PPE for Cannabis Growers & Dispensaries
Keep Workers Safe with Cannabis PPE for Growers and Dispensaries
PPE for the cannabis industry is important for keeping workers safe in this fast-growing industry. Find out how cannabis PPE can protect workers.
Cannabis PPE Protects Workers Amid Heightened Production
Several states in the US have begun to legalize recreational or medical cannabis. Greater legalization has led to increased production, making it more critical than ever for cannabis growers, processors, and dispensaries to take proper precautions to avoid potential injuries.
There is no federal guidance on safety and PPE for cannabis growers or dispensaries, but there is guidance on how to handle the hazards of cannabis production and processing. For example, the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment created a comprehensive Guide to Worker Health and Safety in the Marijuana Industry, and many OSHA regulations apply to cannabis businesses across the production lifecycle.
Disposable Gloves | Respiratory Protection | Eye and Face Protection | Hearing Protection | Protective Clothing
Does OSHA Apply to the Cannabis Industry?
Despite a lack of federal regulation, OSHA has the jurisdiction to inspect cannabis agricultural, retail, and processing operations. In addition, they will cite companies for workplace violations, so now is the time to prepare your cannabis business for an OSHA inspection.
Cannabis-related businesses have lost millions of dollars due to OSHA violations. Some of the most common citations relate to PPE for cannabis. To safeguard your business from citations and keep workers safe, your cannabis cultivation and processing business should assess potential workplace hazards, and then train employees in the proper use of PPE. PPE for cannabis will help protect them from chemical, biological, and physical hazards on the job.
Chemical Hazards
When workers encounter chemical compounds used in the production of cannabis, they can experience respiratory irritation, skin rashes, or chemical burns. Cannabis growers and processing workers may cross paths with chemical hazards like:
- Fertilizers
- Plant Nutrients
- Fungicides & Pesticides
- Carbon Monoxide
- Gasoline or other fuels
Biological Hazards
Mold is the most significant biological danger in cannabis production because the plants must be exposed to a certain level of humidity. These high humidity levels can encourage the growth of mold, which often causes allergic reactions or respiratory issues. In addition, concentrated cannabis resin can prompt allergic reactions like itchy skin or swollen eyes.
Physical Hazards
Extracting and processing plant matter often requires flammable substances alongside heavy equipment, high pressures, and potentially hazardous cleaning chemicals. Physical hazards of cannabis production can include:
- Farming or processing equipment that can injure workers
- Malfunction or misuse of pressurized processing equipment
- Exposure to flammable chemicals that may not wash off immediately
- Cleaning chemicals can cause skin and respiratory irritation
- Workers can be exposed to harsh outdoor conditions
Learn more about PPE from our Safety Knowledge CenterÂ
Protect Workers from Hazards with Cannabis PPE
Stauffer Glove and Safety is a 5th-generation family-owned business that has grown from humble beginnings in 1907 into the largest safety and PPE business in the US. We have deep relationships with suppliers formed over several decades of service in the safety industry. We also have distribution centers strategically positioned near industrial centers to tailor customized services and local inventory to our customer’s specific needs. Rest assured that when you choose Stauffer for your cannabis PPE needs, you are putting your trust in the hands of a company whose number one priority is your safety.
Below are some of the most common PPE for cannabis production that we offer, but you can also view all of our cannabis PPE products here.
What Do Cannabis Workers Wear to Stay Safe?
Disposable Gloves
Since most cannabis is slated for human consumption, choosing the right disposable glove PPE for cannabis production is important. Which gloves should be used for working in cannabis and to handle resin? Disposable gloves protect employees' hands from cleaning chemicals, allergic reactions, and THC while also protecting the cannabis from potential contamination. Choose a disposable glove with a maximum AQL of 2.5 (medical grade) to protect your workers and product.
Shop Disposable Glove Cannabis PPE
Disposable Respirators
Engineering controls should be implemented to ensure proper ventilation, thus reducing the risk of exposure to CO, CO2, and NOx. During normal operations, respiratory PPE for cannabis growers like an N95 Disposable Respirator can help minimize exposures to mold, dust, pesticides, cleaning agents, or other chemicals being used onsite. N95 Disposable Respirators are rated to filter out 95% of airborne particulates.
Eye, & Face Protection
Workers in the cannabis production industry must protect their face and eyes from THC, pesticides, and other chemicals outlined above. Flying debris may create projectile hazards from the harvesting and processing of cannabis. Employers should consider the hazards related specifically to their work site and determine if eye and face PPE for cannabis growers like safety eyewear, a full face shield, or some combination is necessary.
Protective Clothing
Like all PPE for cannabis growers, the best protective clothing for growers is as comfortable as it is safe. High-quality protective clothing that offers comfort on top of safety is more likely to be used regularly. In addition, protective clothing protects the plants themselves. Since most cannabis produced is slated for human consumption, the utmost care must be taken to avoid contamination. Protective clothing for cannabis growers ensures that human workers do not contaminate the plants with their bodily fluids, skin flaking, hair shedding, fingernail dirt, and other bodily debris.
Shop Clothing for Cannabis Growers
Hearing Protection
Compressors, moving equipment, conveyors, and chippers are all examples of equipment that may emit significant noise during cannabis production. Per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.95, employers must provide a variety of suitable hearing protectors which may include in-ear and over-the-ear protection. Employers must also provide training and ensure initial proper fit of hearing PPE for cannabis.
Certified Protection
Ansell is a leader in the Cannabis PPE industry. They have curated styles that are tested and approved, as well as certified for protection against THC.
FDA Approved
Select Ansell products are also FDA- approved for food use in compliance with HACPP for your protection.
Medical Grade
Ansell provides select THC- approved styles that offer higher quality medical grade protection.