Cannabis Businesses Injury and Illness Prevention Program
Safety management is sometimes an afterthought for cannabis businesses that rushed to hire and set up shop in a budding cannabis market. Employees are a business’ greatest asset, regardless of the industry. Ensuring they can operate in a safe environment is equivalent to taking care of your business.
The good news is it’s never too late to initiate an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), required in some states like California and a best practice for all others. IIPPs, sometimes known as a Safety Management System (SMS), should include the following elements:
- A written plan
- Appropriate training
- Program evaluation and a continuous improvement process
If your cannabis business operates across multiple states, consider conforming all operations to the most stringent state requirements to streamline processes and procedures. Start small and manageable and build on your IIPP as your cannabis business grows and operations become more complicated. Continuous improvement should be a central element of an IIPP.
Key components of a Cannabis Business IIPP
- Identify a responsible leader to manage the implementation and maintenance of an IIPP.
- Create a compliance system to ensure employees comply with the safe and healthful work practices in the IIPP and have a voice in the process.
- Set up a communication system to distribute safety information to employees. This should include meetings, training programs, posted or written notification and any other means to ensure effective communication with employees. Employees must be encouraged to inform their employer of hazards at the worksite without fear of reprisal.
- Implement hazard assessment and correction procedures to identify and evaluate all workplace hazards. Instituting periodic inspections will help correct identified hazards in a timely manner, including unsafe or unhealthy work conditions. Include procedures for the abatement of imminent hazards and the removal of exposed employees from the area if the hazard can’t be immediately abated. Make sure employees have the right gear and safeguards.
- An accident/exposure investigation procedures documented that can be followed by anyone investigating workplace injuries or illnesses.
- Institute an effective training program to instruct employees and their supervisors on safe work practices and hazards specific to each job assignment. Additional training must also be given when required by OSHA or your state plan.
- Maintain adequate records and other written documentation of the steps taken to establish and maintain the employer’s IIPP, including training and inspection records.
For the IIPP to be effective, it must be specific to the workplace and have buy-in from all employees, supervisors and management. Make sure to regularly review and update the IIPP to maintain its effectiveness.
