Currently there are eighteen trades who have committed to participate, including:

We can help your company establish and maintain a drug free, safe, healthy work environment for all of your employees. Mobile Medical Corporation and Concentra Medical Centers have agreed to work with us on this program. We can provide a forum to educate your employees and supervisors with a $200,000 Bureau of Worker’s Compensation grant. There is no cost to attend the training until the grant funds are exhausted.

CEA members and CISP Contributors have available a substance abuse testing trailer to provide your company with the ability to perform drug testing. There is no cost to you for us to provide the testing trailer. However, you will need to sign a Waiver of Liability form, complete the Service Request form and pay for the actual tests, that are not covered by CISP reimbursement on a per person basis. Initially we are scheduling the use of the testing trailer only on a Monday of each week between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. Also, there is a minimum number of (12) employees required to request the testing trailer. However, more than one company can combine their employees to meet the minimum number required. If a contractor cannot meet the minimum requirement of (12) employees, you can still transport your employees to Concentra Medical Centers at four convenient locations:

Mobile Medical Corporation will conduct and arrange for the annual and computer generated (random) drug-testing. CISP will pay the cost for the annual and computer generated testing of those crafts in which CEA negotiates collective bargaining agreements. This cost to CISP is $42.00 to $44.00 per employee. Their fee to test your salaried employees is $50.00 per employee.

It is best not to discriminate between supervisors and workers when implementing a drug testing program. Workers object to drug testing less if they know that the program is fully supported by management and that employees at all levels are expected to comply with the drug-free workforce requirements.

You must establish a drug and alcohol program, including drug testing at your company if you have contracts with the federal government of $25,000 or more per year, if you are a federal grant recipient, if you have a contract with the U.S. Dept. of Defense involving access to classified information and the contracting officer requires you to have a drug-free workforce, if you are operating under the jurisdiction of the Federal Dept. of Transportation (including the Federal Aviation Administration, Coast Guard, Research and Special Programs Administration and Urban Mass Transportation Administration, or if you have a contract with certain major owners like Ford Motor Company, First Energy, Lorain Tubular and others.

Also, Governor Taft signed an Executive Order on September 20, 2002 that requires all contractors or subcontractors who are awarded State of Ohio construction contracts to be enrolled in the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Drug-Free Workplace Program (DFWP), Drug-Free EZ program or a substantially equivalent program approved by the BWC, and be in good standing in the program.

Participants must also develop a substance abuse policy that describes the company’s drug-free program. The policy should describe annual employee education and supervisory training, drug and alcohol testing and employee assistance.

You may wish to implement a drug and alcohol abuse program for several reasons. First, you have a duty under OSHA to provide a safe workplace to your employees. Drug and alcohol abuse can endanger the safety, as well as the productivity and health of your employees. Federal government studies have proven that a drug and alcohol abuse program is a cost-effective way to reduce accidents, health care and insurance costs, controls theft, damage or other loss of company property. A drug and alcohol abuse program can reduce Ohio workers compensation premium costs and can be commingled with group discount programs as long as it does not exceed a 95% discount. Also, drug-free worksites send a clear message to your employees that your company is concerned about their health and welfare. Finally it should be noted, that companies in a collective bargaining relationship would need to follow the drug and alcohol program as stipulated in the agreements.

You are not legally required to provide rehabilitation services to employees who test positive for drug or alcohol use. However, many of the unions that the Construction Employers Association negotiates contracts provide Employee Assistance Programs and most provide rehabilitation services. Employees react more positively to drug and alcohol programs if they see an attempt to help them rather than fire them indefinitely. Given the shortage of skilled workers it makes economic sense and a moral responsibility for companies to invest in an employee’s rehabilitation.