The cannabis industry is a fast-growing, highly regulated sector that blends agricultural production, manufacturing, and retail into one ecosystem. With rapid expansion comes risk, and safety often determines whether operations run smoothly or face costly setbacks.
Strong policies and compliance systems are essential, but culture is what truly drives workplace safety. And at the center of culture are individuals who naturally lead by example workplace safety champions. These employees embody safe practices, influence their peers, and bridge the gap between management and frontline staff.
But how can cannabis businesses identify these champions? Spotting and supporting them is a critical step in building a resilient safety culture.
Understanding the Role of Safety Champions in Cannabis
A workplace safety champion is not necessarily a manager or a formally designated officer. Instead, they are employees sometimes from unexpected roles who consistently demonstrate a commitment to safe practices and inspire others to follow suit.
In cannabis operations, safety champions can be found in cultivation facilities, trimming rooms, laboratories, dispensaries, or distribution hubs. Regardless of location, they share a common trait: a genuine concern for the well-being of coworkers and a willingness to act on it.
Why Safety Champions Matter in Cannabis Operations
The cannabis industry faces a unique mix of hazards:
Cultivation risks: pesticide exposure, heavy lifting, and repetitive strain from trimming.
Manufacturing risks: volatile solvents in extraction, machine hazards in packaging.
Retail risks: robbery threats, cash handling, and customer interactions.
While compliance teams can design safety protocols, it’s safety champions who ensure those practices come alive in day-to-day work. They provide peer to peer accountability, reduce underreporting of hazards, and create trust in environments where new employees may be reluctant to speak up.
Trait 1: Consistent Adherence to Safety Practices
The most obvious sign of a safety champion is consistent compliance with safety protocols. Whether it’s wearing personal protective equipment (PPE), handling equipment properly, or following lockout/tagout rules, champions set the example every day.
In cannabis operations, this could mean:
A cultivator who always wears protective gloves when handling fertilizers.
A trimmer who takes stretch breaks to reduce repetitive strain.
A retail worker who double-checks robbery prevention protocols.
Consistency is the foundation of credibility. Champions practice what they preach.
Trait 2: Influence Without Authority
Safety champions often hold no formal authority, yet they influence others through respect and example. They may remind coworkers to wear eye protection, suggest safer lifting techniques, or demonstrate calm responses during emergencies.
In cannabis workplaces, where teams are often young and fast-moving, peer influence is critical. A respected colleague correcting unsafe behavior often resonates more than a top-down directive.
Trait 3: Strong Observation Skills and Hazard Awareness
Another way to identify a safety champion is their ability to notice risks before incidents occur. Champions have an eye for detail and a proactive mindset.
For example:
Spotting condensation near electrical systems in cultivation rooms.
Identifying unsecured cylinders in an extraction lab.
Noticing traffic flow issues in a dispensary parking lot.
Their observations prevent small hazards from becoming serious incidents.
Trait 4: Willingness to Speak Up
Speaking up about safety can be uncomfortable especially in cannabis, where rapid growth sometimes pressures workers to prioritize speed over safety. Champions overcome this hesitation. They respectfully raise concerns with supervisors, report near-misses, and encourage peers to do the same.
A champion might say, “Let’s pause until we secure that ladder,” or, “I noticed the PPE stock is running low—can we restock before the next shift?” Their courage normalizes safety conversations across the workplace.
Trait 5: Positive Attitude Toward Training
While some employees treat training as a box to check, champions lean into learning opportunities. They participate actively in safety sessions, ask thoughtful questions, and apply lessons in their work.
In cannabis facilities where hazards range from chemical exposure to robbery preparedness, engaged learners ensure training translates into safer practices on the floor.
Trait 6: Peer Recognition and Respect
Ask employees who they trust when it comes to safety, and they’ll often point to a champion. Respect from peers is a strong indicator of influence.
In cannabis operations, where teamwork is essential, a champion may be the coworker others turn to when unsure about a safety procedure long before they go to a manager. This informal role amplifies their impact on culture.
Trait 7: Balanced Approach to Productivity and Protection
Champions understand the importance of meeting production goals but never at the expense of safety. They model efficiency while maintaining compliance.
For instance:
A packaging operator who finds ergonomic ways to speed work without increasing injury risk.
A cultivator who coordinates tasks to minimize exposure to chemicals while maintaining output.
Their balanced approach shows that safety and productivity can and must coexist.
Supporting and Empowering Safety Champions
Identifying safety champions is only the first step. To maximize their influence, cannabis businesses must nurture and support them. This can be done by:
Recognition programs: Publicly acknowledging champions during meetings or newsletters.
Opportunities for input: Involving them in safety committees or hazard assessments.
Additional training: Providing leadership development or specialized safety courses.
Peer mentoring: Pairing champions with new employees to model safe practices.
Empowerment ensures that champions’ voices are amplified rather than isolated.
How Safety Champions Strengthen Cannabis Businesses
The benefits of recognizing and supporting safety champions extend beyond fewer injuries:
Regulatory compliance: Champions help reinforce standards, reducing the risk of citations.
Employee retention: Workers are more likely to stay in environments where safety is respected.
Reputation: Cannabis companies that prioritize safety gain credibility with regulators, investors, and customers.
In short, safety champions don’t just protect people—they strengthen the entire business ecosystem.
Safety Champions as the Backbone of Cannabis Culture
The cannabis industry faces unique safety challenges, but within every workforce are individuals ready to lead by example. Safety champions may not hold formal titles, but their consistent practices, influence, observation skills, and courage make them vital to building strong safety cultures.
By spotting, supporting, and empowering these individuals, cannabis businesses can transform safety from a compliance requirement into a living value. In a competitive industry where every advantage matters, safety champions are not just role models, they are strategic assets.
