As a Risk Control Rep, I spend the majority of my time meeting with a wide variety of different business operations. And I have noticed a trend among all industries - - business owners know that they should implement a Drug Free Program, but they just don't seem to ever get around to developing and establishing a program. Given that the economy has slowed down growth for many business sectors, maybe now is a good time to implement the programs (such as Drug Free Workplace, Return to Work, Safety training, etc) necessary to help your business to grow and succeed when the market picks up again. Here are some statistics to consider...
- In 2007, an estimated 19.9 million Americans were current illicit drug users. The rate of current illicit drug use among Americans has remained stable since 2002, hovering around 8 percent.
- In 2007, of the 17.4 million current illicit drug users age 18 and over, 13.1 million (75.3 percent) were employed.
I recently discovered a new Department of Labor tool (e-laws: Drug Free Workplace Advisor) that is designed to help employers establish a Drug Free Workplace Program. This tool provides guidance on how to develop a Drug Free Program as well as a tool to help create a customized Drug Free Workplace Policy.
Use this link to access the site: http://www.dol.gov/elaws/drugfree.htm.
Be sure to check with your insurance agent to see if you qualify for a discount on your Worker's Compensation insurance for implementing a Drug Free Workplace Program. In many states employers with a state recognized Drug Free Workplace Program are eligible for a discount on their work comp insurance.
Have you implemented a Drug Free Workplace Program? If so, have you noticed a decrease in employee turnover? What about the number of employee accidents and injuries? We'd love to hear your success stories. Please feel free to leave us a comment.
Lisa Mundt is a Senior Risk Control Representative for Westfield Insurance.
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