Cannabis Workers Face Chronic Risk: Repetitive Motion Injuries

In Washington State’s legal cannabis industry claims (2015-2018), Over-exertion & Repetitive Motion accounted for ~25% of all injury claims.

A study of cannabis cultivation and processing workers in California found musculoskeletal pain reported universally among full-time trimming crews, extended periods of sitting, wrist/arm pain, back/shoulder discomfort from repetitive trimming tasks.

A systematic review of agricultural workers globally found that repetitive movements and forced postures were key predictors of MSDs in harvesting, pruning, loading, and other manual tasks — meaning cannabis operations that mirror those tasks are inheriting those risks.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) evaluation of a small cannabis trimming operation, hand-trimming tasks were identified as “highly repetitive work … increasing workers’ risk for musculoskeletal disorders.”

Hand Trimming = High Repetition Trimming bud involves repeated scissor cuts, hand/wrist motion, prolonged fine‐motor tasks. As noted before “trimmers sit for extended periods… hand and wrist pain from the repetitive movements of trimming.” With indoor growing and perpetual cycles, what used to be seasonal work becomes full‐time, increasing cumulative exposure.

Awkward Postures & Poor Ergonomics Many trim rooms use folding chairs, low tables, inadequate lighting, or workers bend/lean for hours. A California study described a worker: “I have been doing it for 8 years … I’m starting to see the toll on my body … I am starting to get a hunchback because of my position.” Department of Cannabis Control

Heavy Lifting, Bending & Agriculture Tasks Cultivation tasks such as pruning, harvesting, moving plant trays, carrying loads, bending and reaching mirror agriculture tasks known for high MSD risk. Washington claims data show sprains/strains/tears involved in over half of the “over-exertion & repetitive motion” claims.

Production Pressure & Extended Hours With scaling operations, trim crews often work long hours, under production quotas, fewer breaks, seasonal surges, adding fatigue and reducing recovery time. The California study noted pain worsened through the season and sometimes persisted after the shift.

Lack of Awareness or Formal Ergonomic Programs Many cannabis operations are still emerging industries, safety and ergonomic programs may be immature or under-resourced. For example, ergonomic requirements in California apply only after two employees report RMIs within a 12-month period; many states lack cannabis-specific ergonomic inspections.

Increased claim costs: Strains, tendonitis, carpal tunnel can lead to lost work time, workers’ compensation claims, higher premiums.

Reduced productivity: If your trim crew slows down because of pain or injury, quality may drop, costs rise, throughput falls.

Turnover & training costs: Injuries lead to turnover, hiring/training new staff, potential errors, loss of institutional knowledge.

Insurance and risk posture: For companies you advise through your OPS program, high claim frequency or inadequate ergonomic controls can raise underwriting risk and premiums.

Reputation and regulatory risk: In some jurisdictions, ergonomic hazards are noted in inspections; repeated injury reports may attract scrutiny.

Identify high-risk tasks: trimming, pruning, harvesting, lifting heavy trays, extended computer/packaging tasks.

Measure exposure: How long is the task, how many repetitions/hours per day, what postures, what tools?

Observe condition of seating, table height, lighting, tool condition (sharpness, maintenance).

Review break schedules and job rotation.

Engineering controls: Adjust table heights, provide ergonomically designed chairs, install height-adjustable workstations, ensure proper lighting, use tool designs optimized for repetitive motion (e.g., ergonomic scissors, automatic trimming machines where feasible).

Administrative controls: Limit trim shift duration, implement job rotation so different muscle groups are used, enforce regular breaks (micro-breaks), monitor fatigue levels.

Tool & equipment maintenance: Keep scissors sharp, replace broken handles, ensure wheelchairs/chairs are stable, minimize awkward postures.

Training & awareness: Teach workers correct posture, stretching routines, micro-break techniques, how to report symptoms early (tingling, wrist pain, wrist swelling).

Monitoring & feedback: Use injury/near-miss tracking, conduct regular ergonomic check-ins, solicit worker input for improvements.

Provide formal ergonomics training to new hires and annually thereafter.

Encourage a safety culture where workers feel comfortable reporting discomfort early (pre-injury).

Link ergonomic performance to broader risk management: connect MS-D prevention with your OPS program and insurance/underwriting conversations.

Incorporate ergonomics metrics into your Safety Program e.g., number of micro-breaks, completed workstation adjustments, job-rotation adherence, injury/near-miss trend tracking.

Use ergonomic controls and documentation as evidence of operational maturity in underwriting discussions or audits.

Protect your workforce and reduce injury-related downtime.

Improve productivity and quality through healthier, more engaged workers.

Enhance your risk profile, which supports better insurance placement, audits, and investor confidence.

Build a sustainable operation — one where ergonomic hazards aren’t buried in seasonal surge cycles but addressed systematically.