labor lawAdivision of labor law center

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced that October 14 – 20, 2007 is Drug-free Work Week.

The purpose of the annual Drug-Free Work Week is to educate employers, employees and the public on the importance of eliminating drugs in the workplace. According to OSHA, the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration, most fatal accidents at work involve the use of drugs or alcohol. Having a drug-free work environment is an essential component of a safe and healthful work place.

The Drug-Free Work Week program was initiated in 2006 as a collaborative effort between the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and members of the Drug-Free Workplace Alliance. Every employer nationwide is urged to participate.

Through the week, the DOL and alliance members will conduct activities to help supervisors, business owners and workers understand how to implement drug-free workplace programs that focus on detection and deterrence. The program also emphasizes that employers should offer support and assistance to workers who have drug or alcohol problems.

According to a recent survey by the Hazelden Foundation, while most human resource managers recognize drug use as a major problem in today’s workplace, few have systems in place to address these issues with their employees. Hazelden is a nationwide non-profit foundation that helps people to reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction. Hazelden, and the DOL, stress that employers should take a pro-active approach to drug and alcohol problems.

“Drug-Free Work Week is a perfect time to remind employers and employees alike that reducing workplace alcohol and drug abuse is a crucial part of keeping workers safe,” said Elena Carr, drug policy coordinator at the Labor Department. “Of course, in a safe and healthful workplace, every week should be Drug-Free Work Week.”

Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace offer a number of suggestions on ways that individual employers can honor Drug-Free Work Week. These include launching a Drug-Free Workplace policy, promoting an existing program, offering health screening, and reviewing health insurance coverage.

A Drug-Free Workplace Program is a natural complement to other initiatives that help protect worker safety and health. The first step in establishing a drug-free workplace is formulating a written policy on drugs and alcohol in the workplace. The policy should be consistent, fair, and applied to all workers. The same standards should apply to management was well as hourly employees. The policy should be communicated clearly to all employees in language that is easy to understand.

In order to have an effective Drug-Free program, it is critical that supervisors and managers be well-trained in implementing the program. Most employers focus on helping drug users or alcohol abusers get treatment, rather than punishing them.  

Some employers choose to incorporate pre-employment drug screening or random drug screening into a Drug-Free Workplace program. Be aware that state laws regarding drug testing differ. Seek the advice of a qualified attorney before instituting drug testing, especially random drug testing.

If your organization already has a Drug-Free Workplace Program, this is an ideal time to promote it. Be sure to remind employees that the program plays an important part in keeping them safe. One way to do this is to distribute promotional items to employees, with the emphasis on safety. Along with these items, you can also distribute copies of your company drug policy. It’s also wise to give employees the opportunity to ask questions about the company’s drug-free policy, privately or in an open forum.

Drug-Free Workplace Week is also an excellent time for employers to offer health screening. This can include screening for blood pressure and diabetes, as well as a private, confidential assessment of potential drug or alcohol problems. Several organizations offer online screening for alcohol problems such as Alcohol Screening.org.

Review the company health insurance policy. When a company offers coverage for substance abuse treatment, employees are more likely to seek help before it becomes a crisis. If your healthcare plan doesn’t include coverage for such treatment, consider adding it.

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1. Posted by: Working Drug Free Works - Labor Law Center Blog

   [...] Members of the Drug-Free Workplace Alliance and affiliated organizations across the nation are bringing Drug-Free Work Week themes to life in a variety of educational activities. Different programs are designed to help employers, supervisors and workers learn how to implement effective programs to prevent drug abuse at work, and to address drug or alcohol abuse if it does occur. The focus is on detection and deterrence, but the programs also offer drug assistance and support for any current employees who may have a drug or alcohol problem. [...]