Cultivation Operations Grow in Numbers and Size, Along with their Needs.
The average cultivation operation has increased from 18,000 to 36,000 square feet over the last few years in the United States. The U.S. cannabis industry now employs some 300,000 workers. The steady growth of this new industry has posed a significant task for regulatory agencies that have remained stagnant in size, with an ever-increasing scope. Additionally, a gap in support forworker health and safety issues has been demonstrated for cannabis workers. Whether illicit, adult use, or medical - every sector of cannabis production has issues accessing information on occupational health and this lack of information can pose significant risks to the worker.
Hazards seem to emerge during workplace tasks from the environment, tools, and materials used to ensure a saleable crop is finished. Are cannabis cultivation worker risks similar to those found in agriculture? Could working with this plant have its own unique occupational health and safety issues? The number of cultivation operations and their average size has increased greatly over the years. Yet, very little scientific information has been available regarding occupational health from the perspective of cannabis operators.
Cannabis businesses need data to stay ahead of issues they are facing. We are lucky to live in a time when studies are starting to be published about the cannabis industry. Preliminary evidence has been published on the challenges facing workers in cannabis operations whether they are indoor or outdoor, hemp or cannabis.
This data was recently published in the Journal of Agromedicine. The authors stated they were surprised their data demonstrated that the challenges facing cannabis cultivators are similar to mainstream agriculture, especially regarding occupational health and safety (OHS) issues. And most surprising, cultivators whose career’s “pre-dated legalization” seemed especially interested in seeking ways to keep their operations safe, the authors stated, “Contrary to our expectation, cannabis producers whose work pre-dated legalization were not resistant to OHS regulations or procedures, but rather demonstrated concern and prioritization of OHS; several described seeking out OHS information and training.”
Despite seeking out safety information through official channels, OHS officials may be unfamiliar with the cannabis industry and the unique challenges it faces. In some States it seems that businesses must be innovative and persistent to keep their operations safe and compliant, as regulatory authorities can be overwhelmed due to a number of factors.
Business solutions are few. Consultants are expensive, and available experts are expensive and often have limited availability. Software solutions, such as 3rd-party electronic checklists can assist with compliance and safety issues. Software products and consultants can help compliance-beginners or seasoned regulatory experts navigate complex and ever-changing regulations. A good use of an advisor may to be critically assess software products that claim to provide a quick and easy way to assess safety and compliance. Ideally a solution will provide the information you need in digestible chunks, such as fire, electrical, waste management, or any other topic. Automated reports make it easy to communicate and resolve issues before they become problems and upset the workplace.
Cultivation workers are the workers at the source. Without healthy and happy cultivation workers, the entire cannabis industry supply chain could falter. Research shows that cultivation workers are concerned about access to occupational health and safety resources, as they face mounting issues similar to commercial agricultural industries. One additional way to assist workers is by making sure they have the right tools, including an easy way to access information and assess compliance and safety.
