The world has changed a lot in recent months, and many businesses now find themselves changing and adapting to a “new normal” with the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic. What hasn’t changed throughout all this, and perhaps has become even more critical, is worker safety.
Some companies continue to operate as “essential businesses” that maintain the country’s economy and infrastructure, such as companies in professional transportation. But it’s not just the risk of infection that these companies must contend with. Substance abuse can also be harmful not only to the abuser, but other employees and even the general public put at risk by poor judgment or impaired reflexes.
Because of this, drug-free workplace policies can be put in place, and online reasonable suspicion training is available, so even now, companies can be safer and more efficient.
What Is Reasonable Suspicion Training?
Substance abuse at the workplace can result in, at best, poor interactions or bad decisions due to impaired judgment. At worst, it can cost lives and result in legal liability for companies that let a driver take to the wheel with compromised reflexes and situation awareness due to drug or alcohol consumption. However, substance abuse doesn’t have to be discovered after the fact, when an error or tragedy has already occurred, and people are looking for reasons.
People who abuse substances, especially regularly, will give themselves away with certain behaviors even before an accident occurs. Reasonable suspicion training gives supervisors the education and knowledge to stay on guard for these hints. If a lot of the warning signs appear, the supervisors can then talk to other staff members, preferably a designated employee representative, if available. The decision can be made, based on supervisor suspicion, to test that employee for the presence of drugs in the body.
Getting What You Need
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot of things we took for granted, like the ability to enter a classroom without worry about contracting an infection that can then be spread to friends and family. However, the need for safety at a workplace, and vigilant supervisors remains. Technology, fortunately, provides new alternatives that don’t compromise on quality training. Even if it’s not safe to go to a physical location to get an essential work-safety education, online reasonable suspicion training is still available for anyone that wants a reliable, efficient, but certified method of training for as many supervisors as required.
With the online option, there is no risk of infection and an even higher level of convenience as no strict address or schedule must be adhered to get the training. Online training can take place at the office, or even at home, at a time and pace that makes sense for the participant.
Reasonable suspicion training can sometimes mean the difference between an employee failing a requested test and requiring discipline, and a tragic accident that leaves your company open to legal action. If you want to ensure this doesn’t happen to you, get online reasonable suspicion training for your supervisors so they can remain vigilant and keep your workplace safe.