Canadian Occupational Safety

20 Canadian Occupational Safety | www.cos-mag.com trainer. "We have a pretty intense fall protection program, as far as using the harnesses to start with and then we also have systems put in place to train people and kind of give them a beginner's license on the lift and final sign-off before they are allowed to operate on their own." Due to the changing production environment where plants are har- vested and then new ones planted, work at height may not initially be an issue, but this hazard might present itself over time. "The first few weeks they will only be 6 inches to 8 inches high. Well, nobody will be at elevation. But after three or four months it could be 20 feet high or perhaps even higher, so now you have a different risk than you had three months ago," Curts says. As with other hot houses, growing cannabis requires heat and humidity — great for plants, not so great for workers. Working in these environ- ments means employers need to have heat stress on their radar. According to AgSafe, some cannabis growers in B.C. have put the following pro- cedures in place to protect workers from heat stress: • On-site super visors consistently monitor workers for signs of heat stress. • Dehumidifiers, shaded areas and water misting machines are used for heat relief. • Workers are advised to wear light clothing under their protective Tyvex suits. • Workers are educated about the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and how to help co-workers recover. Employers should also make sure to give workers lots of breaks, ensure they stay hydrated and limit the time they are working in heat, says Curts. "(The controls) are not hard to implement, they just have to be thought about in the risk assessment," he says. EXTRACTION Extraction is one of the top hazards in the cannabis industry. Due to the high heat and high-pressure machinery being used, there is a large explosion and fire hazard when extracting oils from the marijuana plant. Employers involved in extraction activities must ensure they are adher- ing to local fire codes, not overloading electrical circuits, using appropriate chemicals and following the safety data sheets, says Bennett. According to the Colorado survey, 39 per cent of respondents said their businesses had cannabinoid extraction facilities. It's also important to ensure that only trained employees are perform- ing extraction processes and that they are trained on electrical safety, compressed gas and fire protection standards. "That's like any other oil extraction of materials from plants, so vegetable oil, margarine. These types of operations in legalized (cannabis) situations shouldn't be any more difficult to con- trol than they would be for any food industries where they are extracting oils from plant products," says Curts. Extraction should be done in a room dedicated to the extraction pro- cess that meets fire code regulations including required suppression, gas detection and ventilation systems. Extraction using butane is the most cost-effective method, but it is the most dangerous. Dry ice is also commonly used for extraction processes, which converts directly to carbon dioxide (CO2) gas and can be hazardous to workers if not handled properly. It's important for all operations using CO2 to have monitoring devices that will sound an alarm if the levels of the gas are too high. Negative health effects associ- ated with carbon dioxide include headache, dizziness, rapid breathing and an increased heart rate that can lead to unconsciousness and death, according to the guide published by the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. CO2 may also used in growing operations to increase plant growth. A variety of PPE is needed for work- ers in cannabis growing operations. Safety glasses and goggles should be used to protect the eyes from liquid chemical splash, dust or flying debris and UV light exposure. Appropriate gloves should be used to protect workers from contact with compounds that could irritate, sensi- tize, puncture or cut the skin. Hearing protection may be needed for areas where industrial machinery is run- ning. An N95 respirator will likely be required. Safety footwear may also be required. The body will need to be covered by impervious coveralls, a Tyvex suit or smock. Bennett sums it up the best: "They're going to need to cover everything," she says. SECURITY MEASURES Security is an important consideration when the product you manufacture is a highly sought-after drug. The medi- cal marijuana industry is regulated by Health Canada which dictates the required security measures — including a staggering number of cameras. "You can't cut a bud and stuff it in your pocket," says Bennett. When 100,000 clone marijuana plants were brought from Canopy Growth Corporation in Smith Falls, Ont., to Langley, B.C.-based BC Tweed earlier this year, they flew overnight, landed at 3 a.m. and were transported to the company by armoured car with police escort, says Bennett. "It was millions and millions and millions of dollars value. I know at that particular greenhouse they had to set up significant perimeter fencing and there's a two-part ID protocol to get access," she says. "It's quite something." Organigram has a 24-7 security crew and everything is electronically swiped, says Patterson. The security system monitors who is in growing rooms at any given time. A worker's last known location can be found quickly through the computer system, which is also handy in the event of an evacuation. "We could instantly tell first respond- ers that somebody is in the building where they are located," says Purcell. The expansion at Organigram is well underway in preparing for rec- reational marijuana legalization. Not only does it provide additional space for production, but it also comes with some perks for employees. "There's a larger cafeteria and larger locker rooms and a common lounge area for employees, so whether it's on break or on lunch they can truly relax and unwind — or enjoy a game of foosball," says Purcell. "At the end of the day, as much fun as we make it, it is a job and we take it very seriously, so it's nice to provide some additional outlets for people." To keep safety top of mind, the company recently unveiled a safety mascot developed by workers them- selves: A smiling marijuana bud called Safety Buddy. T-shirts will be printed with the logo and distributed to workers, and Safety Buddy will also be appearing on various posters and safety materials. "We're taking that innovative employee engagement and really taking advantage of that and making safety more than just a policy but making it something that's real and tangible and a bit fun," says Purcell. "The employees really latched on to that concept and I think it's going to take our safety pro- gram to even new heights." The company is also hiring another safety co-ordinator to make sure there's enough resources on the safety team as the company — and the industry over- all — grows at an unprecedented pace. "We understand the industr y is new and we want to make sure we are doing our part to support the industry in a positive and proactive manner," Purcell says. "We happen to be in the cannabis business, but safety is safety and we treat it as such no matter the industry." check ID know the customer keep it clean keep it safe Making sure all people in the dispensary are of legal age is a foundation to selling cannabis compliantly. Workers should spend time with the identification and the person to ensure it is all legit. The repercussions of missing this step could lead to fines, jail time, suspension or revocation of license. Working in retail settings gives an opportunity to meet all sorts of delightful and devious people. Employees must always be aware of their surroundings. Managers should create policies to limit the number of people in the shop in a way that allows the team to always maintain control of the premises. If a customer is escalating a situation and workers feel unsafe, they should inform their manager, call security or notify law enforcement. Employees must be attentive to frequent, thorough handwashing and monitor the cleanliness of the shop and temperature control where appropriate. The dispensary will have security protocols, high grade locks and cameras. These features are designed to keep the employees, the consumers and the product safe. Make sure workers follow security procedures to the letter. Source: Maureen McNamara, founder, Cannabis Trainers budtenders Occupational health and safety needs to be considered for workers who are on the retail side of the cannabis business. All workers involved in the selling of cannabis should keep the following tips in mind:

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