At its regular meeting July 13, Peace River town council was asked by administration to rescind the Substance Abuse Policy.
“This particular policy is outdated and limited in scope as it addresses only substance abuse,” says acting director of Corporate Services Roxan Guindon.
“Our health and safety officer has brought forward, and we have approved a directive regarding impairment in the workplace, and the difference is impairment covers all sources of impairment from fatigue, medical conditions, substance abuse.”
Guindon says the new directive aligns with Canadian Standards Association. She adds the current Substance Abuse Policy was approved over seven years ago. The policy only addresses the identification and management of substance abuse in the workplace and doesn’t address impairment, which is the primary hazard.
“Having the substance abuse policy still on the books provides a little bit of overlap but two very different policies which can lead to confusion,” explains Guindon.
The Canadian Standards Association released Management of Impairment in the Workplace. Guindon says the standard was developed to help organizations manage impairment in the workforce, covering virtually all challenges related to impairment, including substance use, medical conditions, fatigue, and mental health.
Guindon also provided in council’s package the new Health and Safety Directive on Impairment in the Workforce that was developed, reviewed, and approved. The directive covers identification, management, and responsibilities concerning reporting all impairment in the workplace, regardless of cause. The Peace River administrative team also designed a Life Safety Rule created around the concept of Fit for Duty, which is industry standard in Canada.
Council chose unanimously to rescind the substance abuse policy.
Emily Plihal
Local Journalism
Initiative Reporter