The Trulieve company is creating a large cannabis grow, production and retail facility at the old American Thread Company’s Hadley Mills building at 56 Canal Street in Holyoke. (Don Treeger / The Republican)
A Florida-based cannabis company will pay $14,502 to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration as part of a settlement agreement after an employee died due to complications from her work in a Holyoke marijuana cultivation facility earlier this year, according to a press release from the company.
Lorna McMurrey, 27, died in January from an inability to breathe after inhaling cannabis dust at the facility.
In addition to the fine, Trulieve will perform a study to determine whether ground cannabis dust should be classified as a hazardous chemical in an occupational setting according to OSHA regulations. The study will be completed by May 29, 2023.
“We are proud of the many protections we have already put in place for our workers,” said Trulieve CEO Kim Rivers. “However, as an industry leader in what is still a relatively new manufacturing business, we want to continue to establish best practices, so our workers can have the health and safety assurances they need.”
The company is also currently working to implement a temporary information and training program to alert employees about potential allergic reactions they might experience working with cannabis dust, including steps to take if employees experience symptoms of allergies.
Trulieve said it would also evaluate other steps it may take, including working with a health professional to develop an employee guidance program on managing potential health impacts; making employees more aware of job transfer options, if available; making the temporary training program permanent; limiting access and exposure to the areas where cannabis is ground; and increasing the presence of workers who are trained in first aid.
OSHA originally fined Trulieve $35,219, but the fine was reduced under the settlement agreement and two “serious” items in the original citation were withdrawn, the company said.
“Increased-scale manufacturing in our industry is a relatively new endeavor and we are determined to continually ask questions and seek answers to make our workplace the safest and healthiest it can possibly be,” Rivers said.
At the time of McMurrey’s death, Trulieve’s Holyoke facility had already been under investigation by the state Cannabis Control Commission for several months after receiving complaints from employees.
The 126-square-foot cultivation facility at 56 Canal St. and 7 North Bridge St., a 150-year-old former mill building, was purchased by Trulieve in June 2019, MassLive previously reported.
Trulieve also operates retail dispensaries in Worcester, Northampton and Framingham.
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H/T: www.masslive.com
