Companies still
require policies
SafetyScan detects impairment; it doesn’t write
policy. If a worker receives a refer reading, then
the company should have a policy in place for
the next steps. Roberts says that might mean
the company would discuss the reading with the
worker to determine the case of the impairment,
or in the case of one Regina company, the worker
is driven home that day, no questions asked.
Morsky Industrial Services Ltd. wanted to
ensure that staff were not impaired by fatigue
and with the legalization of cannabis, there was
greater impetus to ensure staff were fit for duty.
The system caught the attention of Lorne
Schnell, company president, a few years ago
and his company became an early adopter of the
technology once it became available in Canada.
“We were looking to supplement postincident
testing for drugs and alcohol, and introduce
some form of objective testing for
fatigue. SafetyScan offers a proactive solution
and takes the subjectivity of fatigue observations
out of the equation. Our supervisors feel
comfortable knowing there is a proven system
to augment their own assessment processes. We
always want to raise the safety bar and lead the
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industry in terms of worker safety and protection,”
said Schnell.
Before implementing the system at Morsky
Industrial, the company brought its employees
together to discuss the technology and answer
any questions. Since the system only measures
fitness for duty and not the reasons behind why
an employee may be unfit, the employees were
accepting of the new technology. They also appreciated
the peace of mind that comes with
knowing their fellow workers had been tested
and approved for work, leading to an overall
safer environment.
If an employee does receive a refer, Schnell
says the company has a fairly straightforward
approach for dealing with the situation.
“Our system is not punitive. We say you’re
not good today so go home and we’ll see you tomorrow,
and we’ll drive the worker home. It’s
no more complicated than that. If an employee
received a number of refers, that would eventually
lead to a discussion with supervisors, not
unlike if someone was repeatedly calling in sick
and couldn’t be relied upon for work.”
Since SafetyScan is not a medical device,
Roberts says that a refer could probably lead to
a conversation about the factors that led to the
reading. They may determine that the worker is
having difficulty sleeping at night, perhaps due
to sleep apnea, and that might lead to a referral
to a doctor to have it checked. This process allows
the worker to get a proper diagnosis and
helps the employer have a better understanding
of what the worker is experiencing at home.
Schnell adds that it could lead to some very
unhealthy conversations with employees and
the company may be better equipped to help
them if they are dealing with something specific
that is leading to them being unfit for duty.
Workers change behaviour
Since the system provides a measurement of
their level of fitness for duty (a daily score),
workers become more cognizant of the impact
their lifestyles could have on their work performance.
Companies have seen workers change
their behaviours to obtain better results. In
some workplaces, employees have developed a
friendly competition to see who scores a better
reading that day. In other places, companies
have created an incentive program to encourage
their workers to obtain good results. The best
average rating of fitness for duty over a 30-dayperiod,
for example, may result in the employee
receiving an additional perk at work.
Roberts says that the results are based on the
worker’s baseline, so it’s not an arbitrary decision
on their state.
“Mathematically, it’s been determined that
if you have that number, then there’s significant
impairment. Then you really should have
a chat. It’s been scientifically validated and
field proven.”
Another aspect of the system is that it respects
a worker’s privacy. The system simply measures
whether a person is impaired or not, and doesn’t
ask intrusive questions to determine a worker’s
suitability for work that day. There’s also no hiding
the fact that you are impaired at work and
could place others in jeopardy.
“We stop talking about or testing for a particular
drug or alcohol. We are broadening the conversation
to talk about fitness for duty and that’s
a very healthy shift that no one can argue with,”
said Schnell.
SAFETY
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