Employee Safety and Health Management Blog

Drug abuse is an increasing problem across the U.S. From 1999 to 2017, the number of drug overdose deaths rose from 16,849 to 70,237. Drug overdoses occur in a variety of locations, and the workplace has not been immune to these incidents. A recent NIOSH study examined the rate at which drug overdose deaths occurred Read More »

According to a study presented at the Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association’s Annual Conference, the rate of positive drug tests for illicit substances among U.S. workers in 2018 reached a 14-year peak, with marijuana playing a significant role! Researchers analyzed the results of more than 9 million drug tests. They found that 4.4% of Read More »

Cannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD oil, has been called everything from the “miracle drug” to a drug testing nightmare. Will CBD replace a worker’s need to take prescription painkillers, or disrupt the productivity of a workforce? Learn about the controversy surrounding CBD in the workplace, and how you, as the employer, can navigate through it. Read More »

It used to be that if you showed up high on the job, you were terminated on the spot. It was clean and simple for employers – you have a pothead employee that doesn’t follow the strict “No Drugs” policy, and that was immediate grounds for firing. Now, medical marijuana has become the new ‘super Read More »

As an employer, you want to trust that when employees arrive for work each day, they are presenting their “best self”. Productive.  Safe.  Contributing to your businesses goals and objectives. But what happens when that integrity is called into question?  Do you really know what you are up against? How confident are your impairment detection Read More »

Every organization will be impacted by employee injury. As the employer, you’ll be hit financially with direct medical costs, but your entire workforce will be hit with the indirect impact (absence of a full workforce, loss of productivity, overtime to replace the injured worker). By staying on top of injury trends, you can take preventative Read More »

With one in six on-the-job fatalities being associated with drug and alcohol, I think it’s safe to say, we all agree there’s a problem.  The question is whether you will take a position and be part of the solution. Random Drug Testing – Why it Works Contrary to what many people believe, the goal of Read More »

At last, new guidance has been issued by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) regarding safety incentive policies and post-incident testing. On Oct. 11, 2018, OSHA issued a Standard Interpretation Memorandum, clarifying their position on safety incentive programs and post-incident drug testing. According to the guidance, such tests and programs are permitted if properly Read More »

Have you ever had a hunch an employee was under the influence of drugs or alcohol but you weren’t quite sure how to act on it? According to the The National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, employers lose $100 billion a year due to substance abuse alone. This can come in the form of Read More »