Job Profile: Environmental Health & Safety Specialist

Job Overview

The Environmental Health & Safety Specialist is the primary steward of a safe and compliant cultivation ecosystem. This role engineers the framework that protects both the workforce and the product by mitigating the unique hazards of a controlled agricultural environment. The position requires a deep understanding of the sophisticated environmental control systems that are central to modern cannabis cultivation. These systems include industrial-scale HVAC, dehumidification, CO2 enrichment, and automated fertigation. The EHS Specialist ensures these complex systems function not only for optimal plant health but also for the safety of the personnel who operate and maintain them. They are responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive EHS programs that address risks ranging from chemical exposure to nutrient salts and approved pesticides, to biological hazards like mold spores, and ergonomic injuries from repetitive horticultural tasks. Success in this position provides the operational stability required for consistent production and protects the company's most valuable assets: its people, its license, and its product quality.

A Day in the Life

The day begins in the facility's control room, interfacing with the Building Management System (BMS). The specialist reviews overnight data logs for all cultivation zones. They analyze trends in temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels, looking for anomalies that could indicate an equipment malfunction or an emerging environmental risk. For example, an unusual spike in humidity in Flower Room 3 could suggest a failing dehumidifier, creating a risk for both botrytis on the plants and slip hazards for employees. A work order is generated for the facilities team through the maintenance management system, with specific lockout/tagout procedures attached for safe servicing of the unit.

Following the data review, a physical walkthrough of the facility is conducted. The specialist starts in the nutrient mixing room. Here, they verify that technicians are wearing the correct personal protective equipment (PPE), including chemical-resistant gloves and safety goggles, while handling concentrated nutrient solutions. They inspect the emergency eyewash and shower station, activating it to ensure proper water flow and temperature. The specialist confirms that all chemical containers are correctly labeled according to the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) and that incompatible chemicals are stored in separate containment bunds to prevent dangerous reactions. The focus is on proactive collaboration, involving brief conversations with the team to reinforce best practices and gather feedback on any challenges with the existing protocols.

Mid-morning is dedicated to a scheduled risk assessment. Today's focus is on the manual trimming department, a source of potential ergonomic injuries. The specialist uses a checklist to evaluate workstations for proper chair height, lighting levels, and tool condition. Through direct observation and teamwork with the post-harvest manager, they identify that a specific type of trimming shear is leading to wrist strain. The specialist initiates a process to trial several new ergonomic shear designs with the team. They document these findings and develop a training module on proper posture and hand-stretching exercises to be delivered at the next team meeting. This proactive engagement helps prevent costly long-term injuries.

The afternoon pivots to program management and stakeholder engagement. The EHS Specialist leads a cross-functional safety committee meeting. Attendees include representatives from cultivation, facilities, and human resources. The main agenda item is a review of recent near-miss reports. One report detailed an employee nearly being struck by a rolling cart on a sloped floor. The committee discusses the root cause and agrees on a corrective action: installing wheel chocks on all carts and painting designated parking areas on the floor. Following the meeting, the specialist updates the site's EHS action tracker and assigns responsibility for implementing these changes. The day concludes with updating training records and preparing a monthly safety performance report for senior leadership, highlighting leading indicators like completed safety observations and resolved hazards, demonstrating the program's value to the organization.

Core Responsibilities & Operational Impact

The EHS Specialist's functions are integrated into three key areas of the cultivation operation:

1. Systemic EHS Program Development & Implementation

• Risk Assessment and Control: Performing detailed Job Hazard Analyses (JHAs) for all cultivation tasks, from potting and transplanting to harvesting and trellis installation. This includes identifying ergonomic, chemical, and biological risks and implementing a hierarchy of controls, such as engineering solutions like scissor lifts to reduce ladder use or administrative controls like job rotation in the trim department.
• SOP Creation and Collaboration: Working directly with the Head of Cultivation and the Agronomy team to write, review, and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This ensures that safety protocols, like the proper procedure for entering a room after an ozone sterilization cycle, are integrated directly into the workflow, making them practical and effective.
• Targeted Training and Competency: Developing and delivering engaging training programs based on specific facility risks. This goes beyond generic safety talks to include hands-on respirator fit testing for staff handling organic dusts, specialized training on the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) for employees applying pesticides, and competency checks for operating powered industrial trucks or lifts.

2. Environmental Systems & Compliance Oversight

• EHS Audit and Inspection: Conducting regular, systematic EHS audits of all cultivation areas. This involves checking the calibration of environmental sensors, inspecting machine guarding on automated equipment, ensuring proper labeling of nutrient lines, and verifying that emergency exits are unobstructed. These audits are critical for maintaining a constant state of readiness for surprise regulatory inspections.
• Environmental Control Monitoring: Using the BMS to monitor critical life safety systems tied to environmental controls. This includes ensuring CO2 and ammonia detection alarms are functional, emergency ventilation systems activate correctly, and that pressure differentials are maintained to prevent cross-contamination between grow rooms.
• Regulatory Interface and Reporting: Serving as a key point of contact during inspections by state cannabis boards, OSHA, or the EPA. The role involves maintaining meticulous records for OSHA 300 logs, pesticide application records, hazardous waste manifests, and employee training certifications to demonstrate full compliance.

3. Incident Analysis & Continuous Improvement

• Incident Investigation: Leading thorough root cause analyses for all incidents and significant near-misses. This process involves interviewing affected employees, analyzing the physical evidence, and identifying the systemic factors that contributed to the event to prevent recurrence.
• Data Analysis and Trend Identification: Collecting and analyzing safety data to move beyond reactive measures. The specialist tracks leading indicators (e.g., number of safety observations, training hours) and lagging indicators (e.g., injury rates) to identify negative trends and proactively allocate resources to the highest-risk areas of the operation.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Communication: Championing the safety culture through consistent communication and collaboration. This includes leading the safety committee, presenting performance data to management, and working alongside frontline employees to ensure EHS programs are practical, understood, and valued by the entire team.

Strategic Impact Analysis

The EHS Specialist in Cultivation directly contributes to the financial health and strategic growth of the organization in several key areas:

Chain of Command & Key Stakeholders

Reports To: This position typically reports to the Director of Cultivation or the General Manager of the facility, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to a corporate Director of EHS or Compliance. This structure ensures EHS is integrated into daily operations while maintaining functional oversight.

Similar Roles: This role shares core competencies with titles such as Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Systems Manager, Agricultural Safety Officer, or Facilities & EHS Coordinator. The unique focus on the interaction between industrial environmental controls and horticultural processes distinguishes it. For broader market comparison, look for roles like Industrial Hygienist in food processing or EHS Specialist in a GMP manufacturing environment, as these roles also manage chemical, biological, and ergonomic risks within highly controlled production settings.

Works Closely With: This is a highly collaborative role requiring daily engagement with the Head of Cultivation to align safety protocols with agronomic needs, the Facilities Manager to ensure equipment safety and maintenance, and the Quality Assurance Manager to guarantee that EHS practices support product quality and purity standards.

Technology, Tools & Systems

The modern cannabis cultivation EHS Specialist leverages a suite of technologies to manage risk effectively:

• Building Management Systems (BMS): Daily interaction with the BMS is essential for monitoring the performance and safety of HVAC, dehumidification, and CO2 enrichment systems. This tool provides real-time data to preemptively identify environmental hazards.
• Industrial Hygiene Equipment: Use of handheld devices such as air quality meters to measure airborne particulates and mold spores, light meters to ensure OSHA-compliant illumination levels, and gas detectors to monitor for CO2 or potential ammonia leaks from cooling systems.
• EHS Management Software: Proficiency with platforms for tracking incident reports, managing corrective actions (CAPAs), scheduling EHS audits, and maintaining a digital library of Safety Data Sheets (SDS) and safety procedures.
• Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS): Collaboration with the facilities team through a CMMS to track safety-critical maintenance tasks, such as inspections of fall protection anchor points, fire suppression systems, and emergency generators.

The Ideal Candidate Profile

Transferable Skills

Professionals from several regulated industries are well-equipped for this challenge:

• Food and Beverage Manufacturing: Experience in managing GMP, sanitation protocols (SSOPs), chemical safety for cleaning agents, and preventing microbial contamination is directly applicable to maintaining a clean cultivation environment.
• Data Center Operations: Professionals with a background in managing critical infrastructure, including complex cooling (HVAC), power, and environmental monitoring systems, possess the systems-thinking mindset required for this role.
• Commercial Horticulture/Agriculture: Expertise in the EPA's Worker Protection Standard (WPS), integrated pest management (IPM) safety, and managing the physical demands of agricultural work provides a strong, relevant foundation.
• Pharmaceutical/Biotech Manufacturing: A background in highly controlled and documented environments, including cleanroom protocols, process safety, and rigorous compliance documentation, aligns perfectly with the operational discipline needed in cannabis cultivation.

Critical Competencies

Success requires a specific combination of professional capabilities:

• Systems Thinking: The ability to understand the entire cultivation facility as an interconnected system, recognizing how a change in an HVAC setting can impact plant health, energy consumption, and worker safety simultaneously.
• Collaborative Influence: The skill to effectively engage and persuade team members at all levels, from cultivation technicians to senior leadership, to adopt and champion EHS best practices without relying on direct authority.
• Technical Aptitude: A strong understanding of mechanical and electrical systems, environmental controls, and industrial hygiene principles to conduct credible risk assessments and communicate effectively with facilities and engineering teams.

Top 3 Influential Entities for the Role

These bodies create the regulatory and best-practice frameworks that govern the EHS Specialist's work:

• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): As the primary federal agency for workplace safety, OSHA's standards for hazard communication, respiratory protection, lockout/tagout, and the General Duty Clause form the bedrock of the facility's safety program.
• State Cannabis Regulatory Agencies: These state-level bodies (e.g., California's Department of Cannabis Control) are the primary licensing authorities. Their regulations often include highly specific requirements for facility security, waste disposal, product handling, and employee safety that must be rigorously followed to maintain the license to operate.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): The EPA's regulations are critical, particularly the Worker Protection Standard (WPS) which governs the safe use of pesticides in agricultural settings. The EPA also sets rules for hazardous waste disposal and water management, which are key compliance areas for any large-scale cultivation facility.

Acronyms & Terminology