Cannabis in the Workplace: Survey Says it's Complicated
Despite increased legalization, NSC research shows cannabis use poses significant workplace safety and performance issues.
Despite increased legalization, NSC research shows cannabis use poses significant workplace safety and performance issues.
Itasca, IL -- The National Safety Council, America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate, released results of a survey conducted as part of an ongoing effort to assess the risks of cannabis in the workplace, and the results are clear: Employers must do more to educate and protect their workers. The survey, conducted between April and May 2021 with responses representing 500 employers and 1,000 employees, showed significant gaps in knowledge and safety.
According to this survey, cannabis can have a major impact on the safety of employees, and cannabis legalization is creating new challenges for employers. In fact, one-third of employees say they have observed cannabis use during work hours. The survey also found that:
NSC believes it is the responsibility of the employer to develop a culture of safety, accountability and honesty among its employees as it pertains to cannabis, regardless of legality.
“As more states legalize cannabis for recreational and medicinal use, employers must take clear, strong stances to ensure worker safety,” said Lorraine Martin, NSC president and CEO. “Research clearly shows that cannabis impacts a person’s ability to safely perform their job, and we hope employers everywhere will heed our recommendations.”
To help employers address the risks of cannabis in the workplace, NSC developed employer guidance that encourages business leaders to take the following key actions:
NSC will share additional employer recommendations and launch the Impairment Recognition and Response Training for Supervisors at the 2021 NSC Safety Congress & Expo in Orlando, Florida, in October. The following sessions will be held at the conference:
About the National Safety Council
The National Safety Council is America’s leading nonprofit safety advocate – and has been for over 100 years. As a mission-based organization, we work to eliminate the leading causes of preventable death and injury, focusing our efforts on the workplace, roadway and impairment. We create a culture of safety to not only keep people safer at work, but also beyond the workplace so they can live their fullest lives.
With a century-long legacy, the National Safety Council is a global center for safety expertise. Let's work together to align resources. We look forward to learning about ways we can join efforts to expand safety everywhere!
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