Substance Use – Drugs & Alcohol
Operating a crane can be a dangerous job. It requires focus, skill, good judgment, coordination, and the ability to make split-second decisions. Being under the influence of some substances can impair the operator’s ability to safely carry out work.
The term “substances” includes:
- Legal drugs such as cannabis
- Street drugs such as cocaine, meth, heroin, and fentanyl
- Alcohol
- Some prescription drugs and over-the-counter medications
Substance use can make changes to the mind and body, causing impairment.
When people are impaired:
- their judgment, thinking, and decision making doesn’t work as well as usual.
- they may become clumsy, have poor reaction time, and perceive the world in different ways.
- they may become irritable and have mood swings or personality changes.
All workers and employers have a responsibility to keep themselves and everyone else on the worksite safe. Being alert and fit to work safely is required by law.
Worker Responsibilities
- Make sure your ability to work safely is not impaired for any reason.
- If you are impaired, do not work, because your impairment could endanger you or other workers.
- Tell your supervisor or employer if your ability to work safely is impaired for any reason.
- Tell your supervisor or employer if you think someone else might be impaired.
If you think you might have a substance-use problem, talk with a doctor or counsellor. Some companies have an employee and family assistance program that can help.
Employer Responsibilities
- Do not let a person work if their impairment could endanger themselves or anyone else.
- Do not let an impaired worker stay on the worksite.
Suggested Topics for Discussion
- What would you do if you suspected another worker was impaired due to a substance?
- What would you do if you thought you might be impaired yourself (for example, because you were on a new medication)?
- Have you had experience with someone being impaired at work? What happened? Do you think the situation was handled well? Why or why not?
References
Occupational Health and Safety Regulation Part 4, Section 4.20 and Workers Compensation Act Division 4, Section 22(2)(d)
