Enjoying the preview?
This is the free first lesson. Get full access — request a demo or sign in.
Dealing with Drug and Alcohol Abuse for Employees in Construction Environments
Take action to recognize, prevent, and report workplace substance abuse.Preview the first lesson free — get full access to all 10 lessons.
Essential Provider : KnowledgeCity 10 Lessons · 17m in English, Spanish
Course Description
Most people have had too much to drink at least once in their lives, but they often don't realize the real danger that drinking alcohol or using drugs can present. In this Dealing with Drug and Alcohol Abuse for Employees in Construction Environments course, you’ll learn how to recognize signs of substance use and take steps to help keep your job site safe. The course explains how alcohol, prescription drugs, and illegal substances affect the brain and body—slowing reaction time, impairing judgment, and raising the risk of accidents. Even off-the-clock use can cause lingering effects that make a job site unsafe.
You’ll explore how substance abuse problems can develop gradually and why they’re often hidden from co-workers, supervisors, and even family members. You’ll also learn about commonly misused legal substances, such as paint fumes and over-the-counter medications, that can still pose serious risks.
The course outlines your company’s policies, including when and how to report a concern. You’ll also see how trained supervisors handle suspected abuse, including reasonable suspicion testing, leave options, and referral to rehabilitation programs. Finally, you’ll learn how support from coworkers and assistance programs can make a difference in someone’s recovery.
By the end, you’ll know how to identify risks, follow safety procedures, and take action to prevent injuries related to drug and alcohol use on the job.
What You'll Learn
- Identify different types of substances—alcohol, prescription drugs, illegal substances, and commonly misused legal substances like paint fumes and over-the-counter medications—that can impair job performance
- Recognize the signs and risks of substance abuse in the workplace, including how problems develop gradually and stay hidden from coworkers, supervisors, and family
- Describe how alcohol and drugs affect the brain and body by slowing reaction time, impairing judgment, and raising the risk of accidents on the job site
- Apply your company's policies for reporting drug and alcohol concerns, including when and how to report
- Explain how trained supervisors handle suspected abuse through reasonable suspicion testing, leave options, and referral to rehabilitation programs
- Describe rehabilitation options and how coworker support and assistance programs aid recovery
Key Takeaways
- Alcohol, prescription drugs, and illegal substances affect the brain and body by slowing reaction time, impairing judgment, and raising the risk of accidents.
- Even off-the-clock substance use can cause lingering effects that make a job site unsafe.
- Substance abuse problems can develop gradually and are often hidden from coworkers, supervisors, and even family members.
- Commonly misused legal substances, such as paint fumes and over-the-counter medications, can still pose serious risks.
- Support from coworkers and assistance programs, along with rehabilitation referrals, can make a difference in someone's recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this course for?
It is designed for employees in construction environments who need to recognize signs of substance use and help keep their job site safe.
What does this course cover?
It covers how alcohol, prescription drugs, and illegal substances affect the brain and body; commonly misused legal substances like paint fumes and over-the-counter medications; how substance abuse develops and stays hidden; company reporting policies; how supervisors handle suspected abuse through reasonable suspicion testing, leave options, and rehabilitation referral; and how coworker and assistance-program support aids recovery.
What skills will I gain?
You will build skills in incident reporting, compliance requirements, risk awareness, workplace safety, and recognizing substance abuse.
What will I be able to do by the end of the course?
You will know how to identify risks, follow safety procedures, and take action to prevent injuries related to drug and alcohol use on the job.
What topics are included in the lessons?
Lessons include substances that are often abused; alcohol, marijuana, and other depressants; stimulants and narcotics; how people get hooked; drug dependency; becoming a substance abuser; drug and alcohol policies; overcoming substance abuse; and a review.
