Oregon OSHA Creates Online Safety and Health Guide for Proper Cannabis Handling
Cannabis companies now have a step-by-step guide to safety.
- By Shereen Hashem
- Apr 07, 2021
Oregon OSHA wants cannabis growers, processors and retailers to be safe by identifying hazards with their work and how to properly to correct them. Oregon OSHA came up with an online safety and health guide to ensure this happens.
The guide helps employers determine which rules apply to their businesses and highlights seven core requirements:
1. Identify workplace hazards
- Workplace hazards are anything that puts employees’ health or safety at risk.
- Employers and Employees can all identify hazards.
- You must require employees to report all hazards immediately.
2. Report and record workplace injuries
- Report the death of an employee or catastrophe (two or more employees fatally injured, or three or more employees admitted to a hospital or an equivalent medical facility) within eight hours.
- Report loss of an eye, amputation or avulsion (the tearing away or forcible separation of a body part by trauma) resulting in loss of a bone.
3. Display the Oregon OSHA “It’s the law” poster
- Posters must be put up where employees can see them.
- There is free online access to required posters.
4. Establish a safety committee or hold safety meetings
- If you are a cannabis processor, retailer or grower, the best way to determine if you need these is to read this which covers the requirements.
5. Make sure your employees are properly trained
- Employees must know their safety responsibilities, what hazards they could be exposed to and how to eliminate or control their exposures.
- Employers must ensure new employees are trained to safely do their jobs before they begin working for the first time.
- There needs to be an outline of the hazards for each task.
- Learn more about proper training here.
6. Develop your Oregon OSHA-required programs
- Some Oregon OSHA rules require you to develop different procedures and policies to protect employees.
- There are different programs for growers, processors and retailers–see them here.
7. Prepare for emergencies
- The workplace should have a plan that ensures your employee will respond properly.
- Create an emergency action plan, fire prevention plan, exits and exit routes, as well as exit signs.
- Properly construct hazardous areas such as passageways and rooms.
To know if Oregon OSHA’s rules apply to your business, click here.
About the Author
Shereen Hashem is the Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety magazine.