The cannabis industry is one of the fastest-growing agricultural sectors in the United States. But unlike most established industries, little is known about the health risks workers face on the job. With so many people working in cannabis cultivation, trimming, drying and processing operations, it’s important to understand the safety challenges that come with this rapidly expanding industry.
Over the past decade, there has been a dramatic expansion of the Cannabis industry in multiple US states. Although thousands of new employees are joining the workforce each year, very little is known about the occupational hazards and potential health effects for workers involved in Cannabis cultivation. Recent pilot studies have demonstrated that these workers are exposed to a variety of respiratory hazards and may be at increased risk of occupational lung diseases, particularly work-related asthma.
The PNASH Center focused on improving the health and safety of workers and workers' families, and communities in the farming, fishing, and forestry industries. The PNASH Center developed the Outreach Mini-grant Program to support stakeholder activities dedicated to promoting workplace health and safety among underserved agricultural health and safety topics and emerging needs expressed by AgFF stakeholders.
