Alcohol and Drug Testing Policy - Evidence of effectiveness?

Wes Bucey

Quite Involved in Discussions
#51
little__cee said:
Wow - does anyone really have mandatory health checkups besides your initial hiring physical???
In some industries, it's necessary to conform to regulations. (To me, it makes economic sense to keep a healthy workforce that I don't have to replace or substitute and train when illness strikes - the motto of modern Quality - Prevention versus Detection!)

I know of at least one organization that has free on-site food service for every shift.
  • It adds "golden handcuffs" to employees
  • It assures at least one nutritious meal per day for each employee
  • It ensures a "closed campus" with no employees going out to the parking lot to "drink" lunch
  • No contaminated foodstuffs are brought in to "share" and sicken multiple people
  • Outside suppliers are fed a meal, too, to avoid three martini lunches which might influence a buyer
  • No foodstuffs out on the shop floor or at desks to draw vermin and create mess
  • Ensures employees will be present for announcements
  • Ensures regular start and stop of meal time to minimize production schedules
Similar reasoning goes on behind on-site nurseries and day care for employee children.

Does it seem strange to any of you that a lot of executives go through this thinking exercise, balancing cost versus benefit for every "perk" offered to employees? I don't know of too many executives who provide these benefits as a strictly altruistic venture.

Personally, I think of it all in the same vein of whether to provide air conditioning - does it ultimately make production more efficient?
 
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Jim Howe

#52
Wes Bucey said:
I don't believe the organization can expect ALL individuals, whether employed by the organization or not, to "do the right thing."

As an executive, I think about a lot more than whether John Doe driving my dock jeep is drunk and might crash into a $500,000 CNC machining center.
  • I worry whether my health insurance for the organization will go up and squeeze my profit as a result of chemical abuse among employees.
  • I worry whether Mary Roe's alienated abusive husband will come in with a gun and shoot Mary and folks who helped shield her from the jerk.
  • I worry if the temptation of silver solder bars is too much for someone with a gambling habit.
  • I worry if Jack Jones is a bipolar who is skidding into the depressive phase of his illness and may commit suicide in my office.
  • And so on, and so on.
What I can do is put as many preventive measures in place, including random drug tests, mandatory health checkups, third party consultants for employees to visit (without details leaking back to me) for help with finances, addictions, family problems, etc. I can make sure outsiders can't come in and annoy or harass my employees. I can institute a policy where supervisors run through the equivalent of old-fashioned police roadside checks for sobriety before handing over keys to dock jeeps. I can stay alert for signs of change (some call it management by walking around) among my employees and investigate causes.

The one thing I can't do is shirk my responsibility to care for the organization and all its "extended family" of employees, stockholders, customers, and suppliers.
Wes, I think you touched on the real reason random drug testing is being implemented in companies. As the company sees there insurance rates ,such as workmans comp, go up they are told by the state sponsor that there rate can be reduced if they implement a random testing policy. It would be interesting if the state (in this case, Ohio) would be forthcoming with their statistical data to backup there claim.
 

RoxaneB

Super Moderator
Super Moderator
#53
little__cee said:
Wow - does anyone really have mandatory health checkups besides your initial hiring physical???
:topic: Yup. I am aware of one organization that has mandatory health checks for all personnel above a certain level. The more amusing part was the determination that the majority of those personnel were deemed overweight and a Key Performance Indicator was created to help with the weight loss goal.
 
C

Craig H.

#54
little__cee said:
Wow - does anyone really have mandatory health checkups besides your initial hiring physical???

cee:

The company I work for does, but I think it is mandated by the insurance company. Our HR department even makes the appointment.

Even though I go to my regular Doctor (at least) twice a year (for which our insurance pays the largest share), the value of having a "fourth party" health audit yearly must pay off to them in the long run.

Think about it: for each case of (insert dreaded disease here) caught early each year, lots of extra checkups are paid for.

Then, there are lost productivity and other costs, as well.

Of course, I am lucky enough to work where we have fantastic benefits, so others may have different views.
 
L

little__cee

#55
Naive

I guess I'm naive - I knew certain occupations, such as police officers, had physicals but I've never heard of "regular" companies requiring physicals of their employees other than at the hiring stage.

I learned something new today. :applause:
 

Wes Bucey

Quite Involved in Discussions
#56
Think about this:

Typical cost to recruit and hire new C-level executive is 50% to 100% of annual salary. Makes sense for organization to keep current one alive with preventive health checkups. Extend the thinking down the line to most skilled positions; add in reduced cost for each checkup when many checkups are ordered and you have an economic "profit" for providing "FREE" health checkups.
 
J

jaimezepeda

#57
Mandatory health checkups by DOT.

little__cee said:
Wow - does anyone really have mandatory health checkups besides your initial hiring physical???
YES!

I used to drive an 18 wheeler for a living once. The DOT required a mandatory health checkup for ALL drivers with a CDL (Commercial Drivers License) every 2 years.

I believe the FAA also may have a similar requirement for licensed pilots.

Jaime
 

Scott Catron

True Artisan
Super Moderator
#58
Perhaps some useful data

On the [SAFETY] mailing list from the University of Vermont, there was a question posted about this subject:

"I have been asked to find any statistics concerning workplace injuries related to drug abuse."

A responce listed some references. I have not looked at them, but others may be interested:

THE ROLE OF DRUGS IN WORKPLACE INJURIES: IS DRUG TESTING APPROPRIATE? , By:
Macdonald, Scott, Journal of Drug Issues, 00220426, Fall95, Vol. 25, Issue 4

Analysis of Toxicology Reports from the 1993-1994 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. By: Greenberg, Michael, et el. Compensation and Working Conditions, Fall 1999, pp. 26 - 28.

Work Related Fatal Injuries in 1998. By: Weber, William and Cherron Cox.
Compensation and Working Conditions, Spring 2001, pp. 27 - 29.

Alcohol, other drugs, and fatal work-related fatalities. By: Lewis, RJ, Journal of Occupational Medicine, January 1989, Vol. 31(1), pp. 23 - 28.

An assessment of drug testing within the construction industry. By Gerber JK, Journal of Drug Education, 2002; Vol. 32 (1), pp. 53-68.

Deaths from external causes of injury among construction workers in North Carolina, 1988-1994. By Lipscomb HJ, Applied Occupational & Environmental Hygiene, 2000 Jul; Vol. 15 (7), pp. 569-80.

Occupational injury mortality in New Mexico. By Fullerton L, Annals of Emergency Medicine, 1995 Oct; Vol. 26 (4), pp. 447-54.

The occurrence and epidemiologic features of alcohol-related occupational injuries. By Stallones L, Addiction, 1993 Jul; Vol. 88 (7), pp. 945-51.

Current practice and experience in drug and alcohol testing in the workplace. By Zwerling C, Bulletin on Narcotics, 1993; Vol. 45 (2), pp.
155-96.


Hope that is helpful.
 
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