Nationwide Effort to Curb Drug Use on Construction Sites
A construction worker under the influence of drugs or alcohol puts everyone on the job site at risk of injury. A new nationwide effort is under way to keep workers sober and safe, according to EHS Today. The effort is led by the Construction Coalition for a Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace (CCDAFW), which includes five of the largest trade associations in the country.
Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Construction Industry Round Table (CIRT), Construction Users’ Roundtable (CURT) and Women Construction Owners & Executives (WCOE) under the CCDAFW are urging employers and organizations to sign a pledge that they will help to maintain worksites free of drugs and alcohol. The EHS Today article explains further:
“Drugs and construction sites do not mix,” said WCOE National Executive Director Penny Pompei. “Small businesses often don’t have the resources to develop in-depth substance abuse awareness and prevention programs. This coordinated effort by a group of construction industry organizations will provide the tools WCOE’s small business owners need to combat this danger to our workers.”
The coalition will provide the resources employers and companies need to implement drug and alcohol policies in the workplace. The CCDAFW Web site includes educational materials and state-by-state policies for substance abuse testing.
“This partnership will build on the significant steps firms across the country have already taken to make construction safer today than it has ever been,” said AGC CEO Stephen E. Sandherr. “Making sure that every construction worker on every construction site is fully in control and absolutely sober is the best way to save lives and prevent injuries.”
The amount of drug abuse on a construction work site depends on a variety of factors, but largely on the enforcement of drug-free rules and regulations. If an employer turns his head to substance abuse, the worker with the drug problem isn’t the only one to blame.
An accident caused by someone who was under the influence or struggling with addiction is an accident that the employer can often be held accountable for. And when you are the one who is injured at the hands of this person, you need to hold someone responsible.
New York & New Jersey Construction Accident Lawyers
The construction accident attorneys of Ginarte know that your abstinence from alcohol and drugs doesn’t necessarily save you from the bad decisions of other workers. In other words, you could be the safest worker on a job site and still be the victim of a serious construction accident.
When this happens, we can be there to help. Contact our attorneys today to discuss your legal options after having been hurt in such an accident. We can be reached for a free consultation at 888-GINARTE.
