Evaluation of a Medicinal Cannabis Manufacturing Facility with an Indoor and Outdoor Grow Operation

Details

• Personal Author:
  Beezhold, Donald H. ; Couch, James R. ; Glassford, Eric ; Green, Brett J. ; Grimes, George R. ; Jackson, Stephen R. ; Lemons, Angela R. ; Swack, Leonard M. ; Wiegand, Douglas M.
• Corporate Authors:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Description:
  The Health Hazard Evaluation Program received a request from a union representative for a medical cannabis facility with an indoor and outdoor grow operation. The representative was concerned about the potential occupational and safety hazards associated with the harvesting and processing of cannabis. The indoor and outdoor grow facility grew Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica. Chemical pesticides were not used on the cannabis crop. We evaluated chemical and microbial hazards, conducted medical interviews with employees about their health concerns, administered a medical survey including a questionnaire, and evaluated employees' lung functioning using spirometry. We observed work practices related to cultivation, harvesting, processing, and decarboxylation. We found delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol acid, cannabidiol, and cannabinol in surface wipe samples throughout the facility. Diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione were identified in screening air samples, but later were not quantifiable in personal air samples. Agaricomycetes were the most common fungal class identified during both site visits. Full-shift endotoxin concentrations were all below the occupational exposure limit, but were higher during a short grinding task. Employees reported moderate job stress overall
  
  the most frequent report was a heavy workload. Employees reported safety concerns related to working with high pressure carbon dioxide, exit doors needing a badge to unlock, ergonomics, and working with large amounts of solvents. Some employees reported allergic, irritant, and musculoskeletal symptoms. Breathing test results were normal for seven of eight employees tested
  
  one result showed mild lung restriction. We recommended local exhaust ventilation for the grinding operations, moving the decarboxylation process to a seldom occupied area in the facility, developing a cleaning schedule to remove cannabis components from work and tool surfaces, and encouraging employees to report new or ongoing symptoms to their personal healthcare provider.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Cannabis Chemistry Endotoxins Environmental Monitoring Ergonomics Fungi Hazardous Substances Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Hypersensitivity Lung Microbiology Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Respiratory Function Tests Respiratory System Safety Solvents Stress, Psychological Surveys And Questionnaires Ventilation Volatile Organic Compounds

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• Keywords:
  Agricultural Workers Air Sampling Allergic Disorders Chemical Hazards Chemical Processing Exhaust Ventilation Exposure Assessment Fungus Health Surveys Indoor Environments Job Stress Marijuana Marijuana, Grown Under Cover Medical Monitoring Medical Treatment Medicinal Chemicals Microorganisms MSD Musculoskeletal System Disorders OSHA Region 5 Outdoors PFTs Pulmonary Function Pulmonary Function Tests Questionnaires Sampling Spirometry VOC VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds Work Operations Work Practices

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• Source:
  Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, HHE 2016-0090-3317, 2019 Aug ; :1-49
• Series:
  Health Hazard Evaluation Reports (HHE)
• DOI:
  https://doi.org/10.26616/NIOSHHHE201600903317revised082019
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Field Study
• Place as Subject:
  Minnesota ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DSHEFS - Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations, and Field Studies ; HELD - Health Effects Laboratory Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  56 pdf pages
• Contributor:
  Booher, Donald E. ; Fechter-Leggett, Ethan ; Galloway, Ellen ; Hall, Victoria ; Harvey, Reid ; King, Bradley ; LeBouf, Ryan ; Mueller, Charles ; Roberts, Jennifer ; Toennis, Chrissy ; Watts, Shawna
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20056908
• Citation:
  NIOSH [2018]. Evaluation of a medicinal cannabis manufacturing facility with an indoor ; and outdoor grow operation. By Couch J, Wiegand D, Grimes GR, Green BJ, Lemons ; AR, Glassford E, Zwack L, Jackson SR, Beezhold D. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department ; of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National ; Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Health Hazard Evaluation Report 2016-0090-3317,
• CAS Registry Number:
  Cannabis (CAS RN 8063-14-7) ; delta 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (CAS RN 1972-08-3) ; Cannabidiol (CAS RN 13956-29-1) ; Cannabinol (CAS RN 521-35-7) ; Diacetyl (CAS RN 431-03-8) ; 2,3-pentanedione (CAS RN 600-14-6) ; Carbon dioxide (CAS RN 124-38-9)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• NORA Priority Area:
  Healthcare and Social Assistance ; Services
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• NAICS and SIC Codes:
  111419 - Other Food Crops Grown Under Cover - (NAICS)
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6a65b0263ea364f6bd396d92478eec90ab5d1b2d9a92b2991d40b606394edc8526567bf1a53bde91697ba12cae3fbd8c2ff6ede2290143bbfa03714e196c9b9c
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/172339/cdc_172339_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.36 MB ]