labor lawAdivision of labor law center

Do you have questions about how the Nevada Drug Free Workplace Alliance can help employers in the battle against alcohol and drug abuse in the workplace? OSHA has the answers. 

What is the Nevada Drug Free Workplace Alliance? 

This alliance consists of OSHA along with union and contractor organizations. The focus is to help protect employees from the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace. 

Is abuse a big problem in the workplace? 

Abuse problems cost American businesses in several ways. Employees may miss more work, causing a high rate of absenteeism. They also may make more errors and have more accidents. Abuse problems also may impact employee morale, which may be low. Also, workplace automobile accidents that result in fatalities are often caused by either drug or alcohol abuse. OSHA feels that abuse problems are a preventable workplace hazard. 

What does OSHA recommend that employers do to combat this problem? 

To create a comprehensive plan for creating a workforce that is drug-free, employers should take five steps. First, they should develop a policy concerning abuse issues in their workplace. Next, they need to train all supervisors on the problem and the policy. This step is followed by training and educating employees about the dangers alcohol and drug abuse pose. Employers also need to offer assistance to employees who do experience abuse problems. Finally, employers need to perform drug testing. Of course, the privacy rights of employees should be considered when employers have drug testing as part of their program. 

Do employers have to create a drug-free workplace? 

No, it is not required, but employers can improve the health and safety of their employees by doing so. Although this program is good to have in all businesses, OSHA urges workplaces that utilize machinery where impairment issues could lead to injuries to create a drug-free workplace environment. By doing so, employers can do a great deal to help protect their employees.

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