Drug Free Workplace

Drug & Alcohol Training

Drug and alcohol abuse not only affects work performance in general, but also results in higher rates of absenteeism, accidents, illness and mortality, with all their related costs.

How does substance abuse impact the workplace?

• Seventy-three percent of all current drug users aged 18 and older (8.3 million adults) were employed in 1997. This includes 6.7 million full-time workers and 1.6 million part-time workers.
• More than 14 percent of Americans employed full- and part-time report heavy drinking, which is defined as five or more drinks on five or more days in the past 30 days

For some years now, awareness has been growing, not only that drug and alcohol abuse is an important workplace problem, but that the workplace is an excellent channel for the development of broad partnerships for preventive action.

Drug & Alcohol Abuse - An Important Factor in Accidents, Absenteeism & Illness

Drug and alcohol abuse not only affects work performance in general, but also results in higher rates of absenteeism, accidents, illness and mortality, with all their related costs. It is therefore an important health and safety issue in its own right. Over recent years, studies have shown that:

• Absenteeism is two to three times higher for drug and alcohol users than for other employees.
• Employees with chemical dependence problems may claim three times as many sickness benefits and file five times as many workers' compensation claims.
• In many workplaces, 20 to 25 per cent of accidents at work involve intoxicated people injuring themselves and innocent victims.
• On-the-job supplies of drugs and alcohol account for 15 to 30 per cent of all accidents at work.

A Comprehensive Drug Free Workplace Approach Includes Five Components:

• A workplace substance abuse policy
• Supervisor training in procedures for administering substance abuse policies in the workplace
• Employee education substance abuse in the workplace
• Employee assistance to create a healthy workplace
• Reasonable drug testing that addresses workplace regulations, laws and employee rights to privacy

The more components a DFWP has the more effective it is in reducing substance abuse problems in the workplace.

Preventative Training . . . Not Required But Necessary

Preventative training for drug and alcohol use are not required by OSHA, but drug free workplace training and programs are crucial to achieving your overall safety training and compliance goals. B.E.S.T. drug free workplace training meets all State and Federal guidelines for both DOT and Drug Free Workplace Programs (DFWP) regarding drug and alcohol testing. Let Bailey Environmental & Safety Training Consultants help minimize your employees to be positive for drugs.