By Angela Brown

N.B. policy will help prevent impairment on the job

Oct 29, 2018 | 5:00 PM

It’s a first for North Battleford.

City Hall agreed to implement a new policy that will help city management ensure its employees are not impaired on the job, to reduce the risk of workplace accidents.

Council approved the Reasonable Suspicion policy at its recent meeting. The aim is to ensure no prohibited, illegal or controlled substances, such as alcohol, drugs, medical cannabis or other illegal or restricted chemicals compromise the health and safety of employees, the public, the environment, or the security of city operations.

“It protects the city; it protects the workers; it protects the community,” Mayor Ryan Bater said. “It’s just a good idea to have that. It was unanimously passed by council.”

The policy indicates employees must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs when they perform their duties. It also provides “reasonable guidelines” for administration management when responding to an employee who appears to be abusing alcohol or substances in the workplace.

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This guideline is currently being reviewed by all parties, including the respective union group.

The city plans to roll out the guidelines by December.

“It’s actually very timely given that we have the legalization of cannabis as well. We want to ensure we’re getting out the gate, and we’re prepared,” Human Resources Director Trish McConnell said.

The city is legally required to comply with the province’s occupational health and safety regulations to help prevent potential workplace accidents.

Bater said administration has been working on this document for quite some time to make sure it is comprehensive and covers all the details.

Coun. Kent Lindgren mentioned the new policy will also help the city support employees who may be dealing with substance abuse issues.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW

by Angela Brown

N.B. policy will help prevent impairment on the job

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