishes report on fatal dust explosion

Washington — Hazards related to combustible dust “must be controlled beyond the existing regulatory requirements,” says the Chemical Safety Board, which has renewed its call on OSHA to begin rulemaking on a general industry standard.




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OSHA publishes update to Hazard Communication Standard

Washington — OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard (1910.1200) will now align with the seventh revision of the United Nations Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.




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Keep workers safe from bird flu: OSHA publishes alert

Washington — In light of reports of avian flu in dairy cattle and “a small number of workers exposed to infected animals,” OSHA has issued a hazard alert.




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EPA publishes compliance guide on methylene chloride ban

Washington — The Environmental Protection Agency has released a guide intended to increase understanding of – and compliance with – its ban on most industrial and commercial uses of methylene chloride




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Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Changes its Name, Iconic Blue Box

The change from “macaroni and cheese” to “mac & cheese”, is meant to reflect the way fans organically talk about the brand. The iconic blue box now features just a single-color hue of blue and amplifies the brand's most recognizable asset — the noodle smile.




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Concealed blade knife

The SK-10 Model #1096854 Concealed Blade Safety Knife features a built-in stainless steel tape splitter, large lanyard hole to help prevent loss and a safety lock release to open the handle for blade change.




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Blade disposal container

Pacific Handy Cutter’s blade dispensers are now paired with a new blade disposal container.




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Ceramic-blade pen cutter

The Slice Pen Cutter SKU#10512 has a compact pen-style design that fits comfortably in the hand.




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Annual truck and bus brake inspection blitz set for Aug. 25-31

Greenbelt, MD — Commercial motor vehicle inspectors across North America will conduct brake system inspections – announced and unannounced – Aug. 25-31 during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s annual Brake Safety Week.




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Can better truck design help protect vulnerable road users?

Washington — The Government Accountability Office has agreed to look into how vehicle design – including that of large commercial trucks – could improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and other road users.




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NTSB publishes illustrated digest of 2023 Ohio train derailment and hazmat release

Washington — Photos, graphics and statistics are included in an illustrated digest recently released by the National Transportation Safety Board detailing the 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, OH.




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CVSA brake inspection blitz parks 1 in 8 trucks and buses

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




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Notable/Quotable

Occasionally, someone says something I find noteworthy. In today’s post, the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission doesn’t mince words regarding a controversial workers’ comp law.




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EPA consumer ban on methylene chloride leaves workers ‘blatantly exposed,’ critics claim

Washington – The Environmental Protection Agency’s recent final rule banning methylene chloride for consumer use has advocacy groups and lawmakers concerned that continued commercial use of the hazardous chemical leaves workers at risk.




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Inspector General to MSHA: Publish silica rule

Washington — The Department of Labor Office of Inspector General is calling on the Mine Safety and Health Administration to publish a final rule – currently in the works – that lowers the silica exposure limit for miners.




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Lawmakers reintroduce legislation on black lung benefits for miners

Washington — Democratic lawmakers have renewed their push to ease access to health care and other benefits for coal miners who have black lung disease.




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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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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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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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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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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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AAK Partners with Checkerspot to Develop New Sustainable Algae Oil

Consumers and global brands continue to push for new plant-based options. The crux of the challenge is to develop new fats and oils that meet three criteria: they can be produced at scale, provide unique consumer experience, and are less vulnerable to climate change.




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GNT: Sustainable Solutions

EXBERRY® Coloring Foods supplier GNT has published a major new report that sets out its plans to become the leader in its field on sustainability.




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GNT: Approved Blue for Beverages

GNT has secured U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for use of spirulina extract in beverages. This will help beverage formulators achieve vibrant blue shades and maintain clean labels.




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Oterra: Natural Color Blends

Oterra now offers ready-to-use Red and Pink ColorFruit® and FruitMax® blends for plant-based meat and seafood.




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REBBL Organic Smoothie Starter

Smoothie Starter™ could transform morning rituals, offering consumers an organic and convenient base to create nutrient-dense smoothies in seconds




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Blue California’s 98% Pure Rosavel® Without Color and Odor

To help brands keep food and drink fresh in a natural and sustainable way, Blue California announced jointly with biotech innovator Conagen, the commercialization of Rosavel®, a next generation natural preservation solution with 98% high-purity rosmarinic acid made by bioconversion without the color or flavor associated with rosemary.




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Tate & Lyle: Soluble Sweetener

An internationally patent protected breakthrough in stevia technology, this addition expands Tate & Lyle’s ability to help customers solve stevia solubility issues in food and beverages and helps deliver on consumer demand for healthier and tastier, sugar and calorie reduced products. 




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Audible and visual signaling products

SignalTech, a new brand of audible and visual industrial signaling products, is a price-competitive product offering for general signaling safe area markets.




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Disposable boot covers

Boot Saver Disposable Covers provide temporary, 100 percent liquid-proof protection and contamination prevention for boots and shoes.




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Hydraulic lift tables

The MLT Series of heavy-duty hydraulic lift tables are designed to handle loads up to 120,000 pounds (96,000 pounds end/side capacity).