There are about 18 cannabis dispensaries in the state of New Jersey. Cannabis became legal in the U.S. in 1996 in California; however, it did not become legal in New Jersey until the start of 2021. With a small pool of competition, a newer ground of now-legalized products, and specific policies associated with proper selling, there is a lot of room to make mistakes.
Therefore, marijuana industry workplace compliance is vital when starting a cannabis business in the state. Cannabis is a billion-dollar industry, so it’s not hard to see why there is such an interest in starting a “grow” business. However, it’s not as simple as you might think, and there are some challenges that you can expect to face when starting a cannabis business legally.
It can be financially beneficial and a sustainable business option if done the right way. Keep reading as we break down marijuana laws throughout New Jersey and how to navigate compliance regulations in the state.
Marijuana Industry Workplace Compliance: How It Works in New Jersey
NJ marijuana industry workplace compliance refers to the rules and regulations that must be followed by cannabis businesses to stay within state standards. Compliance regulations are set to ensure all business operations are safe and legal and that they don’t negatively impact the community in any way.
All businesses that deal with cannabis must follow these policies. For New Jersey, this will apply to hiring and firing employees and how you run your operation. While it’s well known that by federal law, marijuana use is prohibited, there are exceptions for states that have legalized its use.
This means that it’s protected within New Jersey for medical and recreational use. This also means that using either type can’t result in adverse action against an employee you might hire or solely determine if you hire someone. However, some employment provisions, like any workplace, prohibit use when on the job or the premises of a job site.
What to Know About Testing
These safeguards were implemented to protect and ensure safe operations for those directly and indirectly affected by any onsite work, machines operated, or products used. This is a way to protect against potential impairment.
It’s also a top reason for the need for health and safety programs. With impairment, you must be aware that there isn’t a formal understanding of what level of THC equates to impairment. This comes from many unreliable observations compared to field sobriety test options.
This means that although it’s known that marijuana has psychoactive components, you cannot say that someone is in the same impaired state as another person that might fail a test for alcohol or other drugs. With this, you should also keep in mind that testing for marijuana is different than tests for other alternatives.
Different marijuana products may also present different effects, further complicating testing and observation. Additionally, these facts have stemmed from an ongoing debate throughout the industry.
Companies should avoid depending on drug tests as a means of detection. Instead, companies should start using tests to measure actual impairment based on work quality.
State Marijuana Laws: What You Need to Know
State marijuana laws can often come off as complicated. While its legal status isn’t the same everywhere, your business must comply with the fact that it isn’t legal for everyone, even in legalized states. In New Jersey, the legal age for marijuana possession and use is 21.
You will also have to ensure that you pay any associated fees as part of your legal distribution status. Also, suppose you plan on starting a cannabis business. In that case, you will need training in the cannabis and marijuana industry to ensure you comply with New Jersey policies and regulations.
What Are Some Initial Steps to Starting a Cannabis Business in NJ?
Getting started can seem like a large undertaking. You will be required to have proof of real estate acquisition. You will also have to present all required planning documents and approval from the municipality where you operate.
This is all associated with the standard licensing alone. This isn’t including mock blueprints or other associated fees. To give you an idea of the fees that will need to be paid, some of them would be:
Testing laboratory approval fee
Conditional conversion submission fee
Expanded ATC certification fee
Selling marijuana products in New Jersey can seem complex. With the proper guidance, it’s not as tricky as it would seem.
What to Keep In Mind as You Prepare to Start Your Business
Even though marijuana is legal in New Jersey, you must follow specific rules and regulations to open a cannabis business. There are two main types of cannabis licenses issued in New Jersey. They are cannabis cultivators and cannabis dispensaries. There are, however, six licenses that you can apply for:
Wholesaler
Retailer
Cultivator
Delivery service
Distributor
Manufacturer
If you want to apply for a cannabis growing license, you must have a New Jersey residence. In general, usually, all business owners would need to be residents.
However, if one owner is a resident and all owners pass a background check, this would qualify. To qualify as a resident, you must have resided in the state for at least two years.
Additionally, customers don’t only have to be New Jersey residents. They can be visitors to the state if they are 21 or older. You must also apply for a dispensary license in the county where you want to operate your business.
You must pay an application fee for a cannabis dispensary license. There is a fee schedule (non-refundable) created by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission that all businesses must comply with. Also, keep in mind that there is a difference between medical and recreational marijuana.
The retail licensing fee will come out to $10,000. For a license as a cultivator, this will depend on your operations tier. For example, Tier 1 cultivation licenses are $5,000, while Tier III is $20,000.
These tiers mainly represent the size of the farm and its operation. It essentially evens the playing field for different-sized farms.
The Right Type of Guidance That Adapts to Your Business Goals
The cannabis industry is profitable. With it legalized in New Jersey, you can enter a market that hasn’t yet become too saturated.
Before starting, you must ensure product and consumer safety with marijuana industry workplace compliance. This will help to avoid legal issues and customer dissatisfaction.
PHASE Associates have designed workflows to provide quality outsourcing solutions for unique challenges. With extensive and reputable industry expertise, we aim to optimize how you prepare to operate your business. Get started by learning more about what we do in the cannabis industry.
Our NJ marijuana industry workplace compliance services are offered throughout the entire state of New Jersey.
Testing Services of Certified Microbial Consultants
While it’s true that only 1% of different types of microbes are harmful and can cause illness, there are still a variety of microbes that can cause severe harm and concern. The introduction of harmful toxins is a significant concern. The transformation of disease and even tooth decay can raise additional problems.
Microbes can present multiple adverse effects on health and production workflows. This is one of the main reasons why certified microbial consultants are in such high demand. Different industries can benefit from proper microbial testing.
For those in the food industry, bacteria can cause food to spoil as quickly as 20 minutes. For those in the construction industry, there are a few concerns. Bioagents used in construction technology can present harm.
Even microbes found in plumbing systems can raise more concern. This leaves companies wondering how microbial testing can enhance their business methods.
Keep reading as we discuss the importance of microbial consultancies. As well as why it’s an essential part of multi-industry management.
What Is Microbial Testing?
What is microbial testing? Microbiological testing is a vital process and analysis tactic. It helps to identify food, products, or processes that are more likely to pose the danger of disease or sickness.
It also helps identify areas where safety control is lacking and is more needed. This type of testing involves the combination of different testing methods, such as.
Chemical
Biological
Biochemical
Molecular
These forms of microbial testing help to identify the levels of microorganism contamination. It’s a vital safeguard. It’s basically used to help produce the finest, safest, and highest-quality final products before they reach consumers.
The process was started due to the need for detecting Escherichia coli in beef products. The Food Safety and Inspection Service instituted the formal need for microbe testing on October 17, 1994.
Why Is Microbiological Testing Important?
Some companies may wonder, “why is microbiological testing important?”. They may also be concerned about whether that importance applies to what they do. Microbial testing methods don’t only relate to food services.
Microbes can be found in the air, in soil, in the ocean, and even on our skin. They can essentially be found everywhere. This makes microbial consulting services appropriate for any professional application.
We breathe in around one million different types of fungi daily. So, it’s safe to say that we are at risk of harm any time we inhale. However, there are some products and materials that produce harmful microorganisms. This is aside from what we are naturally exposed to in the air.
Industries that use or produce different air pollutants are at risk. Some could be lead, ozone, or particulate matter. This includes any processes that use or emit sulfur dioxide.
Some examples could be electric utility companies. Or it could be any company whose processes burn fossil fuels. Industries that cause the spread of nitrogen oxides are also included.
A good example of this could be the oil and gas industries or transportation services. Also, electric power plants that use fossil fuels are prime examples.
Microbe testing helps identify harmful and toxic pathogens in food products. A few examples of this would be E Coli and Salmonella. Food poisoning is the top cause of food contamination.
This is due to the ability of bacteria to multiply rapidly in food products. Across the U.S., every year, there are around 100 deaths associated with E-Coli exposure alone. This includes at least 265,000 illnesses.
Companies are working closely with certified microbial consultants. This helps with preventing consumer risk of contaminated products. This ensures product safety and proper compliance with food distribution standards and guidelines.
Microbial Testing Methods
The microbial testing method used will depend on the industry and application. There are a variety of testing processes. There are also at least five different laboratory techniques. There are, however, two primary methods of testing. One option will assess indicator organisms.
The other form of analysis is designed to identify more specific pathogens. These two basic approaches to microbe detection are often used in food applications.
Other methods of testing and prevention could be more universal. This is a good tactic for adaptability. These options from a certified microbial consultant could include:
Testing is initiated differently for a variety of production workflows and manufacturing processes. The techniques used are designed to help study the structure of different microorganisms. This will include the function of that microorganism along with its genomics.
Part of this involves the genetic information associated with certain types of bacteria. Businesses must think about their exposure rates. They have to assess for they approach order fulfillment and product creation.
There are at least 500 foodborne illnesses every year. These 500 illnesses often derive from restaurants alone. Microbial consultant services are needed…to ensure public health and safety.
Microbial Consulting Services
Consulting services for microbe detection help with identification, verification, and solution development. The landscape of different companies varies. This makes consumer protection more critical than some operations managers might have thought.
Lawsuits constantly arise against businesses with harmful contaminants in their products. A decrease in customer trust also accompanies this.
The same goes for brand positivity. This means that microbial consultants don’t only ensure safety.
Additionally, they assist with protecting the manufacturing and production process. This is something that will benefit your products, services, and coverage areas.
Quality, Success, and Safety Assurance: Working with Certified Microbial Consultants
Working with certified microbial consultants can help with identifying harmful contaminants. This is beneficial at the beginning phase of any development process. PHASE Associates works to prepare companies to implement safeguards and reliable testing tactics.
This helps to prevent irreversible damage to both your company and your consumer. Get in touch with our team at Phase Associates today to learn more about how we optimize business safety and reliability. Our Certified Microbial consultants offer testing services to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, and Virginia.
Sustainability Consulting: The Importance of Regular Air Quality Assessments
Are your employees experiencing headaches? Do you often hear complaints about how tired someone feels on the job? Are your employees struggling to concentrate?
If your answer to these questions were yes, you could have poor air quality in the workplace. Poor air quality can cause various unpleasant, sometimes even dangerous, health problems. Yet, there is a simple way to improve the air quality of your business.
The first step is to understand the importance of regular air quality assessments. Regular air quality assessments will help ensure that your employees’ air is safe. Let’s examine what an air quality assessment involves and why it matters.
What Does an Air Quality Assessment Involve?
An air quality assessment typically involves testing the levels of several common air pollutants. Pollutants like carbon dioxide, ozone, and nitrogen oxide can reduce air quality. Depending on the type of facility being assessed, other pollutants may be tested as well.
For example, a common warehouse air pollutant hydrocarbon. While in a manufacturing plant may experience air pollutants like mold.
During the assessment process, indoor and outdoor air samples are taken. This is needed to determine which pollutants are present. The pollutants found in high concentrations are noted.
The next step is creating a plan on how they can be safely removed or reduced. In addition to measuring pollutant levels, an assessment may include ventilation system inspections. There are also other measures to ensure that you meet all safety requirements.
Those measures may include performing air contaminant monitoring. You could also perform evaluations for volatile organic chemicals (VOCs).
The Benefits of Regular Air Quality Assessments
Regularly assessing the quality of the air in your workplace has numerous benefits. It helps protect both workers and visitors from exposure to hazardous pollutants.
Studies have shown that air pollutants can cause severe illnesses over time. This could expose your business to a lawsuit. Yet, you can avoid this with regular air quality assessments.
Another benefit of an air quality assessment is it helps reduce odors. Poor ventilation systems tend to cause a foul smell in the workplace. The cause is sometimes inadequate vent cleaning procedures.
The last thing you want is your business to have unpleasant working conditions. Testing your air quality often can help ensure a more pleasant work experience.
Finally, regular air quality assessments can save money. Conducting regular air quality assessments helps you identify problems in ventilation systems. If your system runs inefficiently, it can cost your business more money.
Replacing equipment due to wear-and-tear caused by poor maintenance can reduce energy costs.
How Often Should You Conduct an Air Quality Assessment?
Employers should conduct regular air quality assessments at least once every two years. This is a good practice to ensure that their workspace remains safe for their employees. Yet, it’s important to note that there are cases when you should test more often.
For instance, if new materials are being introduced into the workspace. You will want to conduct an air quality assessment every few months to a year. Another case requiring more frequent testing is if changes have been made to ventilation systems.
More frequent testing may be necessary on other equipment too. If it could affect air quality, you want to test it. You should also test the air quality more often if any workers report health issues or concerns.
Employers must take these concerns seriously. Taking immediate action by conducting an air quality assessment is critical.
What Can You Do to Improve Air Quality?
Besides conducting regular air quality assessments, there are several steps you can take to improve air quality.
One of the best ways to improve the indoor air quality of your business is to seek sustainability consulting. Sustainability consulting firms can offer an indoor air quality assessment.
They can also create a sustainability audit checklist to help your business focus on safety goals. Since auditing is one of the steps to ensure indoor air quality, this may be the best approach for your business.
Other steps to improve indoor air quality include regularly maintaining ventilation systems. Using HEPA-filtered vacuums when cleaning up dust or debris is another way to improve air quality.
You can also consider conducting a general facility air quality survey. Partnering with a company such as Phase Associates can help you continuously check indoor air conditions.
Keeping airborne pollutants from exceeding safe levels is how your business can improve its air quality.
Benefits of Sustainability Consulting
There are many benefits to working with a sustainability consultant. They can help you outline your goals to become more eco-focused. Creating an action plan for sustainable changes in your work environment is a step in the right direction.
They can also provide ongoing support. Sustainability consultants are there throughout the process of reducing health and safety challenges.
Hiring a sustainability consulting firm will give you access to years of experience. Firms like Phase Associates can be your trusted assessments sustainability, reporting consultant.
They will be able to provide you with solutions that will help you improve your indoor air quality. They have worked with other companies to achieve better air quality too.
The Importance of Regular Air Quality Assessments
A regular air quality assessment is essential for protecting employees. In any business setting, reducing potentially harmful airborne contaminants is a must.
Understanding the importance of regular air quality assessments is beneficial to your business. You want to ensure that your workplace meets all safety regulations. If you are concerned about the indoor air standards of your business, don’t worry!
Phase Associates can help. You can rest assured that everyone who enters your facility is safe from potential harm. Contact us today and improve your indoor air quality now! Our clients come from NJ, PA, NY, CT, DE, VA, GA and MD. We would love to add you to our long list of happy customers.
More than 4 million workers in the US use personal protective equipment (PPE). They use gloves, face shields, respirators, or other clothing that protects them from workplace hazards. OSHA requires employers to conduct a hazard assessment to determine if PPE is necessary and, if so, what type and how much should be used by each worker.
Every day, workers are exposed to potential hazards on the job. Personal protection equipment (PPE) can sometimes minimize those exposures and help keep employees safe. However, it is essential to understand how PPE works and how to use it safely.
That’s where hazard assessments come in. This article will explain a hazard assessment for PPE, why it’s essential, and how often you should do one. Stay safe at work with this information!
Read on to discover the merits of hazard assessments and much more.
What Is a Hazard Assessment for PPE?
A hazard assessment for PPE is a process that assesses the potential risks associated with using PPE.
This includes identifying potential hazards and assessing the effectiveness of PPE. This is in terms of fit and protection and determining if additional or different types of protective equipment should be used.
The goal is to ensure workers are adequately protected from the dangers they may face. Furthermore, the assessment should include evaluating the current conditions of the PPE.
For instance, its cleanliness, disease, and fit. An inadequate or incorrect fit can reduce protection and comfort, so workers must get correctly fitted for their PPE.
PPE: Types, Uses, Importance
Several types of PPE include respirators, protective clothing, and helmets. Respirators protect a worker’s lungs from hazardous materials in the air.
Protective clothing protects the skin from contact with dangerous substances or particles. And helmets provide head protection against flying objects and impacts.
The importance of using the correct PPE cannot be overstated. It can mean the difference between life and death in some cases.
That’s why hazard assessments for PPE are so critical. It is essential that employers properly assess potential hazards. They ensure workers have access to the correct type of PPE for those hazards.
Also, workers should be trained in the proper use and maintenance of PPE. This includes knowing how to inspect and clean their equipment. It also means adjusting it for a comfortable fit and how to store it properly.
Are PPE Hazard Assessments Required?
PPE hazard assessments are not explicitly mentioned in OSHA’s regulations on PPE. However, employers must protect employees from the hazards they face while on the job.
As such, they should perform regular risk assessments to determine potential safety risks. After all, they are associated with using certain types of equipment.
If these risks exist, employers must provide appropriate PPE and training on using it effectively and safely.
Moreover, OSHA recommends that employers conduct a hazard assessment. This is always done before providing PPE to their workers.
How Often Should You Do a PPE Hazard Assessment?
The frequency of a PPE hazard assessment will depend on the type of work, environment, and equipment being used.
Generally speaking, employers should conduct regular assessments. This is, so their workers are adequately protected from any potential hazards.
If conditions change or new hazards arise, employers may need to increase the frequency of assessments. It helps guarantee that workers remain safe.
Furthermore, when introducing new pieces of equipment, it is vital to reassess existing PPE. One must determine if additional protection is necessary.
How Often Is a PPE Hazard Assessment Required by OSHA?
OSHA does not expressly require employers to conduct regular PPE hazard assessments. They require employers to provide appropriate personal protective equipment and training on how to use it.
This means that employers must take a proactive approach to ensure the safety of their employees. This is done by regularly assessing and evaluating potential hazards. It also means providing proper training and instruction in using any necessary PPE.
By conducting regular hazard assessments, employers can guarantee that their employees are protected. With this knowledge, employees can feel safe knowing they have been properly equipped to handle whatever comes their way.
Taking the time to assess hazards and ensure workers are adequately protected is integral to keeping everyone safe at work.
Other Potential Caveats With PPE
In addition to making sure workers have the right PPE, employers should also be aware of other potential issues that can arise when using PPE. For example, it is crucial to ensure that all equipment is fitted correctly and maintained to avoid any potential dangers.
For instance, a loose-fitting respirator could fail to protect against hazardous particles or gases in the air.
Furthermore, if clothing or helmets are not kept clean and well-maintained, they may become ineffective. They will not be protecting workers from harm.
Workers must be correctly fitted for their PPE. Their equipment must get regularly inspected and cleaned for optimal performance.
PPE Done Right
In conclusion, PPE hazard assessments are essential to keeping workers safe on the job.
Employers should conduct regular risk assessments and provide adequate training for their employees. This is to ensure they have the right personal protective equipment and know how to use it properly.
Furthermore, employers should make sure all equipment is fitted correctly. It must be kept clean for optimal performance. Doing so will help protect workers from potential hazards in their workplace and keep everyone safe.
Guide To Workplace Health Hazard Evaluations and Assessments
Thousands of workers are fatally injured yearly due to workplace health hazards. In 2020, 4,764 fatal cases were recorded in the United States. Unfortunately, this number increases every year.
To counter this increase, employers are required to provide health hazard evaluations. But what exactly are health hazard evaluations? And how do you conduct one?
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), health hazard evaluations identify, evaluate, and control workplace hazards.
Conducting a workplace hazard assessment doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. It can be pretty straightforward. All you need is some official training, some knowledge, and preparation.
If you want to learn more about official hazard evaluations, here’s a quick guide on conducting one.
What Is a Workplace Hazard Assessment?
A workplace hazard assessment is simply a review of your workplace to identify potential hazards. This can include anything from electrical hazards to slip and fall risks.
Other potential hazards are chemicals, dust, noise, and lighting levels. Once you’ve identified the hazards, you can then take steps to mitigate them.
Conducting a Workplace Hazard Assessment
There are four steps to conducting a workplace hazard assessment. First, you want to define the scope of the evaluation. It would be best if you determined what exactly you’ll be assessing. This includes identifying which work tasks, areas, and materials need an assessment.
Observe Your Workspace
The first step to observing your work environment is uncovering potential hazards. This includes observing anything that you may have missed in the past. Next, you want to review past incidents and accidents. This will help you identify any patterns or recurring problems you must address.
Get Your Employees Involved
Once you have observed your work environment, consult with your employees. Employees are often the best source of information when it comes to identifying potential hazards in the workplace. Be sure to allow them to voice their concerns.
For example, you can interview your employees during their work processes. This can be a great way to identify potential hazards. It will also allow you to offer official training to prevent health hazards.
Take Corrective Action
The final step in your evaluations should be to implement corrective measures. Once potential hazards have been identified, you’ll need to take steps to mitigate them. This may involve anything from changing procedures to investing in new safety equipment.
Keep a Record of Your Health Hazard Evaluations
You want to ensure that your health hazard evaluations are fully documented. It shows your dedication to maintaining a safe workplace.
Your records should contain a list of all the hazards you have identified in your workplace. It should also include any hazards you’ve eliminated and those you still need to address.
Your records should have the date and time when the evaluation was conducted. The goal is to have as much information as possible about the evaluation process.
This will help you identify areas where you can improve safety at work. It will also show how you have made improvements compared to past evaluations. Working with an industrial hygienist like Phase Associates can make this process effortless.
Has Your Business Had Any Official Hazard Evaluations?
Conducting regular health hazard evaluations is essential. It is an excellent way to help maintain a safe and healthy workplace. By following the steps outlined above, defining the scope of the evaluations, identifying potential hazards, connecting with employees, and implementing controls to eliminate or reduce hazards, you can efficiently conduct a practical assessment in your workplace.
Yet, if you haven’t had any official hazard evaluations, the time to get one is now! Don’t allow your business to run the risk of being unsafe.
