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Did drug use contribute to cause of worker’s injury?


August 30, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, Injuries, Special Report, What do you think?, construction safety, new court decision

judgment

A worker uses questionable judgment while using heavy equipment. He’s seriously injured, and a test shows he used illegal drugs. The employee applies for workers’ comp. Does he get benefits?

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California Chamber: Pot law would hurt workplace safety


August 17, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, In this week's e-newsletter, Injuries, Latest News & Views, What do you think?

Business groups are lining up against a measure that would legalize marijuana in California.

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Are company drivers impaired by legal drugs?


August 3, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Workers' attitudes about safety

Law enforcement officials say driving under the influence of legal drugs is an increasing problem.

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In drug treatment, on methadone: Is he a safety threat?


June 28, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, Special Report, disabilities and safety, new court decision

jury-box

A company decided to take back a conditional offer of employment after it found the applicant was a recovering drug addict. A lawsuit followed.

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Driver took muscle relaxers just hours before fatal crash


May 27, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, Fatality, In this week's e-newsletter, Investigations, Latest News & Views, Transportation safety, What Would You Do?

Do you require employees in safety-sensitive jobs to report whether they use certain prescription medications? You may want to pass this story along to them as a reminder why it’s so important that they comply with your company’s policy.

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Pot-smoking worker mauled by grizzly: Does he get comp?


May 24, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, Bizarre Accident of the Week, Injuries, Special Report, What do you think?, Workers' comp, new court decision

Bear

A worker at a bear park smoked pot before coming to work where he fed grizzlies. The worker was seriously injured by one of the bears. A workers’ compensation judge called that “mind-bogglingly stupid.” But did the judge rule the worker was entitled to workers’ comp?

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Medical marijuana vs. workplace safety: Cloud of confusion?


May 3, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, Special Report, What do you think?, Worker health

marijuana

Marijuana is now legal as a prescription painkiller in 14 states. But what if you have a drug-free-workplace policy?

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Don’t take away my beer


April 13, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Lighter Side of Safety

Imagine this: A company just recently ended a policy from 1847 that allowed its workers to drink as much beer on the job as they liked. The workers are upset, and they went on strike.

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Worker argues medical pot should exempt him from discipline


January 27, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Transportation safety, What do you think?

A worker involved in a crash with a workplace vehicle claims his status as a medical marijuana user should exempt him from discipline.

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Worker on PCP when hurt still sues for comp


January 18, 2010 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, Back/lifting injuries, Injuries, Special Report, What do you think?, new court decision

drugs

A worker tests positive for PCP right after he’s injured. Is he still able to collect workers’ comp benefits?

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Screening out unsafe workers — legally


August 20, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, Injuries, Lawsuits, Special Report, What's Working in Safety, Worker health

bleeding-arm

What do you do with employees who have a history of injuries? Fire them and they may sue, but leave them on the job and they might harm themselves or others.

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Now more employees have to be watched while urinating for drug tests


August 7, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, Compliance, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, New rules and regulations, Transportation safety, new court decision

The Transportation Department will require direct observation collections for all return-to-duty and follow-up drug tests for transportation workers in safety-sensitive jobs.

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How Supreme Court nominee could change workplace safety


July 21, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, In this week's e-newsletter, Transportation safety, disabilities and safety

While a judge on the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor disagreed with two fellow judges who ruled an employer could set safety standards higher than what the government required.

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Top 10 safety stories of 2008


July 21, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, Fatality, In this week's e-newsletter, Injuries, Investigations, OSHA news, PPE (protective equipment), Research on safety, Safety training, Special Report, Who Got Fined and Why?, Worker health

New regulations; accidents with multiple fatalities; the President-elect’s take on what OSHA should be doing. What is the top safety story of 2008?

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Why pre-employment drug tests may not be enough


June 2, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views

New data show that pre-employment drug screenings alone may not be enough of a deterrent for workers.

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Injured worker tested positive for drugs, still gets comp


May 14, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, In this week's e-newsletter, Injuries, Latest News & Views, Workers' comp

A worker suffered a serious workplace injury and was taken to the hospital for treatment. While there, he was drug tested. The test was positive for methadone, a drug used to treat narcotic withdrawal and dependence.

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Employee causes off-work accident: Is company to blame?


April 16, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Lawsuits, fatigue

Imagine this: Your company faces a lawsuit because an employee caused an off-work car accident. The injured people claim the employee’s long work hours helped cause the accident.

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Prescribed pot compromises safety: What can employers do?


February 20, 2009 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, New rules and regulations, Special Report, Worker health

marijuana

Imagine this: One of your employees is on pain medication that could compromise his safety and productivity, as well as that of co-workers. But, because of state law, you have to accommodate the employee. Not only that, but federal law says the pain medication is illegal.

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Fired for snowplowing with a beer


December 22, 2008 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Stupid human safety tricks

The city of Montreal, Canada, has shown that it takes drinking — or even just carrying — alcohol on the job while using city equipment very seriously.

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Men guilty of selling device to foil drug tests


November 28, 2008 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Stupid human safety tricks

Does your company require employees to pass drug tests? Now, there’s one less product on the market to help them cheat.

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Injured worker used pot, but was he high?


November 10, 2008 by Fred Hosier
Posted in: Alcohol/drugs, In this week's e-newsletter, Latest News & Views, Workers' comp

An employee was injured on the job and received workers’ comp. However, his employer appealed the decision because urine tests showed he’d been using an illegal drug before the incident.

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