Essential Safety and Health Plans for Cannabis Facilities
By Alex Hearding, Founder & President – Red Wolf Risk LLC
Why Every Cannabis Operation Needs a Safety and Health Program
The cannabis industry is evolving quickly, but worker safety and regulatory compliance haven’t always kept pace. Every cannabis business, from cultivation to manufacturing to retail, should have a formal Safety and Health Program that not only satisfies OSHA but also demonstrates a proactive safety culture to insurers, regulators, and employees.
A strong program includes:
Employee safety training procedures
Hazard identification and assessment
Written safety and health plans sometimes called the facility’s safety program or safety manual
Below are the core safety programs that every cannabis facility should implement to protect workers and meet regulatory expectations.
1️⃣ Hazard Communication Plan (HazCom)
The Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200) requires employers to inform employees about chemical hazards in the workplace. Every cannabis business that handles fertilizers, cleaning agents, extraction solvents, pesticides, or other chemicals must maintain a written plan detailing:
A list of all hazardous chemicals used on-site
Labeling procedures for original and secondary containers
Safety Data Sheets (SDS) available and accessible at all times
Employee training on hazard recognition and protective measures
Periodic audits should verify that labels are intact, SDSs are current, and training remains up-to-date.
2️⃣ Emergency Action Plan (EAP)
OSHA 1910.38 requires every facility to maintain an Emergency Action Plan. Cannabis businesses face a range of potential emergencies — from fires and chemical spills to natural disasters or active-threat incidents.
Your plan should outline:
Reporting and evacuation procedures
Accountability methods for all employees during an emergency
Roles for critical operations staff who remain during shutdowns
Communication systems for alerts and coordination
Each shift should include at least one first-aid/CPR-certified employee, and facilities should maintain first-aid kits (ANSI Z308.1-2015 compliant), AEDs, and eye-wash stations.
3️⃣ Pesticide Application Program
Cannabis cultivation falls under the EPA Worker Protection Standard (WPS) and state pesticide rules. A compliant pesticide program should include:
WPS training for agricultural workers and handlers
SDS and inventory of all pesticides
Proper PPE and respirator training
Secure storage of chemicals in locked, ventilated cabinets
Spill response and decontamination procedures
Right-to-Know postings and re-entry interval compliance
Application logs documenting date, time, applicator, product ID, and REI
4️⃣ Respiratory Protection Program
OSHA 1910.134 requires a written program wherever respirators are used. This is especially relevant for:
Trimming and grinding areas generating cannabis dust
Extraction or cleaning processes using solvents
Pesticide applications
Your plan should specify:
Respirator selection criteria
Medical evaluations and fit-testing
Cleaning, maintenance, and replacement schedules
Training on use, limitations, and emergency response
Document every fit test and retain logs of filter cartridge changes.
5️⃣ Lockout/Tagout (Energy Control) Program
Machinery used in cultivation, extraction, or manufacturing can store dangerous energy. A Lockout/Tagout program (29 CFR 1910.147) safeguards employees during servicing or maintenance by defining:
Isolation and shutdown procedures
Authorized personnel responsibilities
Device placement, removal, and verification steps
Annual audits and employee training
6️⃣ Hearing Conservation Program
Noise exposure is often overlooked in cannabis facilities, especially around extraction equipment, fans, chippers, and compressors. If workers are exposed to 85 dBA or higher, employers must implement a hearing conservation program that includes:
Noise monitoring and control measures
Provision of hearing protectors (earplugs/muffs)
Annual training and audiometric testing
Recordkeeping for exposure and hearing test data
Reducing noise not only protects hearing but also improves morale and productivity.
7️⃣ Fire Prevention Plan
A written Fire Prevention Plan identifies hazards, storage limits, and control measures for flammable materials, including extraction solvents, ethanol, and compressed gases. At minimum, your plan should cover:
Inventory of major fire hazards
Ignition source controls
Fire suppression and inspection procedures
Responsible personnel for maintaining equipment and safety systems
Housekeeping and waste management protocols
Local fire departments may have additional cannabis-specific requirements, particularly for extraction facilities.
8️⃣ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Assessment
Employers must evaluate each job to determine necessary PPE — and re-evaluate when tasks or hazards change. A proper PPE program includes:
Hazard assessments for each workstation
PPE selection and employee training
Documentation of fit, care, and replacement procedures
9️⃣ Permit-Required Confined Space Program
Any space not designed for continuous occupancy , such as water tanks, sumps, or ducts, may qualify as a permit-required confined space. If such spaces exist, employers must:
Identify and label hazards (e.g., “DANGER – PERMIT-REQUIRED CONFINED SPACE – AUTHORIZED ENTRANTS ONLY”)
Train employees on entry procedures
Either hire qualified third parties or meet full OSHA entry requirements
Refer to OSHA 2138 PDF for full standards.
🔟 Fall Protection Program
Falls from ladders, mezzanines, and elevated work platforms are among the leading causes of workplace injuries. Cannabis facilities must address fall hazards through:
Guardrails, safety nets, or personal fall-arrest systems
Pre-work hazard assessments
Training on equipment use and inspection
OSHA’s Sample Fall Protection Plan provides a useful framework.
Turning Compliance into Culture
These programs aren’t just boxes to check — they’re how cannabis businesses protect their teams, reduce downtime, and build credibility with regulators, lenders, and insurers. When integrated into a larger Operational Preparedness System (OPS) or Quality Management System (QMS), safety becomes measurable, repeatable, and insurable.
That’s how Red Wolf Risk helps clients turn compliance into capital.
About Red Wolf Risk
Red Wolf Risk LLC helps cannabis operators, lenders, and insurers transform risk into ROI through the Operational Preparedness System (OPS) the only cannabis-specific framework connecting safety, compliance, and insurance into one measurable system.
Learn more at redwolfrisk.com
Alex Hearding is the Founder and President of Red Wolf Risk and has more than 17 years of experience in cannabis operations, risk management, quality systems, and regulatory compliance.
This piece is part of Chronic Risk, the insights publication of Red Wolf Risk. Read the full article, comments, and related essays on the original publication.
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