Drug abuse has an enormous impact on business and industry in Georgia and the nation. Drug use in your business costs money, customers and lost productivity. Consider these facts*:
• 38-50% of workers’ compensation claims are related to substance abuse.
• Substance abusers file 3-5 times more workers’ comp claims.
• Substance abusers have 300% higher medical costs/benefits.
• Substance abusers are 2.5 times more likely to be absent from work.
• Over 77% of illicit drug users are employed.
• Absenteeism, increased healthcare costs and decreased productivity due to alcohol/substance abuse costs your company $1,000 per employee per year.
The Benefits of a Drug Free workplace:
• Reduces medical costs and lost productivity
• Lowers employee turnover and reduces absenteeism
• Protects loyal employees
Drugs Don’t Work Program: 7.5%** Discount on Workers’ Comp Premiums
Drugs Don’t Work is a Georgia Chamber of Commerce program that makes certification of a drug-free workplace a simple and cost effective procedure. The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce facilitates the Drugs Don’t Work program locally at a cost of $50 annually and offers the necessary tools to empower businesses to maintain a drug-free workplace. Enrollment and certification through the Drugs Don’t Work program can also help lower insurance costs with a 7.5% discount on workers’ comp premiums.
To obtain drug free workplace certification and qualify for the 7.5% discount on workers’ compensation premiums, companies must complete the following steps:
Drugs Don’t Work Check List:
1. Institute a substance abuse policy in English and Spanish translations. Translations are provided by the Chamber.
2. Conduct drug testing. Not all employees are required to be tested, however, pre-employment, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident testing are required. While random drug testing is not required, it is suggested. The program provides a certified testing provider list.
3. Conduct on-going employee education. The program provides a monthly newsletter for employees in both English and Spanish to equal the required two hours of training annually. Half of the training must be complete before applying for certification.
4. Oversee supervisor education. The program provides with a newsletter to distribute to supervisors for one hour of annual training. The balance of required training can be accomplished by a drug awareness trainer. Half of the training must be complete before applying for certification.
5. Post the provided referral list of treatment services.
6. Submit your application to the State Board of Worker’s Compensation annually for Certification.
For more information on Drugs Don’t Work or how your company can participate, call Shelley Davis, Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce Vice President of Existing Industry, 770-532-6202, or email: sdavis@ghcc.com. Visit livedrugfree.com
Drugs Don’t Work Participants:
AAA Scales & Systems, Inc. Ace Hardware Corporation ACH Foam Technologies Albert International American Waste & Recycling APCON, Inc./Appalachian Contracting Atlanta Jet Professionals Baldor Electric Barbe America, Inc. BBS of America, Inc. Boys & Girls Clubs of Hall County Busker Communications Cabinet Place Cain Electric Company Carriage Auto Group Challenged Child and Friends, Inc. City Plumbing & Electric Supply Co. Conditioned Air Systems, Inc. Cottrell, Inc. Country Charm Egg Distributors, Inc. Daniel’s Charters Duncan Exterminating Company Dunlap Stainless, Inc. Echols Glass & Mirror Elan Drug Technologies Elliott Transport, Inc. Georgia Mountain Components Georgia Powder Coating, Inc. Gibson Dental Designs, Inc. GRG Design, Inc. Hall County Library System Hamilton State Bank Harris Products Group Home Instead Senior Care Hulsey Tree, Inc. Humane Society of Northeast Georgia IMS Gear Georgia, Inc. J & J Foods Keep Hall Beautiful KIK Gainesville Kubota Industrial Equipment Corp. Kubota Manufacturing of America Corp. Lasercraft Technologies, Inc. M & M Welding and Fabrication Mansfield Oil Company of Gainesville Martin Docks Inc. Mincey Marble Manufacturing, Inc. Mugele of America, Inc. Mulberry Farms, Inc. North Georgia Medical Transport, Inc. Northeast Georgia Health System, Inc. Northeast Georgia Rentals, Inc. Packaging Specialties of Ga., Inc. Protech Fire, Inc. Pruitt Heating & Air, Inc. Queen Capital Group Quillian’s Corner Dental Care ReConserve of Georgia, Inc. Right at Home Riverside Military Academy Rochester & Associates, Inc. Rotating Engineered Products, Inc. Scroggs & Grizzel Contracting, Inc. Service First Roofing ServiceMaster Expert Cleaning Simpson Trucking SKF USA Inc. Smith, Gilliam, Williams & Miles, P.A. Sonstegard Foods of Georgia Southland Industrial Supply Staff Right Tatsumi Intermodal, Inc. The Truck Center Unique Tool & Bending, Inc. USA Production Parts USA Slide, Inc. WeldingTechnologies WellBeing, Inc. Wilheit Packaging, LLC Will Spurlock Electrical Contractor