The Hidden Hazard in Production: Exposure and Worker Safety
In January 2022, Lorna McMurrey, a 27-year-old employee at Trulieve’s facility in Holyoke, Massachusetts, died from a severe asthma attack after working in pre-roll production. While the material wasn’t ground into a fine powder, the grinding process still released enough airborne dust and mold spores to trigger a fatal reaction.
McMurrey had suffered a similar attack just two months earlier. Despite the warning, she returned to the same environment with no meaningful changes to safety measures. OSHA fined the company $14,502, and state regulators imposed a $350,000 penalty for failing to provide proper protective gear and reassess known workplace risks.
Her death led officials to classify ground plant dust as a hazardous substance. Facilities are now required to improve ventilation, issue proper PPE like N95 masks, and train staff to recognize and respond to exposure risks. McMurrey’s family has since filed a wrongful death lawsuit, citing unsafe air systems and negligence.
How to Protect Workers in Production:
Install high-efficiency air filtration and proper ventilation.
Require protective gear, including respirators and gloves.
Conduct regular training and air quality assessments.
Monitor employee health for early signs of exposure.
Production may seem low risk, but airborne contamination from ground flower can be deadly. Lorna’s story is a hard reminder that safety must come first—especially when the danger is too small to see.
