Understanding Health Hazards in Hemp Processing
By Dr Maggie Davidson MAIOH, Senior Lecturer, Environmental Health & Occupation Hygiene, School of Science, Western Sydney University. Farming is one of the most hazardous jobs. Farmers often live where they work, so there’s little time for rest — especially for their lungs. While accidents are common, long-term health risks from dust, noise, and chemicals often get overlooked. In hemp processing, dust and noise are big issues. But we still know very little about how much dust and noise are actually produced, or which tasks cause the most exposure. This information is important because it helps us find better ways to protect processors, farmers and workers and prevent serious health problems. Organic dust from hemp can cause serious lung issues. Inhaling a lot of dust can lead to: Airway irritation and allergies Byssinosis (“Monday morning fever”) Farmers’ lung (hypersensitivity pneumonitis) Chronic bronchitis What We Did From January to March 2025, we visited hemp processors to observe the work environment and measure dust and noise levels. We took dust samples from the air around workers during different jobs like loading machines, bagging products, cleaning, and maintenance. Dust particles we measured were tiny — less than one-tenth the width of a human hair — meaning they can easily reach deep into the lungs. Key Findings Dust levels peaked at 1.0 to 3.0 mg/m³ during dry sweeping and using air blowers. Loading hammer mills and decorticators produced 0.5 to 1.0 mg/m³ of dust. Safe Work Australia sets the exposure limit at 1.0 mg/m³ over an 8-hour shift. So, sweeping and blowing created dangerous levels. Some dust contained respirable silica, which can cause severe lung disease. Levels reached up to 0.045 mg/m³, close to the legal limit of 0.05 mg/m³. Biggest Risk Areas Loading hammer mills and decorticators Cleaning dust filtration systems Using blowers and dry sweeping What Needs to Change To protect workers: Stop using blowers and dry sweeping immediately — they create the most dust. Use wet cleaning methods and HEPA H-Class vacuums (AS/NZS 60335.2.69 standard). Apply the Hierarchy of Controls: Eliminate/Substitute: Only buy clean, quality hemp with no mould, dust, or contamination. Engineering/Isolation: Install barriers and dust extraction systems to trap dust before it spreads. Administrative Controls: Schedule regular cleaning and machine maintenance. Ban sweeping and air blowers. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Supply and train workers to properly use Class 2 or 3 respirators, fitted and tested for the right protection. Where to Find Help Safe Work Australia has excellent free resources: Managing Work Health and Safety Risks Managing Hazardous Chemicals Preventing Hearing Loss at Work What’s Next We are working with hemp processors to develop dust and noise management plans. We’ll revisit them in 2025–2026 to see how improvements are going and share updates at industry events later in 2025. Thank You A huge thanks to the farmers, businesses, and partners who welcomed us. Special thanks to the AIOH Foundation and Western Sydney University for funding this important work.
