Workplace Strategies: Managing Impairment New

Get guidance on how to address impairment in the workplace.

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Snapshot of the publication's Table of Contents — Table of contents page for Workplace Strategies: Managing Impairment

Overview

Definitions

Introduction

Sources of Impairment
Impact of Impairment
Common Substances and Effects
Spotlight on Alcohol, Cannabis, Fatigue, and Opioids
Understanding Problematic Substance Use
Understanding Stigma

Legislative Requirements

Health and Safety
Human Rights

Employer Obligations

Employer Duties
Workplace Impairment Policies and Programs
Education and Training
Presence of Substances at the Workplace or Work Site
Duty to Inquire
Policies Regarding Substance Testing
Addressing Safety-Sensitive Positions

Identifying and Addressing Impairment

Observation
Possible Impairment
Reporting Suspected Impairment
Responding to Suspected Impairment
First Aid and Naloxone
Overcoming Stigma

Accommodation

Supportive Medical Information for Accommodation
Steps for Accommodation

Worker Obligations

Worker Duties
Reporting Impairment

Prevention – Creating a Healthy Workplace

Workplace Factors
Create and Foster Supportive Workplaces
Comprehensive Occupational Health and Safety Program

Conclusion

Appendices

Appendix A: Sample Workplace Policy Regarding Impairment
Appendix B: Sample Tool – Accommodation Policy and Procedures
Appendix C: Sample Tool – Reporting Suspected Impairment
Appendix D: Sample Tool – Responding to Suspected Impairment Form

References

Contact Information
More Information

Single book:: $35.00 $35.00 ^*

Format:: PDF

Language:: English | French

Description

Working while impaired, whether due to fatigue, substance use, or other factors and situations can have serious consequences. Addressing potential impairment is part of a workplace’s ongoing process of identifying hazards and assessing risks.

This 64-page handbook will help you learn about the effects of impairment, understand employer and worker obligations, and develop policies and programs to address and prevent impairment in the workplace.

Information from the previously available publication, “Workplace Strategies: Risk of Impairment from Cannabis,” has been incorporated into this handbook.

Objectives

This handbook provides information and good practice recommendations on how to:

Address the potential for impairment as part of a hazard identification and risk assessment process
Establish comprehensive policies and programs that address all forms of impairment
Determine the actions to take regarding impairment
Implement accommodation practices where necessary (including therapeutic needs, substance dependence, or disability due to substance dependence)
Create a supportive, healthy and safe workplace

Scope

This handbook provides guidance on developing policies and programs to address and prevent impairment in the workplace. It includes key steps to reducing the impact of impairment, including having response mechanisms in place, offering support without stigma, providing clear guidance to all workplace parties, and using a fair and consistent approach.

Employers must also train supervisors and workers on what impairment is, its impact, and how to recognize and appropriately respond to possible signs of impairment.

Target Audience

Employers, health and safety committees, managers, supervisors, workers, and others interested in workplace health and safety may find this handbook useful.

Each publication produced by CCOHS undergoes several stages of review. As part of this review, representatives from government, employers, and labour are requested to comment on draft copies of CCOHS documents for technical accuracy and readability.

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information, it is understood that CCOHS makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of such information and assumes no liability for any damages or loss suffered as a result of any inaccuracy or incompleteness therein.

Version: First edition
Publication date: January 2026

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CCOHS publications are unique in that they are developed by subject specialists in the field, and reviewed by representatives from labour, employers and government to ensure the content and approach are unbiased and credible.