Dealing with impairment at work

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Dealing with impairment at work

Dealing with impairment at work

We often think of impairment as a result of substance use or in terms of addiction or dependence to alcohol or drugs (legal or illegal). However, impairment can be the result of various situations, such as side-effects from prescribed medication.

Impairment commonly refers to an altered state of physical and/or mental functioning. In a workplace context, someone who is impaired may have difficulty completing tasks in a safe manner and may put themselves, their co-workers, and the public in danger.

There are many potential causes of workplace impairment

  • Substance use, including alcohol or other drugs (legal or illegal)
  • Medication(s) with side-effects
  • Personal problems or crisis
  • Conflicts, harassment, bullying or violence at work
  • Fatigue (working more than one job, shift work, long hours, new infant at home, etc.)

What are Employers’ responsibilities?

Currently, there is no specific provision addressing impairment in the workplace (in some provinces there are provisions for specific sectors). However, employers are required to develop and implement Hazard Prevention Programs to protect employees from workplace hazards, which may include policies related to impairment.

Because impairment may be the result of various circumstances, employers should clearly communicate expectations and fit for duty standards in their workplace policies and should provide training on those policies and expectations.

Remember that it is not the role of the employer to diagnose a medical issue, or possible substance use or dependency problem. Their role is to identify if an employee is impaired, and to take the appropriate steps as per the organization’s policy. Wherever possible, employers should rely on observation, supervision, and frequent face-to-face conversations as a way to recognize when an employee is impaired. However, when it comes to safety-sensitive* positions, employers must always use a safety-first approach.

*Safety-sensitive positions might include forklift operators, drivers, electricians, nurses, warehouse clerks, customer service representatives, maintenance personnel, etc. where impaired performance can cause direct and significant damage to property, and/or injury to the employee and others around them.

What should be done if impairment is suspected?

Since an employer can be found liable for irresponsible and negligent actions of employees who may be under the influence of a substance, it is important to understand what impairment looks like, and how to address impairment related issues when they arise in the workplace. If impairment is suspected, employers should consider if there is a risk to the individual’s safety or the safety of others. For example, while impaired:

  • Does the person have the ability to perform the job or task safely (for example, driving, operating machinery, use of sharp objects, etc.)?
  • Is there an impact on cognitive ability or judgment?

Employers must assess each situation on a case-by-case basis and consider if there are other side-effects of a medical condition or treatment that needs to be considered.

Random testing of employees in safety-sensitive positions may be permissible if the employer is able to show that there is a demonstrated alcohol or drug abuse problem and the safety benefits of testing outweigh potential intrusion into employee privacy. The employer must also meet its duty to accommodate employees who test positive.

signs and symptoms of impairment

Signs and symptoms may be different from person to person. Keep in mind that when used alone or in combination, they do not necessarily mean that the employee has a substance use problem.

Author: https://www.operationsafety.ca/

Sources:https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/hsprograms/impairment.html

https://www.gnb.ca/0378/acca/pdf/ACCA-Toolkit-ENGLISH.pdf



What You Need To Know About Staying Safe While Working In Extreme Heat

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What You Need To Know About Staying Safe While Working In Extreme Heat

When you think of dangerous jobs, you might think of firefighting. You might think of being a pilot. Maybe you think of something more technical, like welding.

Those are all dangerous jobs, and all of them involve heat in some way or another. And it’s very likely your job can involve heat, especially if you work outside and the climate changes unexpectedly.

You might think it’s tornados. Fires. Hurricanes. But the biggest weather-related danger to people in the United States is actually extreme heat. Every single year, hundreds of people sustain injuries from working in extreme heat, or even die.

Athletes, too, particularly need to watch out for heat-related illnesses. Before they can even realize it’s happening, they can become dizzy and faint. That’s all due to exertional heat stroke, or EHS.

Heat Related Illnesses

Heat stroke and exertional heat stroke are both very serious illnesses that can occur when working in extreme heat.

Heat Stroke

Heat stroke is what happens when your body’s core temperature goes about 40°C. This extreme rise in temperature of the body makes it so your body is no longer capable of regulating itself. The signs start to show when a person acts disoriented or confused. They can also faint. Heat stroke can put someone at risk for permanent damage. It could result in brain, heart, or kidney damage. Sometimes, it can even be fatal.

Exertional Heat Stroke

When someone is experiencing exertional heat stroke, it doesn’t necessarily need to be extremely warm outside. Athletes are the people who most frequently deal with exertional heat stroke. The high temperatures in their body is caused by their own physical exertion. People who work in labor outside can also be very susceptible to this type of heat stroke.

Heat Exhaustion

This is generally what someone will experience before it leads to full heat stroke. The person will sweat excessively, which means their body is still able to cool itself down from the heat. They can still experience confusion and exhaustion, and if not treated immediately, can result in heat stroke.

Heat Cramps

When your body is lacking in electrolytes, it can result in cramping of the arms, legs, or stomach. A person experiencing heat cramps needs to rest and hydrate, which will alleviate the symptoms.

How to Stay Safe in Extreme Heat

All heat related illnesses are preventable. The more informed you are about heat illnesses when you’re working in extreme heat, the safer you’ll be. Awareness is the number one thing that’s going to prevent people from getting heat stroke, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or any other type of illness from exposing the body to too much heat.

Obviously, the best way to avoid heat illnesses is to stay out of the heat. But if you’re working in a hot environment, it can’t be avoided. If you can, increase your exposure to working in heat gradually. Instead of working the full eight hours of the day in the sun, spend some time getting used to the heat and ramping it up until you can safely work the entire day. Many cases of on the job illness occur because workers haven’t taken the time to acclimatize themselves to their conditions.

You might know exactly what we’re going to say, but hydrating your body is of the utmost importance. Drink water every fifteen minutes when working in extreme heat. Even if you’re not thirsty, it’s important to drink to keep your body hydrated before you start feeling that thirst, which means you’re on your way to being dangerously dehydrated.When you’re working somewhere hot, always plan ahead.

If you and your company need a plan, F.A.S.T. Rescue can help teach you the ropes and provide a safety course that will allow you to work in the heat without contracting any of these illnesses.


Private Workplace Training

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Private Workplace Training

If you run a business, you’re well aware of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. You know, the labor law that says each employer needs to furnish their employees with a workplace that’s safe from physical hazards. And that employees must go through a workplace safety training program.

So you know you’ve got to train your employees on their safety. But are you doing the best that you can?

What Does OHSA Require?

OHSA was enacted to cover workers and protect them from safety and health hazards that might arise on the job.

It puts procedures into place for employers to be required to have a plan in case of workplace hazards. It enforces these laws, which helps create a safe workplace for employees, because employers may not have done so voluntarily in the past.

It details what to do in case of harassment, toxic substances, how to follow codes of practice, the duties of employers, and more.

You can read about the requirements of OHSA in their entirety.

So What Do You Do?

You’re aware of OHSA. So you know you need to provide your workers with safety training. There’s a lot of options out there for you to choose from. Many people might want to turn to an online training program to get the work out of the way, but online training has been proven to be much less successful than working with someone face to face.

E-learning can provide employees with the bare minimum of what they need to learn. But the information doesn’t stick in their heads as well as it does with in-person training.

Learning the safety elements in the actual field instead of learning them online provides a hands-on experience your employees wouldn’t get otherwise. It makes your program more credible, your employees even safer, and your company reputation more reputable.

In-person training sessions also eliminate the ability of your employees to slack off and miss vital information that will help keep them safe. They can ask questions specific to your business and be prepared for incidents particular to your work environment.

Private Workplace Training

F.A.S.T. private workplace training offers you any possible type of training you could need. We cover every element of the workplace safety world. Forklift training, First Aid & CPR, Fall Arrest, Spill Response, Event Coverage – there’s workplace training program for it all. Learning these safety measures effectively is critical to an employees safety and success, and it’s not something to be taken lightly.

Online Training

If you absolutely can’t work with in-person training, we’ve still got options for you with online programs. We cover everything from chainsaw safety to trenching and shoring with our online safety videos.

Whatever your need is, F.A.S.T. Rescue has just the thing to cover all the safety information out there.


Tips and Tricks for a More Energy Efficient Office

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Tips and Tricks for a More Energy Efficient Office

Maybe you’re a small business owner, or an energy-conscious employee. Either way, it is never a bad idea to make sure that your office is as efficient as possible. Not only would you save money on an electric bill, but you can rest easy knowing that you’re helping the environment.

Go To Sleep

Energy saving modes on computers, printers, and fax machines all save around seventy percent of the power that they would be using if you just left them on. Make sure energy saving mode is enabled on all your devices. Taking it a step further, before you leave for lunch put your computer in sleep mode. Doing this will ensure that you’re using minimal power. If you can, switch to laptops – they use about eighty percent less energy than desktop computers. And when you leave your office, power your computer all the way down for the day.

Update Your Fridge

If your office has a fridge that hasn’t been updated recently, it’s probably sapping power. An Energy Star fridge could be available to you at a discounted price depending on the year of your fridge. Getting a new refrigerator could save you more than a hundred dollars per year, so the investment you make will pay itself off sooner than you might think.

Get a Bright Idea

Energy saving light bulbs last anywhere from ten to twenty-five times longer than outdated light bulbs. Depending on your old model of bulb, you can save around fifty dollars a year just by making a simple switch to LED light bulbs. If you can’t make the switch with all the lights in your office, you can do your part by replacing any personal lighting you might have in your work area or at your desk.

Switch To Power Strips

When electronic devices are plugged into power outlets, even if the devices are off, they can still sap power. When cords are plugged into a power strip, it’s easier for the strip to be powered off than having to go and unplug each machine individually.

Keep the Door Closed

It may seem like a simple step, but when your air is treated to be either warmer or cooler than the outside temperature, leaving doors open can sap the treated air. If you have freight doors, leaving them open can lose a large amount of the conditioned air. Sealing cracks in doors and making sure they’re airtight also helps keep the air in or out. Keeping your thermostat at 72 degrees in the winter or less and 76 degrees more in the summer also helps reduce your energy bill.

Don’t Print

Reading your documents on the computer can help cut back on energy output that you would have expended by printing. And, surprise surprise, it also saves paper, which is you doing your part to help the environment even further.

Educate Your Employees

The best way to get everyone to be as green and responsible with energy as possible is to let them know how they’re using it. F.A.S.T. Rescue has a course on energy efficiency in the workplace designed to teach how to set an energy efficient strategy into place. The more you know, the more conscious you can be of your carbon footprint and the steps you can take to reduce it.


Think You Don’t Need Health And Safety Consulting? Think Again

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Think You Don’t Need Health And Safety Consulting? Think Again

Perhaps you’ve been running a business or are an employee at a company thinking, nah, I don’t need a health and safety program. But then the unexpected day comes, and someone comes to audit your workplace, or an employee notices something that doesn’t measure up to guidelines.

It’s important to perform your own health and safety audits for your company so that you don’t fall short if any outside source examines your program and you have to face the repercussions.

What is A Health and Safety Audit?

Depending on your type of business, the parameters for a health and safety audit can differ.

Audits themselves are designed to assess the effectiveness of the safety plans and programs that you have in place. They make sure that your procedures, like inspection forms and safety materials, are completely up to date and still as accurate as possible.

More often than not, your audit will be voluntary to make sure that your workplace is protecting you well. But sometimes, a ministry of labor auditor can arrive and evaluate the procedures of your company.

Audits allow a company to determine the how to improve their employee’s safety, if necessary. They take into account the factors that are working well and which factors aren’t.

You can post your audit results for everyone to view once you’ve finished with the auditing process. Employee happiness can increase when they know exactly what a company is doing in order to ensure that they’re being kept as safe and healthy as possible.

If your company ends up being reviewed, can you prove your due diligence? You won’t want to answer no to this question – it could result in penalties like revoking licenses or stopping operations until the assessed problems are resolved.

What a Health and Safety Consultation Can Do For You

When your company is up to code, your staff or fellow employees can rest much easier knowing that there’s a well inspected code that’s up to standard in the workplace. Management is also protecting itself from liability.

Once you’ve proved how much you care about implementing a code that’s up to date, overall confidence in staff and management will increase as well. You’re helping to eliminate any penalties you might have incurred from a safety infringement.

When you go through your health and safety procedures and assess their effectiveness, you’re also streamlining the process. You can increase efficiency of your operations when you go over them with a fine toothed comb.

Why Consulting Helps Prepare You

Preparing for a health and safety audit or performing one yourself can be a wholly overwhelming process.

It’s hard to do on your own, so you can hire a professional to help you. Our occupational health and safety program will carefully assess your company’s legal requirements, then look at the program you have in place to see if it matches up.

We’ll let you know what the gaps are in your system, and take any corrective actions that need to be taken. We’ll show you how to implement them, ensuring your company is completely up to standard.

We go through emergency response programs, traffic management audits, site inspections, workplace investigations, and many more with expert knowledge that you may not have. Get a consultation today and set your mind at ease.


Activity Enhancements: Simple Tips To Stay Active In The Workplace

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Activity Enhancements: Simple Tips To Stay Active In The Workplace

Never overlook the importance of a fit workforce. Employees who stay active aren’t just healthier; they’re also happier and more productive. This means that if you successfully encourage your workers to exercise, there are direct benefits for your company. Through the following tips, you can incorporate exercise into your daily activities, helping both your workers’ health and your bottom line:

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Fostering Fitness: Tips To Help Your Employees Stay Healthy

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Fostering Fitness: Tips To Help Your Employees Stay Healthy

Never overlook the value of employee health. When you encourage your staff to eat right and exercise, you aren’t just helping them. You’re setting the stage for higher productivity, lower health costs, and fewer sick days, saving you money on multiple fronts. You should take every opportunity to promote health and fitness in the workplace. To do that effectively while treating all of your employees as equals, don’t forget to:

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