Reliable Plant Magazine

Video: Mars gets greener with a new solar array

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Mars Chocolate North America, the makers of M&M's candy, together with PSEG Solar Source, unveiled an 18-acre solar garden adjacent to its Hackettstown, N.J., headquarters...

Video: Miami hospital chooses lean business model

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Miami Children's Hospital president and CEO Dr...

Missouri plant faces $511K OSHA fine after worker killed

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The U.S...

Study shows nightshift workers at risk of impaired metabolism

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Chronobiology International, Informa Healthcare's journal on how biological rhythms affect the systems of living things, has published a 14-year study of more than 7,000 subjects which concludes that shift work constitutes an independent risk factor for impaired glucose metabolism.

Modern industrialization, consumer expectations and globalization have led to the widespread adoption of round-the-clock operations in many industries throughout the world. This has resulted in an increased proportion of the population routinely engaged in shift work.

An association between shift work and cardiovascular diseases has been widely reported. Disturbed circadian rhythms, sleep and lifestyle problems and increased stress have been implicated as possible risk factors for many serious diseases. This study highlights a previously unrecognized risk for the millions of people who work atypical shift schedules.

"It has long been known that sleep debt has a harmful impact on carbohydrate metabolism and endocrine function," says Michael Smolensky, co-editor of Chronobiology International. "It is therefore reasonable to expect that shift work may influence glucose tolerance. Alternating between day and night shifts - resulting in continuous disruption of the body's circadian rhythms - has been shown by this study to be damaging to the health of workers."

"The main finding of this study is that shift work has a significantly detrimental effect on levels of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), which is used as an index of glucose metabolism. The effect was similar to that seen with well-established risk factors, such as age and BMI," explains Smolensky.

The study's findings are consistent with two cross-sectional studies on glucose tolerance that reported a significant relationship between shift work and the development of diabetes mellitus...

Survey reveals most unusual workplace suggestions

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Hiring managers nationwide took some time to bring levity to the workplace in a new CareerBuilder survey...

CEO turnover decreased 15% in October, report shows

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

October saw 89 chief executive officers leave their posts, 15 percent fewer than September's 105 and 29 percent lower than the 125 CEO departures recorded in October 2008, according to the latest report on CEO turnover released November 11 by global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.

October marked the eighth time this year that CEO turnover was lower than the same month a year ago.

So far this year, 1,028 CEO changes have been announced, 18 percent fewer than the 1,257 departures tracked by this point a year ago. This year's 10-month total is the lowest since 2004, when CEO changes numbered 561 through the end of October.

The financial industry experienced the heaviest CEO turnover last month with 19 top executives leaving their posts...

Video: Reinventing manufacturing to regain competitiveness

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Survey shows that executive pay decreased in 2009

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Over the last year, executive salaries have come under a firestorm of criticism from the media, politicians and the public alike...

49% of firms expect Stimulus Plan to improve economy

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Although only 32 percent of management respondents reported that the Economic Stimulus Program had improved economic conditions to date, almost half (49 percent) expect improvement by the end of 2010, according to a recent Deloitte survey.

"Through the Economic Stimulus Program, the government has had and will have a more influential role in our economy than in recent decades, and it has made detecting and preventing fraud and abuse a priority," said David Williams, leader, Deloitte Financial Advisory Services...

Toyota Motor Sales joins EPA's WasteWise program

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Toyota Motor Sales USA Inc...

Volkswagen awards contract for utility piping at Tenn. plant

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

W.J...

Largest wind project in Missouri to feature GE technology

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

In an effort to meet Missouri's ongoing renewable energy goals, Wind Capital Group is developing the state's largest wind project, Lost Creek, with the support of GE's 1.5-megawatt wind turbine technology...

Ford Europe achives best car sales volume since 1997

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Ford achieved its highest October market share and car sales volume since 1997 with total sales of 121,000 new vehicles and a market share of 8.8 percent in its 19 main European markets.

"This is the strongest October we've had in Europe for 12 years, and it shows we must be doing the right thing in the eyes of our customers," said Ingvar Sviggum, Ford of Europe's vice president for marketing, sales and service...

Morecroft to retire as top exec of Hamilton Beach Brands

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

NACCO Industries Inc...

Rockwell showcases plant solutions at Automation Fair

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Rockwell Automation opened its Automation Fair event on November 11 to nearly 9,000 customers, Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork members, industry analysts and media from around the world at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif...

Ford teams up to develop wheat straw-reinforced plastic

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Ford Motor Company, working with academic researchers and one of its suppliers, is the first automaker to develop and use environmentally friendly wheat straw-reinforced plastic in a vehicle.

The first application of the natural fiber-based plastic that contains 20 percent wheat straw bio-filler is on the 2010 Ford Flex's third-row interior storage bins...

Workers' protection act would give OSHA a lot more teeth

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Just weeks before his death, the late Senator Ted Kennedy (D-Massachusetts), with the help of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada), introduced legislation to amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act), which has not been significantly altered since its inception...

Duke Energy purchases power from landfill gas project

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Conversion of methane into a renewable source of electricity has commenced at the City of Durham Landfill, with Duke Energy Carolinas purchasing both the power and associated Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) generated from the project.

Methane is a harmful greenhouse gas, being 21 times more damaging than carbon dioxide...