• Decreased productivity

            • Increased worker and unemployment compensation claims

            • High turnover

            • Lawsuits

Marijuana is the most frequently used illicit drug of abuse in the United States and the drug most often detected in workplace drug testing. In 2016, about one in five (7.2 million) Americans ages 18 to 25 self-identified as current users of marijuana, and about 15.2 million adults (7.2%) ages 26 and older used marijuana, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

A solid workplace drug policy can go a long way to keeping your organization drug-free.

What makes a good drug policy?

Studies show drug testing works; employees are three times less likely to produce a positive test result if they know they will be tested. An expanded testing panel that also includes the most commonly misused prescription drugs may better protect your workforce. An employer policy also should include:

            • Proper management training to make managers more likely to enforce the policy

            • Access to support for employees with drug problems, which can range from a formal assistance program to a referral to local resources

            • Clearly defined use and possession parameters for employees

            • Established rules for post-accident testing

            • Rules on how you will handle an employee’s conviction or arrest

A drug policy must be very specific and supported by workplace procedures to reduce the chance of litigation. Drug policy and workplace procedures should be reviewed by a lawyer to ensure they comply with state laws. And, policy must be updated frequently to keep up with changing laws and attitudes. The health and safety of your workforce depends on it.

Members of our Association have no-cost access to top-notch legal advice on any HR issue as a benefit of membership. To learn more about this and other valuable membership benefits, give our director of membership services, Matt Rice at call at 314.878.2304 or email Matt@FarmEquip.org.  

Source: National Safety Council, National Institute on Drug Abuse

Register for this month’s seminar:

When it comes to workplace safety, clarity is key. Each supervisor needs to know their specific responsibilities, and they need to effectively communicate to their teams. With this webinar, we’ll present strategies you can use to support, train, and empower your leadership team.

Check out Sentry’s full schedule of upcoming safety webinars

Overexertion and falls from the same level have consistently been the top two causes of injuries, the insurer said. And while the overall number of serious workplace injuries has decreased over the past 20 years, medical costs have increased above inflation, according to the report.

The index is based on 2017 injuries and illnesses that required more than five days away from work. Overexertion from handling objects accounted for nearly a quarter of all workplace injuries and cost employers $13.98 billion, according to the index.

Falls on the same level accounted for 18 percent of injuries at a cost of $10.84 billion, and struck-by injuries from objects or equipment made up 10 percent of injuries, costing $6.12 billion.

The other costliest injuries in the top 10 include:

• Falls to lower level; $7.71 billion
• Other exertions or bodily reactions; $4.69 billion
• Roadway incidents involving motorized vehicles; $3.56 billion
• Slip or trip without fall; $2.06 billion
• Repetitive motions involving micro-tasks; $2.05 billion
• Colliding with objects or equipment; $2 billion
• Caught in or compressed by equipment or objects; $1.92 billion.

Source: Business Insurance