Surveys find that substance abuse remains one of the most serious issues facing U.S. businesses.
According to a Safety Daily Advisor e-newsletter from BLR (Business & Legal Resources) – the leading provider of employment, safety and environmental compliance solutions, there are more than 6 million active alcoholics employed and more than 70 percent of all current illicit drug users aged 18 and older are employed.
“With such a dangerous and widespread problem, it's important to recognize substance abuse on the job before it leads to an accident,” the newsletter stated.
It also offered some early warning signs supervisors and managers should be alert for, as they could be an indicator to the possibility of substance abuse on the job.
1. An otherwise inexplicable fall-off of work efficiency in terms of volume, accuracy or promptness.
2. Frequent tardiness, often explained with increasingly elaborate, but hard-to-check excuses.
3. Excessive use of sick days, especially on a Friday or a Monday.
4. Increased involvement in accidents and near misses, and/or an increase in the employee's error rate.
5. Heavy use of breath sweeteners.
6. Physical and mental characteristics or changes, such as mood swings, a decline in grooming, staggering, dozing off on the job, etc.
“Supervisors should be aware that one or two of these signs alone does not necessarily indicate an alcohol or drug problem, but a combination of several signs indicates it is time to speak with the employee about the possibility of a substance abuse problem,” the BLR’s Safety Daily Advisor said.
