Substance abuse at work – everyone loses

Currently, Steve Sayer is a workplace safety *consultant #accredited auditor to *OSHA, *EPA, *#GFSI, *USDA, *FDA, *Human Resources, *#and Humane Handling of feed birds and animals and is a technical writer for multiple industries, as well as a part-time maintenance worker for California State Beaches.

(The views and opinions expressed in this blog are strictly those of the author.)

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Overview

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), in cooperation with its partners and customers, strives to reduce crashes, injuries and fatalities involving large trucks and buses. Listed below are safety and security initiatives, resources and regulations that aid this effort.

Resources

• Bus Safety - Look Before You Book
• Household Goods - Protect Your Move
• Driver Safety
• Passenger Carrier Safety
• Company Safety Data
• Highway-Rail Grade Crossing Safety
• CMV Safety Belt Program
• Commercial Tire Safety Tips
• CMV Traffic Safety Facts

Company Safety Record Websites

• Safety Data (Safety Measurement System, SMS)
• Snapshot or Profile (SAFER System)
• Search Bus/Passenger Carrier Safety Records
• Operating Authority
• Dispute Safety Data (DataQs)

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By Steve Sayer

It’s certainly no secret that opioid drugs (including prescription drugs) hemp and alcohol abuse by employees causes a staggering amount of expenses for businesses ranging from lost productivity and injuries, to higher employee turnover rates, including marked increases involving health insurance claims.

According to the latest figures from the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information (NCADI) the cost of alcohol and drug related abuse by employees in the United States totals more than $100 billion dollars each year.

That’s not a typo – more than $100 billion dollars…

On a personal level, the potential costs and loss of one’s professional career, health, and family is incalculable and can be emotionally staggering. Certainly family breakups / divorces / deaths, regardless of the reason(s) involved, affect immeasurably and adversely an employee’s performance at work.

According to NCADI statistics, alcohol and drug users on average:

• Are far less productive than their co-workers:
• Use up three times as many sick days per year:
• Are much more likely to injure himself/herself or someone else while at work:
• And are five times more likely to file worker's compensation claim(s).

Many food and beverage companies follow the U.S. Dept. of Transportation (DOT) guidelines for their company’s drug/alcohol testing program.

Not surprisingly, drug-testing programs have clearly evinced that they are effective as both a deterrent and as a condition of employment, while reducing workplace substance abuse problems. However, there is not legal uniformity involving drug testing (including random-drug testing) from one state to another.

Before proceeding with such a policy, a company should check with its state Department of Labor for current laws. Even if such testing is allowed, and employees are found to be using drugs and alcohol, employers may still find their options are limited in how they can respond.

A drug-testing program can be cost prohibitive for smaller companies, but conversely, it can be even more cost prohibitive for NOT having such a program in place.

Today’s estimated expenses of a drug-testing program can run from $40.00 to $100.00 per employee. Based on those figures, it’s estimated by the NCADI that companies in the United States currently spend in excess of $1.2 billion on drug testing services each year.

The Department of Labor currently lists 5 core components involving workplace substance abuse programs:

• A written company policy statement
• Supervisor training and re-training
• Employee education and awareness
• Employee assistance for providing help: (Employee Assistance Program (EAP))
• Drug and alcohol testing.

It’s currently estimated that 570,000 people die annually in the United States due to drug use. That breaks down to about 440,000 from various diseases related to tobacco, 85,000 to alcohol, 20,000 to illegal drugs, and 20,000 caused by prescription drug abuse.

Each year, it’s inevitable that someone that’s alive today will fill in the above categories tomorrow. If not already, invest with your company’s most valuable commodities, your employees, by educating and reminding them of the sheer ravages of substance abuse.

12/11/2015 Meatingplace.com (revised 03/01/2022)

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LAST COMMENT

Contrary to popular belief, most Americans struggling with a substance use disorder (SUD) continue to hold down a job.

According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), more than 70% of those abusing illicit drugs in America are employed; most binge drinker have jobs as well. The most common illicit drugs abused on the job are marijuana and cocaine.

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TUESDAY'S APR. 5TH 2022 SCHEDULED BLOG - HUMANE HANDLING RADIOACTIVITY

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