Drug Free Workplace ChecklistThischecklistisdesignedasayardstickforevaluatingyourcompany'sdrugpolicy.Itisinnowayintendedtobeallencompassing,butratheranaidinformulatingyourpolicy.Onceyourpolicyhasbeenwritten,besuretoconsultwithyourlegalcounseltoensurecompliancewithappropriatelegalstatutesandtoreducethepossibilityofarbitrationorlitigation.Thefollowingtopicsaresuggestedfor
yourconsideration.
ProgramResearch
Whyapolicy/programneedstobeimplemented
Federal/statutoryrequirements
Comparisonofaccidentrateswithsimilarcompanies
Drug-relatedaccidents
Measurablechangesinproductivity
Increaseinabsenteeism
Highermedical/hospitalizationbenefitspaid
Similarcompaniesinstitutingpolicies/testingprograms/screeningjobapplicants
Statisticsfromlocalsubstanceabuseagenciesorhealthandpolicedepartments
Informationfromtradeandindustryassociations,orlocaltreatmentcenters
Regionalornationalstudieswithdataspecifictoyourindustry
Definitionoftermstobeusedinthepolicy,e.g.,companypremises,drug,intoxication
Samplesofemployeeacknowledgmentforms
PolicyStatement
Consequencesofuse,saleorpossessionofillegaldrugsoralcoholintheworkplace
Company’spositiononjobperformanceasitrelatestodrugusage
Positiononsubstanceabusetesting
Consequencesofpositivetesting
Availabletreatmentandrehabilitativeservices
Supportoftopmanagementforthepolicy/program
Involvementofallelementsoftheworkforce
Consultationwithunionrepresentatives
Monitoringandevaluatingsystemsbuiltintoplan
Legalcounselinvolvement
PolicyDistribution
Makeeveryemployeeawareofthepolicy/program
Makethepolicyavailabletoeachemployee
Ensureemployeesunderstandreasonsforatestingpolicy(e.g.,safety,productquality,increasedproduction),iftestingisinstituted
Extendthepolicytoincludecontractorsandtheiremployees
EmployeeEducation
Conducteducation/outreachofemployees/familiesvia:
•discussiongroupsondrugabuse/companypolicy
•videotapes/pamphletsondrugsintheworkplace
•brownbaglunchdiscussions
•communicationofavailablehealthbenefitsfordrug/alcoholtreatment
•Explaineffectsofsubstanceabuseontheemployee,theirfamilies,andthecommunity
•Explaineffectsoncompany’sproductsandservices
EmployeeAssistance
ResearchwhatemployeeeducationandtrainingservicesanEAPproviderwilloffer
Identifytreatmentresourceswhichhavebeenevaluatedascapableofhandlingsubstanceabuserehabilitation
ProvideemployeeorientationtoEAPbenefits
ProvideEAPcounselingandsupportfollowingrehabilitation
Assembleresourcefileonprovidersofassistance,monitor,andupdatelist
Provideproblemassessments
Provideforavoluntaryself-referralprogramfortreatment
Provideconfidentialcounseling
Providereferraltocounselingand/ortreatment
Providecrisisintervention
Establishahot-line
Providefamilysupportservices
Conductfollow-upduringandaftertreatment
Conductevaluationofjobperformancepre-andpost-programcontact
Reviewinsurancecoverageforoutpatientandinpatienttreatment
Addtoinsurancecoverageifnecessary
Explainwhopaysforevaluation
Explainwhetheremployeeswillbegiventimeoffwithpay
Explainwhetheremployeeswillbeprotectedagainstdisciplineorterminationiftheyvolunteerfortreatment
Institutemechanismtoreviewemployeecomplaints
EstablishanEAPstaffedwithorguidedbytrainedprofessionals
SupervisoryTraining
Management,supervisorsandunionmembersmayattendtrainingon:
Drugabuseeducation
Signsandsymptomsofaddictionandabuse(physiologicalandpsychological)
Companypolicyondruguse
Employeeassistanceresources
Howtoobserveanddocumentpoorperformance
Howtodealwithemployeessuspectedofdruguse
Howtoconfrontadrug-impairedemployee
Howandwhentotakedisciplinaryaction
HowtomakeEAPorrehabilitationreferrals
DrugDetectionOptions
Ifadoptingatestingpolicy,considerwhethertotest:
Allemployees,withoutprejudice,includingexecutivesandhourlyworkers
Applicantsorpre-employment
Employeesbasedonreasonablesuspicion,postaccident,duringandaftercounselingand/orrehabilitation
Selectedgroupsofemployees
Partofroutineannualphysical
Randomlyorunannounced
Onlyforcause
Frequencyoftesting
Onlytestingselectedemployees:
Providecriteriaforselectingthoseemployees
Iftestingemployeesinsensitivepositions,definesensitive
Ifonlytestingforcause:
Providecriteria
Identifywhowillmakejudgments;supervisororphysician
Determinewhethertestingwillbemandatory
Determinewhetheranemployeewhorefusestestingwillbedisciplined,suspendedorterminated
Pre-employmenttesting:
Definewhennewhireswillbetested
Explainwhetherpre-employmentphysicalwillberequiredandifsubstanceabusetestmaybegiven
Explainwhenapplicantsaretoldthathiringissubjecttotestresults
Decidepolicyifapplicanttestspositive:baremployment;reconsiderationofapplicationafteraspecificperiod;orreconsiderationfor
onlycertainpositions
Decidepolicyifanapplicantwhotestedpositiveiseventuallyhired:e.g.,requireperiodic,randomtesting;informsupervisor;orsetjobrestrictions
Determinethekindoftestthatwillbeadministered
Determinesubstancesthatwillbetestedfor
Determinethetypeofdrugtest
Reviewoptionsofferedbythevariouslaboratoriesandtestingconsultants
Determinecutofflevels
Determinewhetheraconfirmationtestwillbeconductedbythelaboratory
Determinethetypeoflaboratorytouse
Determinecriteriaforchoosingalaboratory
Iffacilitiesarescatteredacrossthestate,decidewhetherdifferentlaboratorieswillbeusedorwhetherallsampleswillbesenttoonesite
TestingSecurity:
Decidewhattypeoflaboratorysecuritysystem,orchainofcustody,isnecessary
Determineneedtodocumentspecimenaccountability,particularlyifchanceoutcomewillbechallenged
Decideprecautionsandassurancethatasamplehasnotbeenadulteratedbytheprovider.
Determinetypeofspecimensealtopreventtampering
Receiveassurancethataspecimenwillnotbetamperedwithintransit
Determinehandlingprocedureforaspecimenbeforeandaftertesting
Determinehowresultsarereported:hardcopyorphonecall;understandableterms;quantitativevaluesforpositivereports
Determineifpositivesamplesarefrozenfollowingtestand,ifso,forhowlong
Seekcopyoflaboratoryratingsifthelaboratoryparticipatesinproficiencytestingprogramssponsoredbyoutsideagencies
Determinewhetherlaboratorypersonnelarecertifiedtechnicians
Determinewhowillreadandinterprettestresults
Determinehowconfidentialitywillbeinsured
Determinewhowillinformtheapplicant/employeeandhow
Determinewhowillbeinformedandwhatisexpectedfromthem:companyphysician;individual’sphysician;humanresourcesprofessionals;lawenforcementofficials
Determinewhatwillbedonewiththetestresults
Determinepolicyforcurrentemployeeswhotestpositive:discipline;termination;reassignments;rehabilitation
Determinewhetherandunderwhatcircumstancesterminatedemployeeswillbeeligibleforrehire
Determinepolicyforemployeeswhotestpositivefromuseofdrugsathomebutshownosignofimpairmentonthejob