Occupational Safety
What safety training do cannabis workers need?
All employees who work in an area that has recently applied pesticides need to have Worker Protection Standards (WPS) training.
Pesticide Handlers are defined as those who mix, load, or apply agricultural pesticides; clean or repair pesticide application equipment; or assist with the application of pesticides.
Agricultural Workers are defined as: those who perform tasks related to growing and harvesting plants on farms or in greenhouses, or for nurseries.
These definitions would generally include all employees who work in a cultivation facility. The only exception would be if the trimmers were not involved in harvesting and were prevented from entering the grow areas. To be safe facilities should train all their employees.
The training for handlers is the same training as for agricultural workers but with additional information on personal protective equipment and on safe procedures for applying, cleaning, transporting, and disposing of pesticides. Many cultivation facilities train all their employees for pesticide handling, so they are not limited in the tasks they can partake in.
At one time there was a month’s grace period for this training, but that no longer exists. All employees need this training before they enter an area affected by pesticides, unless they are licensed pesticide applicator. This training can be done by a licensed pesticide applicator or someone who has completed an EPA-approved WPS Train-the-Trainer workshop. Employees who are not licensed pesticide applicators must have this training every 12 months.
The WPS training focuses on the pesticide hazards, but there are many other hazards in cannabis facilities that an employer must train their employees in. The OSHA General Duty Clause states ‘of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, requires that each employer provides their employees a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious injury.’ No person should ever be injured, become ill, or die for a paycheck. OSHA believes that training is an essential part of every employer’s safety and health program for protecting workers from injuries and illnesses.
It is a best practice to keep a record of all safety and health training. Like most bureaucracies, OSHA likes paperwork and documentation can answer one of the first questions an incident investigator will ask: “Did the employee receive adequate training on the job?” All employees should be trained in the facility’s hazards when they are hired as a part of their onboarding process, but annual training is strongly recommended to prevent complacency.
Most but not all hazard training is up to the owner’s discretion. OSHA mandated training must be documented by the facility’s or company’s Safety Program. At a minimum, the Safety Program training should include Hazardous Communication Plan, and either an Evacuation Plan or Emergency Action Plan. Other common plans and training that may be required are:
- Respiratory Protection Program,
- Lockout-Tagout or Energy Control Plan,
- Hearing Conservation Plan,
- Working at Heights Training Program, and
- Confined Space Entry Program.
The safety and health of employees should be the most important consideration in the operation of any business. To learn more on how to identify and control common hazards in the industry, explore the NCRM Academy’s courses on Cannabis Occupational Safety and Health. The Academy’s Introduction to COSH course is developed for everyone in the industry from entry level to managerial. This course gives an introduction to occupational safety by covering rules, regulations, how to establish a safety program, hazard controls, and potential workforce hazards in the cannabis industry. Every employer and employee has responsibilities to comply with safety standards and regulations. Safe operations contribute positively to the bottom line.
About the Author:
Alex Hearding is the Chief Risk Management Officer of the NCRMA. He has an educational and professional background as a water and soil scientist and safety professional. He has legally cultivated marijuana as a medical caregiver and as a facility manger in a licensed greenhouse. He has experience starting marijuana businesses including license application, facility design, construction, operational development, and management. He currently provides services including occupational safety & health services and training and risk management for the cannabis industry.
