Federal regulators are alleging that a cannabis worker died early this year from inhaling ground cannabis dust at an indoor grow operation in Holyoke.
In a summary of its investigation, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said that on Jan. 7, an employee of the cannabis giant Trulieve was grinding cannabis and packaging it into pre-rolled joints when she complained that she couldn’t breathe. Ultimately, OSHA investigators said she was killed “due to the hazards of ground cannabis dust.” Few other details are contained in OSHA’s report.
In June, the agency issued Trulieve three fines totaling $35,219 for alleged violations related to the death. Trulieve has contested those violations, according to OSHA records. Rob Kremer, the company’s executive director of corporate communications, did not return multiple phone and email messages left Saturday.
A Florida-based company with operations in eight states, Trulieve is permitted to grow up to 80,000 square feet of cannabis plants at its Holyoke cultivation and production facility in the former Conklin Office Furniture mill building at 56 Canal St. and 7 North Bridge St. It also operates three retail stores in Massachusetts, including one at 216 North King St. in Northampton.
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