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Re: Drugs and the workplace, is it a concern?

Posted: Dec 2nd, 2012, 10:17 pm
by mitchbaywatch
Drugs don't belong at the work place, I don't think I have lead anyone to believe that drugs
are okay at the work place, if I have that was not the intent. I have said drugs are a concren all
along, just no where near the top. As others have listed other concerns too! The way some people
talk on these forums you would think drug use at work is out of control!

Re: Drugs and the workplace, is it a concern?

Posted: Dec 2nd, 2012, 10:23 pm
by JLives
It depends on the job. I want my doctor or heavy equipment operators to be razor sharp but I don't care if the person washing dishes or a video store clerk smoked a doobie before their shift.

Re: Drugs and the workplace, is it a concern?

Posted: Dec 2nd, 2012, 10:36 pm
by mitchbaywatch
I guess I went a bit exteme Jenny, I could care less about the dish washer or movie clerk (they still exist?)
for sure heavy equip, doctor should not do drugs. I don't don't think drug use is out of control at the workplace,
unless maybe you include all the other prescription and non over the counter, alcohol and whatever and lump them all together maybe I might twitch.

Re: Drugs and the workplace, is it a concern?

Posted: Dec 3rd, 2012, 7:22 am
by fluffy
My feeling on this is that it is an issue, and while there may be other issues that is no reason to downplay this one. Like Jenny says there are places where one simply does not have to have his/her wits about them to the point where they are a safety risk to themselves and those around them, but there are places where one is obligated to be constantly at the top of their game or the risk to those around them is increased.

It's like the smoker, who when confronted with the stupidity of the habit points to all the other health risks that exist as if that somehow lessens the stupidity of smoking.

There's lots of problems to deal with, and there's no rule that says we can't deal with them all. In a situation like the oil sands the problem is significant, there are upwards of forty or fifty thousand me in camp in the Ft. McMurray area and if you think the problem is under control then maybe you're being a little naive. Why do you think random testing is being proposed by Suncor really, and why are the unions fighting it really? It's because there are way more people involved than most people would like to think.

Re: Drugs and the workplace, is it a concern?

Posted: Dec 3rd, 2012, 8:14 am
by Smurf
Could easily be Fluffy. Maybe management is starting to see an increase.

Did anyone see CTV news last night. Now the Canadian Army is pushing it. They actually have the testing but they are not allowed to know who failed. They get the results as to rank, position, percentages etc. but not the individuals name. They want the actual names as they say they need to know if a soldier handling explosives, carrying a loaded weapon, going to the front line or whatever is using drugs. They say no one wants the man beside them that they rely on to save their butt to be on drugs of any sort.

Maybe we have hit on something with the camps, oil fields etc.. Maybe it is worse in areas of high stress, long hours and isolation. Maybe people are using them to relax make up for what they are missing. I've been there and it can get rough. I remember calling people bushed. We had one fellow loose it and totally destroy a bunkhouse. We had to restrain him and send him out on the first plane to get help. He never came back. Maybe people are just realizing how bad it is or just getting sick of it.

Still doesn't take away from the fact that drugs are everywhere and I believe anyone that thinks about it realizes that. To think that the problem isn't everywhere to some extent is wrong.

Re: Drugs and the workplace, is it a concern?

Posted: Dec 3rd, 2012, 8:17 am
by Smurf
Dirtybiker wrote:

What about the person that stays up all night instead of sleeping and then goes to work.
No sleep=impaired

Have a verbal fight with the spouse on the way out the door= impaired

Family member dies= impaired

break up or divorce= impaired
Some of these impairments could last for extended periods of time, and there
is not a test in the world that would detect it, yet on the job performance
could be severely hampered.
I hope this isn't considered off the topic, just an off-shoot branch


I totally agree. But are these things a reason not to test or try to prevent one like drug use that is preventable. All these things have to be looked at but to suggest we shouldn't do something about a problem that can be controlled is just wrong as far as I am concerned.

Re: Drugs and the workplace, is it a concern?

Posted: Dec 3rd, 2012, 8:20 am
by fluffy
I've been reading a bit about the DARRPP program in Alberta, basically an in-depth exploration as to just how severe, if at all, the problem is. It's surrounded by loads of hype and propoganda, as are both sides in this issue, but the principle is sound. Identify and assess the problem first then decide how to proceed. Random testing is one of the tools they mean to employ, and that is what is leading to resistance from the trade unions. Strikes me as counter-productive to try and block an effort to assess the problem without offering any viable alternatives.

Re: Drugs and the workplace, is it a concern?

Posted: Dec 3rd, 2012, 8:37 am
by zzontar
What if you have a job in a creative field (e.g. art, music, writing) where there is a lot of evidence that says a few puffs of pot will heighten your senses and imagination ... is there any evidence proving this to be incorrect?

Re: Drugs and the workplace, is it a concern?

Posted: Dec 3rd, 2012, 8:54 am
by Pookybear
jennylives wrote:It depends on the job. I want my doctor or heavy equipment operators to be razor sharp but I don't care if the person washing dishes or a video store clerk smoked a doobie before their shift.

Pretty sad way to think. If someone no matter their job can not get through their shift without being stoned they have a problem. Same people that drive around stoned and think it's no big deal. Put a Mickey or a 6 pack in the same scenario, is it still okay to do that at work.

Re: Drugs and the workplace, is it a concern?

Posted: Dec 3rd, 2012, 9:27 am
by Smurf
I agree Pooky. People say how stoned drivers are better because they drive a bit slower and are cautious. They are not a hazard. Yet those same people complain about a senior being so dangerous, should be tested and loose their licence for doing the same thing. And yes someone who is stoned has slower reactions just like a senior.

As far as jobs I agree that some are much safer than others but why should anyone have to use recreational drugs to get through the day. If they need a toke that bad I would say they are addicted. If they need it for medicinal purposes then get a doctors okay and their employer will decide if it is okay or not. There is no way we should need to evaluate every job to decide if someone can be high at work or not. Just like drinking and driving it is not a necessity. Don't do it.

Re: Drugs and the workplace, is it a concern?

Posted: Dec 3rd, 2012, 9:30 am
by fluffy
zzontar wrote:What if you have a job in a creative field (e.g. art, music, writing) where there is a lot of evidence that says a few puffs of pot will heighten your senses and imagination ... is there any evidence proving this to be incorrect?


"Heighten" ? I think "alter" would be a better term, but I agree that sometimes an alternate perspective can lead to insight. Still, there is a time and place for everything, and the medical evidence available as to slowed reaction times and cognitive abilities would be of prime concern in a risky environment. In a low risk environment it's not really an issue, but the instances where it actually would help one accomplish a task would account for a tiny percentage in the big picture.

Re: Drugs and the workplace, is it a concern?

Posted: Dec 3rd, 2012, 9:47 am
by JLives
Pookybear wrote:Pretty sad way to think. If someone no matter their job can not get through their shift without being stoned they have a problem. Same people that drive around stoned and think it's no big deal. Put a Mickey or a 6 pack in the same scenario, is it still okay to do that at work.


Or maybe it makes 4-8 hours of washing dishes more tolerable. Alcohol use does not have the same effect as marijuana BTW. Not very many violent acts or loss of control are happening with marijuana use.

Re: Drugs and the workplace, is it a concern?

Posted: Dec 3rd, 2012, 9:53 am
by Lady tehMa
It is pretty sad if they need it to get through a 4-8 hour shift as a dishwasher. I've been a dishwasher (Husky Roadhouse)- all I ever needed was some tunes to dance to, an my antics often made my coworkers smile.

Life is what you make it.

Re: Drugs and the workplace, is it a concern?

Posted: Dec 3rd, 2012, 10:08 am
by Smurf
I know I'm going to get shot for this one but has anyone thought about the fact that the real problem here is that people are too stupid to see the problems that will result from their actions. It has been mentioned on here that stupidity is a bigger problem than drugs. Maybe the real truth is drug use, impairement, at work falls under the heading stupidity. Just like anything else, drinking and driving is a good example, people stupidly keep on pushing the envelope. Finally the rules/laws go overboard due to necessity to try to control these idiots. Are they the majority of users, drinkers or whatever, definately not but they do end up causing the majority to be controlled, rightly or wrongly. People, stupid people just can't get it through their head that they are causing a problem and sooner or later there will be a reaction. Sooner or later an over reaction that they and everyone else will have to live with.

Maybe instead of ignoring it "it's not serious" people should be telling their friends and fellow workers to cool it, stop it before the rules get so tough you can't even get a job sweeping floors with drugs in your system. Maybe that would be a good thing but I believe it could be avoided if people would just wake up and smell the roses.

Re: Drugs and the workplace, is it a concern?

Posted: Dec 3rd, 2012, 10:12 am
by Smurf
Can you see the day in the future when you will have to show up with recent drug test results in your hand (at your cost) for a job interview. Just look back a couple of decades at what has happened to smoking and drinking and driving. It could very well happen.