Colorado Releases Guide to Marijuana Workers Safety and Health
Colorado officials have released the Guide to Worker Safety and Health in the Marijuana Industry.
According to the guide’s official intro, it is “intended to help assist employers in the marijuana industry build occupational safety and health programs.” It was created by a Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment working group that included “epidemiologists, medical doctors, industrial hygienists, safety professionals, and regulatory specialists” According to the guide, this resulted in “a thorough review of the potential occupational safety and health issues in the industry”.
The guide points out that it doesn’t introduce any new regulations for the cannabis instead. Rather, it includes details about current regulations and best industry practices (using both state and federal guidelines).
Click here for the full Guide to Worker Safety and Health in the Marijuana Industry.
Below is more information about the working group that created the guide, including a full list of those involved:
The Colorado Marijuana Occupational Health and Safety Work Group is a multidisciplinary group that was convened to draw on expertise and experiences of many professionals in the Colorado community. The committee included professionals with a variety of skill sets, including epidemiologists, medical doctors, industrial hygienists, safety professionals, and regulatory specialists, which resulted in a thorough review of the potential occupational safety and health issues in the industry. The larger committee had several subcommittees that contributed to the production of this document. As the committee continues to meet, it is the intention that this guide will continue to grow to add information on how the industry can continue to address safety and health issues.
We would like to thank the following people and their respective organizations for their participation in the Colorado Marijuana Occupational Health and Safety Work Group:
Associates in Occupational and Environmental Health, LLC
Cynthia Ellwood, Ph.D., CIH, FAIHA
Boulder County Department of Public Health
Bill Hayes
Mike Richen, CIH
Ambra Sutherlin
Center for Worker Health and Environment, University of Colorado
Lee Newman, MD, MA
Liliana Tenney, MPH
C&IH Ventilation Engineering
Bill Mele, CIEC
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Dara Burris, MPH
Mike Van Dyke, Ph.D.,CIH
Roberta Smith, RN, MSPH, CIH
Shannon Barbare
Chris Lane
Megan Snow, MS, CHES
Elyse Contreras, MPH
Edward Smith
Meredith Towle, MPH
City of Aurora
Dave Jeary, MS, CSP
City of Longmont
Michelle Cogswell
Colorado Department of Agriculture
Mike Rigirozzi
Laura Quakenbush, Ph.D.
John Scott
Guide to Worker Safety and Health in the Marijuana Industry: 2017
Colorado State University
Gwenith Fisher, Ph.D
Joshua Schaeffer, Ph.D, MS
Kevin Walters, MS
Colorado State University- OSHA Consultation Program
Casey Barnes, MS, CSP
Del Sandfort, CIH
Layne Sargent, MS, CIH
Denver Environmental Health
Emily Backus
Janet Burgesser
Kirk Whitehead
Good Chemistry
Laura Davis
Green Hygiene, LLC
Sarah Kaiman, CIH, CHMM
Integrated Occupational Health and Safety-
Doug Herrick, CIH, CSPJeff Pothast & Associates INC.
Jeff Pothast, CIH
Marijuana Industry Group
National Jewish Health
Lisa Barker, CCRC, MPH
Alison Welch, MS
NIOSH Western States Office
Elizabeth Dalsey
Max Kiefer, MS, CIH
Bradley King, Ph.D., MPH, CIH
The OSHA Connection, LLC
Jolene Donahue, CSHS, OT
Pinnacol Assurance
Allison Hoskins, AINS
Guide to Worker Safety and Health in the Marijuana Industry: 2017
TriCounty Health Department
Michele Kinshella, MS, CIH
University of Colorado- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health
John Adgate, Ph.D., MSPH
University of Colorado- Occupational Health Residency
Brian Williams, MD
University of Colorado Denver
Marty Otañez, Ph.D.,