labor lawAdivision of labor law center

The majority of fatal accidents at work involve the abuse of alcohol or drugs, according to a recent OSHA report. Employees who abuse alcohol or drugs put themselves and coworkers at risk.

That’s why the US Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, recently signed an agreement to expand the Drug Free Workplace Alliance. The Alliance was originally created in 2004 to fight the use of alcohol and drugs at work. The program centers on the mining and construction industries. In a ceremony at the US Census Bureau, Chao was accompanied by representatives of 5 contractor associations and 5 labor unions.

The Vermont Drug Free Workplace Alliance is an initiative of the Department of Labor to improve the employer programs to prevent drug abuse. According to the Dept. of Labor, businesses pay high costs for drug abuse or alcohol use in the workplace. These include costly mistakes, high rates of absenteeism, and tragic accidents caused by alcohol and drug use.

The renewed alliance is designed to raise awareness about the negatives effects of drugs and alcohol. It offers advice on how to establish drug prevention plans to enhance worker safety and health. Random drug testing and pre-employment drug screening are some of the measures used by many of the companies that are members of the Drug Free Alliance.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, recommends that employers protect their businesses against the use of alcohol and drugs. Employers must educate workers about the hazards of substance abuse. They should also encourage workers with problems to seek professional help.

Representatives of 5 labor unions joined the Secretary of Labor in the ceremony at the US Census Bureau. They were from the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers, the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada, the International Union of Painters and Allied Trade, the Laborers’ International Union of North America, and the International Union of Operating Engineers.

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