Section 1.2: System Policies and Procedures

Approved: June 11, 2024

EMPLOYEE SUBSTANCE ABUSE 

1.0             Rationale

District School Board Ontario North East (DSB1) is committed to the health and safety of its employees and volunteers and has adopted this policy to communicate its expectations and guidelines surrounding substance use, misuse, and abuse.

2.0             Definitions

Alcohol: Includes, but is not limited to beer, wine, spirits, or any other intoxicating compound.

Drug(s): Includes, but is not limited to, any substance obtained as a result of a legitimate prescription or a legally obtained drug (such as cannabis), prescription medications which are acquired without a legally obtained prescription, intentionally misused prescription medications, illicit drugs, solvents or inhalants that may inhibit or impair an employee’s ability to perform their assigned duties in a safe and productive manner.

Fit for Duty: In the context of this Policy, this means being able to perform assigned duties in a safe and productive manner and not under the influence, impaired, or limited in any way by drugs and/or alcohol or their after-effects.

3.0             Policy

DSB1 actively promotes and encourages early diagnosis and treatment of employees who may suffer from a drug and/or alcohol disability and will assist them towards full rehabilitation.  Where an employee suffers from a disability under the Ontario Human Rights Code, DSB1 will make reasonable efforts to accommodate an employee, in accordance with its obligations at law.