Currently, there are 36 states that allow medical marijuana use, and 19 states allow recreational cannabis use for adults over 21. Cannabis cultivation, processing, packaging, and marketing have become big business in the US, and experts predict the cannabis industry will continue to grow as demand increases. As with all industries, there are safety concerns for employees. Cannabis greenhouses and processing facilities can be dangerous places with elevated work surfaces, wet conditions, and other fall hazards. It’s vital that the proper indoor fall protection is used to protect workers and to satisfy OSHA compliance obligations.
It’s Up to You to Provide OSHA-Compliant Fall Protection
Employers across industry lines are required under OSHA 1910.28 to protect employees from falls when working at a height of 4′ or more above the lower level. Therefore, you need to set up your facility in such a way that falls from overhead platforms, elevated work surfaces, catwalks, and other openings are prevented. OSHA doesn’t, however, tell you which fall protection systems you must use. That means it’s up to you to evaluate your situation and make the best choice to keep your employees safe from falls and to keep your facility OSHA compliant
Common Cannabis Facility Fall Hazards
Large-scale commercial cannabis greenhouses and processing facilities are busy places full of people, equipment, and products. This type of environment can lead to falls if the right devices and equipment like safety gates for ladders, guardrails, and swing gates aren’t used. Some of the key areas to focus on when it comes to fall safety in a cannabis facility include:
Damp or Wet Areas
The best way to prevent slip and fall accidents due to wet conditions is to immediately clean up the water. But grow facilities are often damp due to irrigation and high humidity. While these things are essential to plant growth, the conditions can be dangerous, and it’s not always possible to eliminate the hazard. A guardrail system that meets OSHA standards along with self closing gates will help manage foot traffic and limit exposure. Workers should also be issued personal protective equipment like non-slip boots for wet, slippery work.
Elevated Surfaces and Walkways
Square footage is at a premium, and you need to take advantage of every inch you can in your grow house. Mezzanines, catwalks, and other elevated surfaces are a prime place for falls to happen. Leading edges of these surfaces should be surrounded by a protective guard rail system. And any access points should be protected with OSHA compliant fall protection devices like self closing gates or metal swing gates.
Fixed Ladders
Moving from one level to the next, or gaining access to the rooftop, in some cannabis production facilities requires workers to climb a fixed ladder. If this is the case in your organization, you need to make sure the rungs or steps are evenly spaced, clear of debris, non-slip, and capable of handling the weight they’re intended to. If the ladder reaches more than 24′ from the lower level, you need a ladder safety system or personal fall protection system in place. OSHA 1917.18 also requires safety gates for ladders or an offset for ladder entrances.
Machines and Equipment
Another area of your cannabis operation that you may want to consider installing a fall protection system is around machinery and equipment. Creating a protective perimeter using a guardrail system with self closing gates at the entrance will dramatically decrease the potential for falls. Plus, it keeps unauthorized personnel from entering these potentially sensitive areas of your facility.
Material and Supply Storage
Raising cannabis plants and processing them requires a variety of supplies from fertilizers to containers to hold the finished product. Storing these supplies where they’re convenient for use, yet don’t create a fall hazard is key to protecting employees. Careful organization, meticulous housekeeping, and enclosing supply areas with a safety rail system with a self closing gate will help minimize fall hazards.
Equipment Maintenance and Repair Access
Lights, fans, irrigation systems, dehumidifiers, and ventilation equipment are essential to a cannabis facility. Because these components are so important to the process, they need regular maintenance and occasional repairs. This may require workers to climb a ladder and work from an elevated surface. You’ll need safety gates for ladders, personal fall arrest systems, a guardrail system, or other acceptable OSHA compliant equipment.
Shipping and Receiving
Your building’s loading docks make it easy to get the materials, supplies, and equipment you need to keep your facility operating. But they’re also an area that needs special attention. Fall protection systems like guardrails and metal swing gates help keep workers from falling while loading and unloading from these high traffic areas. Installing warning lights, painting around the perimeter with high-contrast paint, and using audio alarms can also reduce fall hazards.
How to Choose the Best Indoor Fall Protection
Identifying areas of concern in your cannabis facility is only part of the equation. Once you know there’s a problem, you have to act to either eliminate the fall hazard or to minimize the exposure workers will have to it. Although OSHA does specify it’s your duty to provide fall protection equipment and devices, there’s often no specific type of system or equipment OSHA requires. Some things you should do include:
- Enlist the help of a qualified safety expert to perform an inspection of your facility.
- Observe the movements, behaviors, and challenges employees face.
- Determine the areas where fall hazards are present.
- Develop a plan to minimize or eliminate the fall hazard.
- Install OSHA compliant fall protection systems as recommended by your safety expert.
- Provide OSHA compliant personal fall protection devices as needed.
- Provide employees with safety training upon hiring them and on an ongoing basis.
Indoor Fall Protection You Can Trust
Compliance with OSHA’s regulations is a requirement for cannabis growers and processors, just like every other industry. Special circumstances inside a grow house or processing facility make it difficult to protect workers from falls. If you’re concerned with compliance in your cannabis facility, or you just want to learn more about indoor fall protection devices and equipment, contact the fall protection specialists at Fabenco. We’re safety experts with decades of experience helping businesses avoid costly OSHA penalties and fines while improving workplace safety and productivity.
