18 Canadian Occupational Safety www.cos-mag.com 18 Canadian Occupational Safety www.cos-mag.com
hen Meredith Corman worked at
a medical marijuana processing
plant in Flin Flon, Man., a few years
ago, she wore a surgical mask to keep
dried plant particles from entering her
lungs. When she became pregnant,
she and her employer stepped up the
respiratory protection.
"When the marijuana was dry, I
would have trouble with my breath-
ing," Corman recalls. So managers had
her work more on the growing side of
the facility and less on the processing
side. On the growing side, there was
less dust and the work didn't irritate
her lungs as much. Her employer,
Saskatoon-based Prairie Plant Sys-
tems, also regularly sent inspectors to
check the facility's air quality. Hudbay
Minerals, which owned the property,
monitored air quality as well.
Corman's daughter is now seven
years old and in good health.
Corman and her employer were
right to concern themselves with
respiratory health. If a pregnant worker
has trouble breathing, her fetus may
become oxygen deprived. The worst
cases can result in a condition known
as intrauterine hypoxia and lead to
premature birth, low birth rate or
Without proper
respiratory protection,
moms-to-be face
risks of birth defects,
complications
Without proper Without proper
2
By Stefan Dubowski
w
BREATHING
FOR
