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| 15 March 2001 - The East County Californian Community leaders discuss substance abuse EL CAJON – Despite what you may hear, business owners and managers in San Diego County have a lot more to think about than just paying the power bill. Another major issue is making sure their workplace is safe and drug-free. A single accident involving a company car can cost tens of thousands of dollars in repair bills and legal fees. Even a minor workplace injury can have a major impact on productivity, especially in a smaller business. Using alcohol or other drugs while on the job puts workers at risk of injury, and opens-up their employers to all sorts of liabilities. Substance abusers file more health insurance claims, and are more likely to file for worker's compensation. That's why people from more than 30 businesses, most of them based in the East County, turned out for a forum recently. The forum was emceed by Jim Daniels, past president of the executive board of Communities Against Substance Abuse. He also runs the Daniels Companies in El Cajon, a real estate company specializing in property management. "A responsible business owner has to do more than just put a placard in the window, saying it's a drug-free workplace," Daniels said. "They owe it to the community, their customers, and their workers to have an effective policy in place to deal with substance abuse issues." They heard from Martina Stolar, an employment law specialist with the law firm of King & Ballow. She explained the steps employers can take to reduce substance abuse in their business. Cathey Amberry of HealthSouth Medical Clinics also made a presentation, explaining how drug testing is carried out, and detailing some of the costs involved. How can a supervisor tell when a worker might be using drugs or alcohol? That issue prompted several questions during the forum. "The speakers brought up some good points about the signs of substance abuse," said Joyce Gallegos of Southwest Community Bank. "It's important for supervisors to be properly trained to recognize those signs." Gisela Smith is with El Cajon's Kenneth D. Smith Architect and Associates. She said, "Every employer needs to get this kind of information. And it's clear that better laws are needed. When a job involves driving, for example, it should be easier for an employer to test a worker, when there's a reasonable suspicion of drug or alcohol abuse." Stolar agrees. The attorney said, "In most legal disputes, there's a clear line between right and wrong, black and white. But in the area of substance abuse in the workplace, there's not a lot of case law on the books, so there are lots of gray areas. That's why it's critical for employers to learn as much as possible about their rights and responsibilities." Communities Against Substance Abuse is planning more forums focusing on Safe and Drug-Free Workplaces, with the next meeting tentatively scheduled for mid-May. For more information, may call 442-2727, at extension 114. Article Snapshot (40K) |
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