Human Resources
High risk
Drug testing can save your company money on workers' comp costs.
By Morgan Lewis Jr.
Smart Business Cleveland | August 2003
One of the strangest results of the Smart Business/Employers Resource Council Workplace Practices Survey was the fact that 73 percent of the employers who responded reported performing drug testing before they hire an employee, but only 21 percent do it after the employee is hired.
That's unfortunate, because the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation offers 10 percent to 20 percent off workers' compensation premiums to companies which enroll in its Drug-Free Workplace program.
There are three levels to the program.
Level 1 -- 10 percent discount
Level 1 requires the development of a written policy and certain types of testing: pre-employment and/or new hire; reasonable suspicion; post-accident; and follow-up. In addition, employers must do annual employee education and supervisor training and develop a list of community resources that employees with problems can turn to for assistance.
Level 2 -- 15 percent discount
Level 2 requires the same drug and alcohol testing as Level 1, along with random drug testing of 10 percent of the average annual total work force. For public employers, random testing applies only to safety-sensitive positions or functions, as defined by the employer.
Level 2 employers must offer annual employee education and supervisor training and must expand available employee assistance. In addition, they must implement five steps of BWC's 10-step Business Plan, a highly coordinated safety program.
Level 3 -- 20-percent discount
Level 3 requires 25 percent random drug testing, employee education, supervisor training and expanded employee assistance. Employers must also implement all 10 steps of the BWC's business plan. Source: Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation, (800) 644-6292 or www.bwc.org
