Occupational Health Watch: January 2018
Cannabis: Workplace Health and Safety
As of January 1, adults in California can buy cannabis for recreational use. What does this mean for worker health and safety ā for cannabis producers and all workplaces? The Occupational Health Branch (OHB) has begun to look into this question, starting with identifying what has been done already.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently released a
Health Hazard Evaluation Report (PDF) on cannabis harvesting and processing.
In California, the Department of Pesticide Regulation has released
Legal Pest Management Practices for Cannabis Growers (PDF).
Colorado and
Washington State have published reports and guidance for employers and workers in the cannabis industry, while Canada has written recommendations for updating
workplace health and safety policies (PDF) to address cannabis use.
On March 29, the Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (COEH) will host a
one-day symposium with continuing education credits that focuses on workplace safety hazards, exposure risks, and mitigation strategies within the cannabis industry.
General information about cannabis and health is available on the California Department of Public Health's
Let's Talk Cannabis website.
Photo: An indoor cannabis grow operation visited by OHB.
Resources
NIOSH Cannabis Harvesting Health Hazard Report (PDF)
Legal Pest Management Practices for Cannabis Growers (PDF) (California)
Guide to Cannabis Worker Safety & Health (Colorado)
Cannabis Industry Safety & Health (Washington)
Workplace Strategies: Risk of Impairment from Cannabis (PDF) (Canada)
COEH Event on March 29: The Buzz on Cannabis
Let's Talk Cannabis ā CDPH Website
Email Occupational Health Watch (OHW@cdph.ca.gov) with feedback or change of address.