Objective: To examine substance use as risk factor for occupational injury and disciplinary action. Methods: Using workplace drug and alcohol test results (random, for-cause, accident, and follow-up), a cohort of nearly 30,000 employees at a national transportation company was sorted into 3 groups: no test history, positive test history (“substance users”), and negative test history (“non-users”). Poisson regression modeled the association between substance use and rates of occupational injury and non-substance-related disciplinary actions. Employee sex, age, type (management/hourly), job, and length of employment were tested for their role as confounders or effect modifiers. Results: The injury rate among substance users was not significantly different from non-users. However, substance-users were over two times as likely as non-users to incur a non-substance-related disciplinary action (RR=2.2, 95%CI=1.95 to 2.41), after adjusting for employee age, sex, type, job and length of employment. Specifically, at least one positive test was associated with an increased risk of discipline for absenteeism (RR=2.8, 95%CI=2.4 to 3.3). The relationship was not significant for safety, operations, unprofessional conduct and other non-substance-related disciplines. The relative risk of discipline in substance users versus non-users was greater for women than men, but not for other employee characteristics. Conclusion: Substance users, as detected by workplace drug and alcohol testing, did not appear to have a higher risk of occupational injury, but did have significantly higher rates of absenteeism disciplines. Women who test positive are especially at risk. See N/A
Learning Objectives: By the end of the session, the participant will be able to: 1. List risk factors for injury and discipline in the workplace. 2. Discuss gender as an effect modifier in the relationship between substance use and workplace injury and discipline. 3. Discuss the advantages and limitations of drug testing data as a tool in identifying substance users and abusers.
Keywords: Drug Use, Occupational Safety
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: N/A
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.