Information for cannabis retailers

Oregon OSHA's hazard communication rules – there are rules for general industry, construction, and agriculture – require employers to train their employees to recognize chemical hazards and to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves.

Cannabis retailers will follow the hazard communication rules for general industry employers [1910.1200]. The hazard communication rules require employers to inform employees of hazards and identities of chemicals they are exposed to in the workplace and how they will be protected from those hazards.

General industry employers whose employees may be exposed to hazardous chemicals must have a written hazard communication program that that is specific to their workplace and includes:

• A list of all the hazardous chemicals in the workplace
• A description of the procedures for meeting the requirements for labels and other forms of warning, safety data sheets, and employee information and training
• A description of the methods for informing their employees about the hazards associated with nonroutine tasks and the hazards associated with chemicals in unlabeled pipes in their work areas

How to implement a hazard communication program:

• Review the hazard communication requirements for general industry employers and designate a person responsible for implementing them.
• Prepare a list of all hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
• Ensure that the primary (shipped) labels on containers of hazardous chemicals are legible, in English, and prominently displayed on the container in the work area.
• Have and review the safety data sheet (SDS) for each hazardous chemical that is used in the workplace, including residual pesticides encountered by workers doing field hand-labor operations. The SDSs must be readily accessible to all employees on all shifts. Where employees work at more than one workplace, the SDSs may be kept at the primary workplace.
• Train employees about hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment, and when a new physical or health hazard is introduced into their work area.
• Periodically reassess the program to make sure it is meeting its objectives and includes all hazardous chemicals in the workplace.

• Keep floors, work areas, aisles, and passageways clean, orderly, and sanitary.
• Keep floors free of hazards such as sharp or protruding objects, loose boards, corrosion, leaks, and spills. If a hazard cannot be corrected or repaired immediately, prevent employees from using the area until the hazard is corrected or repaired.
• Keep workrooms clean and (whenever possible) dry.

• Electrical appliances – such as refrigerators, coffee pots, and vending machines – must be properly grounded.
• Damaged wiring and frayed cords must be repaired or replaced promptly.
• Electrical panels must not be blocked. There must be at least three feet of clearance in front of the panel and clearance of 2.5 feet to each side the width of the equipment, whichever is greater.
• All unused openings in electrical panel boxes must be appropriately plugged or covered.
• Each circuit breaker is properly labeled.
• Switches, receptacles, and junction boxes have tight-fitting covers or face plates.

When workers' jobs involve awkward postures or excessive effort to complete a task, fatigue and discomfort are often the result. As those jobs are repeated over and over, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels are damaged. The resulting injuries are called work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). They are also known as overexertion injuries, cumulative traumas, and repetitive motion injuries.

WMSDs are easier – and less expensive – to treat in their early stages, but if left untreated, they can quickly become disabling.

WMSDs are not as common in retail settings as they are in grow operations; however, employers should be aware of tasks that could put workers at risk, such as repetitive lifting – especially lifting heavy objects above shoulder level.

Workplace violence is violence or the threat of violence against workers. It can occur at or outside the workplace and can range from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and homicide.

Employers should have a violence prevention program that includes information on how their employees can recognize situations involving homeless people who may become hostile. Employers should also provide violence prevention training to all employees so they know how to respond to such situations in ways that minimize their risk of injury.