Federal OSHA Experts Discuss Safety Strategies To Protect Cannabis Industry Workers Whose Exposure Is Greater Than In Recreational Setting
As the marijuana industry expands, it is important to develop appropriate safety procedures in the working environment. As with any new industry, those safety protocols are often established only after an unfortunate incident.
In Jan. 2022, the first occupational-related cannabis death from asthma occurred in Holyoke, Massachusetts when Lorna L. McMurrey (27) died while working at a Trulieve (OTCQX:TCNNF) production facility.
Last week, two officials with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration held a webinar presenting the agency’s latest guidance for “protecting workers within the cannabis industry,” writes Marijuana Moment’s Ben Adlin.
Yasmine Daniels, an industrial hygienist talked about OSHA’s federal and state regulations, and Virginia Weaver, an MD and medical officer talked about McMurrey’s death and ways to prevent such incidents.
During the online event organized by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals Weaver said, “The most important thing is involvement from the industry to train workers and managers to identify and report symptoms of occupational allergy. Workers who develop a runny nose, rhinitis, congestion, eye or throat irritation, skin rash or hives—or, even more importantly, if it’s already progressed to lung symptoms, with cough, wheezing or shortness …