mandatory training for supervisors in Substance abuse

Jean Rommes

REcently I was told that it was mandatory that all supervisory personnel have training in substance abuse: recongizing the signs, etc. If this is true, then I missed something! Can someone help me? If this is required, exactly what is to be included in the training? Thanks.....

Down_the_Middle

The MANDATORY REQUIREMENT is probably a management decision and the edict, in my opinion, is essential to having a solid, equitable policy. The success of your program rests with the management team and how they view the policy, interpret it and enforce it. I concur with the mandatory attendance issue altho your question implies that maybe there's something else that you missed....Probably not! It's just a good idea.

Mike Maslanka

what state are you in?are you covered by dot regulations?...regards from texas,mike maslanka

Margaret Morford

This is probably to comply with the Drug Free Workplace Act. It is voluntary, but many states will give you a discount of 10% on your workers compensation premiums. It's worth complying to get the discount and it's not difficult. Part of compliance is supervisor education about how to recognize the signs of substance abuse.

Hope that helps.

Margaret Morford
theHRedge

Gar

This may not be related to the question posted, but our Transportation Director recently took a workshop on U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) regulations. This is what he shared with me.

1. DoT regulations require the supervisors of covered employees to take a minimum of one hour of substance abuse training.
2. Applicants for jobs covered by DoT regulations who fail employment drug tests must be given the name of a substance abuse specialist.
3. If the job an applicant is applying for is covered by DoT regulations and the applicants last job was covered by DoT regs, the applicant must be asked if he/she failed a drug test while on that last job. Moreover, the employer must make a "good faith effort" at contacting the former employer to verify that information.

System

Hi, I'm in Iowa too, and there is a program called T.I.P.S. that teaches supervisors how to look for substance abuse by employees AND customers and how to deal with those issues. It's a program offered by the State of Iowa. I'm sure if you contact the Iowa DOT they'll be able to provide you with the appropriate contact person, or give me a call at 319-463-2202 and I'll get the info for you.

You can either have an HR associate of your own trained to be a T.I.P.S. trainer or have a trained person come in to teach the class. It's 4-5 hours in length and it's a great idea.

The day after I took T.I.P.S. I recognized symptoms of methamphetamine abuse in one of my employees. After following all the correct and legal procedures, she was drug tested and came up positive for three illegal substances -- including a large amount of meth. It's scary to think that she was in that kind of shape & at work putting everyone at risk.

Feel free to call me if I can help. I know that Iowa law is sticky! --Kerry Wise

rhammett

Laws in your state may differ, but in Georgia a Drug-Free Workplace Premium Credit Program is voluntary to employers; however, to participate in the program, the State of Georgia requires an employer to provide employee education for certification of the Drug-Free Workplace Program. As a participant in this program, we receive a 7 ½ % discount on workers compensation premiums.

This program does impose quite a few regulations. Such as, the employer is required to provide employees with an one-hour, twice-a-year education program on substance abuse, in general, and its effects on the workplace, specifically. (OCGA 34-9-417) In addition to the employee program (two hours per year), employers must provide all supervisory personnel with a minimum of two hours of supervisor training consisting of how to recognize signs of substance abuse, how to document and collaborate signs of substance abuse, and how to refer substance abusing employees to the proper treatment providers. (OCGA 34-9-418).