Denver — A brand new Local Emphasis Program from OSHA is geared toward figuring out and lowering office hazards related to cannabis processing, rising, cultivation and product manufacturing.
The LEP – slated to stay in impact by way of July 18, 2029 – applies to amenities concerned with cannabis operations below the oversight of the Denver and Englewood, CO, space places of work.
“Activities such as extraction and production of concentrates involve the use of flammable liquids and have resulted in serious injuries to employees from burns and explosions,” OSHA says. “Other hazards such as electrical issues, exposure to hazardous chemicals and unguarded machinery are also prevalent.”
Agency outreach efforts will embody coaching classes with stakeholders and digital info sharing by way of newsletters. Enforcement actions might contain programmed inspections and evaluate of assorted actions, such because the analysis of working situations, data, and security and well being packages.
In the previous seven years, the Denver and Englewood space places of work have performed 44 grievance, fatality and referral inspections, in addition to a number of incident investigations, which included three deaths.
The most typical citations concerned violations of OSHA requirements on hazard communication (1910.1200; 66% of the inspections), respiratory safety (1910.134; 41%), private protecting gear (1910.132; 20%) and flammable liquids (1910.106; 18%).
“The intent of this regional emphasis program is to encourage employers to take steps to address hazards, ensure facilities are evaluated to determine if they are complying with all relevant OSHA requirements and to help them correct hazards, thereby reducing potential injuries, illnesses and death for their workers,” the LEP states.
