Food

Washington – Workers at coffee processing facilities may be at risk for the respiratory condition known as “popcorn lung,” according to NIOSH.

Olympia, WA – Proposed legislation in Washington is aimed at reducing deaths and injury rates in the dairy industry.

Boston – The poultry industry is booming, but workers are still suffering high rates of injuries and illnesses and often experience a climate of fear, according to a new report from advocacy group Oxfam America.

Chicago – “Moderately cold” work conditions pose health and safety risks for employees, and employers should take steps to improve worker comfort, according to NIOSH.

Dallas – Citing the increased risk of injury and illness among poultry workers, OSHA has launched a Regional Emphasis Program focusing on the poultry industry in four southern states.

Atlanta – Food industry workers have a 60 percent higher rate of occupational injury or illness than workers in other industries, according to a study from Emory University.

Cincinnati – More than half of workers evaluated at a poultry plant in Maryland experienced musculoskeletal disorder symptoms in a hand or wrist, according to a recent NIOSH evaluation conducted at the employer’s request.

Montgomery, AL – A group of 15 organizations says it will not stop fighting for worker protections in the poultry and meatpacking industries despite a recent setback.

Washington – A new notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service outlines procedures for agency inspection personnel on notifying OSHA when they observe workplace hazards.

Gladstone, MO – Bacterial toxins in hen houses can lead to airway irritation, inflammation and decreased lung function among workers in the egg industry, according to a report from the Coalition for Sustainable Egg Supply.