Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify...
Transcript of Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify...
![Page 1: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO | COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY | UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO
Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry
AIHA-ASSE Fall Technical Conference 2014
Liliana Tenney Starr, MPH
![Page 2: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Acknowledgements MAP ERC Interdisciplinary Team
Kate Johnesee, Kevin Walters, Stacy Hibiske, Brian Williams, Britt Mueller, Industry partners
CDPHE Workgroup
Mike VanDyke Meredith Towle Elyse Contreras
![Page 3: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Wellness & Safety Culture • Assess and describe opportunities to promote healthy behaviors
among industry workers
• Provide guidance to employers on how to promote a culture of wellness and safety, with specific examples of proven strategies appropriate for the industries
• Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety
• Identify training opportunities for health promotion and health protection
![Page 4: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Overview • Introductions and MAP ERC Interdisciplinary Course • Fall 2013 Marijuana Grow Operation (MGO) Assessment • Observations (Total Worker Health Approach):
– Environmental Exposures – General Safety – Ergonomics – Organizational Culture
• Work processes and OSH recommendations • Future projects
– PILOT Project Proposal – Worksite training
![Page 5: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
![Page 6: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Project Overview • Medical marijuana grower, producer and retailer
– 18 full time – 15 contracted – 45% women
• Assessment to examine occupational and environmental health and safety
• The Golden Child of MMJ • Adopting best-practices from agriculture • Expanding rapidly
![Page 7: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
![Page 8: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Overall Observations
• Organizational supports • Security • New technologies • Engineering controls • Air monitoring • Major focus on “Plant
Health”
![Page 9: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Environment • Building impairment • High humidity • High chemical concentration • Limited ventilation • Water systems • Fire and explosion hazards
– Electrical – CO2 generators
![Page 10: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
![Page 11: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
PPE • Provide PPE engaging in potentially hazardous
tasks • Latex gloves for trimming • Lab coats – to limit plant cross contamination • Half-mask 3M respirator for pesticide application
![Page 12: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Potential Health & Safety Hazards • Skin and airway irritation (specific
to strain) – Trimming times during harvest seem
to provoke reactions • Elevated levels of CO and/or CO2
and other gases • Ventilation and HVAC systems –
oxygen-depleted • Electrical systems • Pluming systems (not assessed)
• Pesticides – limited exposures • Mold – none observed but no
sampling was conducted • Ergonomics - Awkward wrist
postures in trimming work (10-12 hours per day)
– Modified work stations
![Page 13: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
General Safety Risks and Exposures • Standing water • Hoses • High-intensity grow lamps • Tight spaces
Recommendations • Safety signage • Identify best method for
humidifiers • Identify and mark all
slipping hazards • Remove and properly
dispose of any chemicals
![Page 14: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Employee Use on the Job • 90-100% of employees are cardholders • They use medical marijuana before or during shifts • Instances of “over-medicated” employees on the job • Impact on work performance • Worker compensation policies
![Page 15: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Other Observations • Retail security • Hostile customers • Contractors during
harvest • Seasonality
• Stigma: both industry and workforce
• Potential buffers: – Org. culture – Social support – Autonomy and task
rotation – Focus on “wellness”
![Page 16: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Total Worker Health Provided services and benefits: • Tobacco control • Nutrition • Stress Management • Mental Health (free
counseling) • Substance Abuse
• Cancer screening, prevention and survivorship
• Violence and harassment prevention plan
• Health insurance • Incentives for participation
**#1 factor contributing to providing benefits = high impact on employee job satisfaction
![Page 17: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
MAP ERC PILOT Project • Recognized need for further investigation • Applied for NIOSH PILOT funding through MAP ERC • Research-to-Practice (R2P) • 5 specific aims:
– Understand worker population – Identify health, safety, and psychological work stress hazards – Assess awareness of OESH issues among workers – Identify workplace support systems – Disseminate results, provide training recommendations
![Page 18: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Worksite Training • Translate findings into training recommendations
– Primary, secondary, and tertiary • Disseminate throughout industry • Evaluate effectiveness
– Trainee reactions and learning • Future goals
– Work with CDPHE, OSHA, and NIOSH to determine OESH surveillance methods in this industry
![Page 19: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Wellness & Safety Culture Assess and describe opportunities to promote healthy & safe behaviors among industry workers. Observations
– Strong leadership support for employee health & wellbeing
– Currently, safety and health practice might be reactive
– Inconsistency of written policies and practices
– Lack of training – No instruction manual on how
to build or operate a grow
Opportunities – Conduct a workplace and
safety assessment – Integrate safety and health
into manager and employee – Make employee health and
safety a priority – Communicate commitment to
health and safety company-wide (consistently)
![Page 20: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Wellness & Safety Culture Assess and describe opportunities to promote healthy & safe behaviors among industry workers. Observations Continued ----- • Long work hours • Employees are cross-trained • Use of marijuana both on/off the job • Potential risks identified:
– Retail: security and stress from dealing with difficult customers – Grow: potential chemical exposures, allergens – All: job security, stigmatization
![Page 21: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Wellness & Safety Culture Provide guidance to employers on how to promote a culture of wellness and safety.
– Conduct a worksite health and safety survey – Comply with all applicable OSHA standards – Communicate the importance of assuring safe
and healthy workplace – Provide training, education and assistance to all
employees
![Page 22: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety.
– Establish safety goals based on OSHA standards and guidelines
– Communicate commitment to safety and health – Create leading and lagging safety and health
indicators – Engage owners and managers to educate them on
safety and health best-practices
![Page 23: Wellness and Safety Culture in the Marijuana Industry...Wellness & Safety Culture Identify organizational level interventions to improving health and safety. – Establish safety goals](https://reader036.fdocuments.net/reader036/viewer/2022071022/5fd674a361c7154b5c021657/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO | COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY | UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN COLORADO
Questions?
Thank you.