When a miner is impaired by the use of drugs or alcohol, he or she threatens the safety and well-being of everyone at a mining workplace. To do your part to protect workplace safety:
- Understand your company’s drug free workplace policy.
- Follow it and set a good example for others by working drug and alcohol free.
- Seek help if you or your co-worker(s) need it.
- Notify management if you observe use of or impairment from drugs or alcohol that could threaten the health and safety of co-workers.
Confidential help may be available, often at no cost to employees.
If you and/or a co-worker are struggling with drug or alcohol problems, turn to services such as:
- Those provided through your employer, union or health care benefits program.
- The Substance Abuse Treatment Locator (800) 662-HELP
Remember: If you directly observe drug-free workplace policy violations or obvious, on-the-job impairment you believe poses an immediate danger to any miner on the job:
- DO NOT DELAY or ignore the situation
- ACT to prevent the miner from committing the unsafe practice, if at all possible.
- NOTIFY your supervisor or foreman immediately.
- BE WILLING to risk being wrong. When your safety and that of your co-workers is on the line, it is better to be safe than sorry.
For more information on keeping workplaces drug and alcohol free, visit Working Partners online.
On the MSHA home page, you can look at the proposed rule published on Sept. 8, 2008 related to Alcohol and Drug Free Mines. It will outline the requirements for mine operators on the types of programs they will be required to have. The rule is still in the comment period until October 8, 2008. On the website it has directions on how to comment on this rule.