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November 2, 2008    DOL Home > OASP > Working Partners   
Home  Drug-Free Workplace  Safety and Health  Substance Abuse Basics  Laws and Regulations  Statistics  Special Issues
Working Partners for an Alcohol- and Drug-Free Workplace.  Photos representing the workforce - Digital Imagery© copyright 2001 PhotoDisc, Inc.

Drug-Free Workplace

Drug-free workplace programs help improve workplace safety and health in organizations of all sizes and in all industries. They also play an important role in fostering safer and drug-free families, schools and communities across the U.S.

Generally, a comprehensive drug-free workplace program includes five components:

  1. Drug-Free Workplace Policy
  2. Supervisor Training
  3. Employee Education
  4. Employee Assistance and
  5. Drug Testing

Although programs can be effective without all five of these components, it is recommended that all be at least explored when developing a program. Effective program planning and philosophy are critical to success. Employers and employees should work together to examine each component and design a balanced, fair program suited to the unique needs and challenges of their workplaces. To help them do so, the links above provide more extensive information about each component. Also, several promising practices provide examples of effective drug-free workplace programs in action.

Crisis Situations

Having a drug-free workplace program in place is a workplace’s best line of defense against alcohol and drug problems. However, since careful planning and consideration is required, a program cannot be put in place overnight. In the meantime, extreme caution should be exercised in addressing existing problems. A section on crisis management reviews strategies for addressing immediate problems absent a drug-free workplace program.

 



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