When employees are impaired on the job—whether from fatigue, the use of drugs or the consumption of alcohol—they can create a number of serious workplace safety hazards. With the federal legalization of recreational marijuana right around the corner, it’s more important than ever that employers understand the dangers of workplace impairment, particularly as it relates to marijuana usage.
In response to this need, the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) recently launched an informative e-course—Impairment and Cannabis in the Workplace. This e-course provides readers with a background on workplace impairment and, using marijuana as an example, outlines steps employers can take to address the issue. Topics covered in the e-course include the following:
- Impairment
- Effects of marijuana
- Testing for marijuana
- Program development
- Employer, supervisor and employee roles
- Human rights and the duty to accommodate
After completing the e-course, employers should understand the impact of impairment, the health effects of marijuana usage, the importance of impairment policies, workplace roles as they relate to impairment and specific training strategies.
While this e-course focuses heavily on marijuana usage, it does provide general information that can be applied to impairment from fatigue, alcohol and other sources.
Company Fined $90,000 After Worker is Injured from a Fall
An Ontario-based construction firm was recently fined $90,000 after a worker fell from a ladder. The employee lost their footing while performing electrical work above a drop ceiling. The worker suffered critical injuries from the fall.
The employer was fined for failing to provide the worker with appropriate safety equipment to help reduce the hazards of working at heights.
