Red flags for abuse, the impact of opioids in the workplace and reasonable suspicion training capped the second in a series of presentations on drug use and workplace safety last week in Cedar Rapids.
An estimated 65 employer representatives and human resources professionals assembled at The Hotel in Kirkwood Center on Sept. 17. Iowa Workforce Development and the Eastern Iowa Human Resources Association co-hosted the daylong seminar. Its July kick-off seminar addressed the challenges that medicinal and recreational marijuana might bring to businesses.
Curt Wheeler, a business services representative with the IWD, discussed the red flags for abuse that supervisors and employeess could be taught to identify with "reasonable suspicion" training. Wheeler noted that detection is a safety issue for businesses. He also stressed the importance of keeping up to date with policies and procedures, especially when a drug test is required. Attendees learned the differences between legally-prescribed medications and illegal drugs on behavior.
In a 2017 National Safety Council survey, 24 percent of the 501 responding companies said they provided workplace training about prescription drugs. Among those only 13 percent were "very confident" that their employees could identify abuse.
The survey also revealed that 81 percent of companies have incomplete drug use and abuse policies. Many specifically lacked provisions regarding the use of prescription drugs at work and return-to-work after rehabilittaion protocols.
Seven out of 10 companies experienced some effect of prescription drug usage among its employee ranks, including absenteeism and overdose, according to the survey.
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