Report summary
On January 4, 2022, a 27-year-old flower production technician at an indoor cannabis cultivation and processing facility experienced an asthma exacerbation. She was working with processed cannabis, became short of breath and ultimately stopped breathing and lost consciousness.
| Incident Highlights | |
|---|---|
| Date | January 4, 2022 |
| Time | 12:30 p.m. |
| Victim | 27-year-old flower production technician |
| Industry/NAICS Code | Other Food Crops Grown Under Cover/111419 |
| Employer | Cannabis cultivation and processing, indoors |
| Safety & Training | Lacked a comprehensive safety and health program and had limited training |
| Scene | Cannabis processing facility |
| Location | Massachusetts |
| Event Type | Asthma exacerbation |
Contributing factors
Key contributing factors identified in this investigation include:
- Failure to recognize ground cannabis as a potential occupational respiratory hazard
- Failure to adequately control the spread of airborne cannabis dust
- Lack of a comprehensive safety and health program and overall safety training
Recommendations
Massachusetts FACE investigators concluded that, to help prevent similar occurrences, employers should:
- Assess and control hazardous materials in the workplace, including asthmagens.
- Ensure that all workers are properly trained about hazardous materials in the workplace.
- Develop and implement a comprehensive safety and health program that addresses hazard recognition, avoidance of unsafe conditions, and proper use of equipment.
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| Date published: | November 16, 2023 |
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