Thread: Federal protections on cannabis added to spending bill

Hah - Hah- nickel drink for California. Guess you have federal tax, state tax and each state is probably different % aside from the federal Alcohol, Firearm division compliance - which basically is the bottom line if you are allowed to be involved in the industry on any level -aka federal control. Guess that is where the mary jane industry is going due to $$$.

If they are going to deduct taxes for mary jane rehab, well how much has been taken out for liquor rehab? Liquor is a major problem.

Leading Causes of Death in the Workplace: OSHA's "Fatal Four"

Posted By The Barrera Law Firm, PLLC | 22-Aug-2016

Since 1971, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has partnered with employers, health and safety professionals, and other advocates as a means of creating safe and functional workplaces. Over the years, injury and death rates in the workplace have decreased tremendously. Nonetheless, many workplace injuries and fatalities occur every day. In fact, OSHA reports that there are over 12 work-related deaths throughout the country every day, on average.

What are the Most Common Workplace Injuries According to OSHA?

In 2014, 4,821 workers were killed on the job, according to statistics from OSHA. Unfortunately, a large percentage of these fatalities involved workers in the construction industry, as numerous hazards exist on construction sites.

The leading causes of workplace deaths in the construction industry, called the “Fatal Four” by OSHA, include:

Falls: Roughly 36.5% of all deaths in the workplace occurred due to employees falling. This includes workers who have fallen off ladders, roofs, scaffolding, large skyscraper construction areas, etc.

Struck by an Object: An estimated 10.1% of deaths occurred due to swinging, falling, or misplaced objects.

Electrocutions: About 8.6% of employees died due to electrocution. Workers face a number of electrocution risks on construction site such as exposed wiring, wet conditions while outlets are exposed, etc.

Caught-in or Caught-between: Employees caught in or between machines, devices, or tools causing death accounted for about 2.5% of deaths.

Although OSHA posts and attempts to regulate health and safety standards in all workplaces, on-the-job fatalities and safety issues remain a constant concern, especially in the construction industry. In fact, if the Fatal Four were entirely eliminated, approximately 545 American workers’ lives would be saved each year. For this reason, it is important employees remain aware of their surroundings, ensuring that they take proper precautions at all times. It is also important that employees notify employers if they suspect something is unhealthy or hazardous in their work zones.

https://www.barreralawfirm.com/Blog/...e-OSHAs-F.aspx

Commonly Used Statistics
Federal OSHA coverage

Federal OSHA is a small agency; with our state partners we have approximately 2,100 inspectors responsible for the health and safety of 130 million workers, employed at more than 8 million worksites around the nation — which translates to about one compliance officer for every 59,000 workers.

Federal OSHA has 10 regional offices and 85 local area offices.

OSHA budget

FY 2016: $552,787,000
FY 2017: $551,736,000
FY 2018: $543,257,000 (requested)

OSHA inspections

FY 2017 total federal inspections: 32,396
FY 2017 total State Plan inspections: 43,551

Worker injuries, illnesses and fatalities

5,190 workers were killed on the job in 2016 [https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cfoi.nr0.htm] (3.6 per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers) — on average, more than 99 a week or more than 14 deaths every day.

Construction's "Fatal Four"

Out of 4,693 worker fatalities in private industry in calendar year 2016, 991 or 21.1% were in construction — that is, one in five worker deaths last year were in construction. The leading causes of private sector worker deaths (excluding highway collisions) in the construction industry were falls, followed by struck by object, electrocution, and caught-in/between. These "Fatal Four" were responsible for more than half (63.7%) the construction worker deaths in 2016, BLS reports. Eliminating the Fatal Four would save 631 workers' lives in America every year.

Falls — 384 out of 991 total deaths in construction in CY 2016 (38.7%)
Struck by Object - 93 (9.4%)
Electrocutions - 82 (8.3%)
Caught-in/between* - 72 (7.3%)
(*This category includes construction workers killed when caught-in or compressed by equipment or objects, and struck, caught, or crushed in collapsing structure, equipment, or material)

Top 10 most frequently cited OSHA standards violated in FY 2017

The following were the top 10 most frequently cited standards by Federal OSHA in fiscal year 2017 (October 1, 2016, through September 30, 2017):

Fall protection, construction (29 CFR 1926.501) [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
Hazard communication standard, general industry (29 CFR 1910.1200) [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]]
Scaffolding, general requirements, construction (29 CFR 1926.451) [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
Respiratory protection, general industry (29 CFR 1910.134) [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
Control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout), general industry (29 CFR 1910.147) [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
Ladders, construction (29 CFR 1926.1053) [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
Powered industrial trucks, general industry (29 CFR 1910.17 [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
Machinery and Machine Guarding, general requirements (29 CFR 1910.212) [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
Fall Protection–Training Requirements (29 CFR 1926.503) [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]
Electrical, wiring methods, components and equipment, general industry (29 CFR 1910.305) [related OSHA Safety and Health Topics page]

OSHA is Making a Difference

In more than four decades, OSHA and our state partners, coupled with the efforts of employers, safety and health professionals, unions and advocates, have had a dramatic effect on workplace safety.
Worker deaths in America are down-on average, from about 38 worker deaths a day in 1970 to 14 a day in 2016.
Worker injuries and illnesses are down-from 10.9 incidents per 100 workers in 1972 to 2.9 per 100 2016.

https://www.osha.gov/oshstats/commonstats.html

In more than four decades, OSHA and our state partners, coupled with the efforts of employers, safety and health professionals, unions and advocates, have had a dramatic effect on workplace safety.

Worker deaths in America are down-on average, from about 38 worker deaths a day in 1970 to 14 a day in 2016.

Worker injuries and illnesses are down-from 10.9 incidents per 100 workers in 1972 to 2.9 per 100 in C
2016.

President Richard Nixon established OSHA in 1972 to improve worker safety in the US. I think he would be pleased with the results of the agency he created.

Worker safety is an important criteria - quoted nixon stats had nothing to do with the use of substances but more with establishing safety awareness. Too bad he didn't use that with our boys sent to war in a foreign land.

Originally Posted by artist

Worker safety is an important criteria - quoted nixon stats had nothing to do with the use of substances but more with establishing safety awareness. Too bad he didn't use that with our boys sent to war in a foreign land.

Exactly. The drug testing business is a huge enterprise. They exist on the need for drug testing. It's why they include alcohol with all their mentions of drugs, instead of drugs by themselves, because drugs by themselves won't show the data they need to keep selling drug testing services. I'm sure there are some accidents or incidents related to drug use, as well as alcohol use as well, which is probably the greater of the two. But work place accidents have almost nothing to do with either one of these, the majority of work place accidents are the result of normal worker error, exertion, equipment failures or unsafe working conditions.

09/16/2016 06:38 pm ET Updated Dec 06, 2017

The Negative Impact Of Alcohol In The Workplace


By Brian Hughes



Image credit: Shutterstock

Alcohol’s reputation as a means to lower inhibitions, take the edge off stress and worries, and temporarily boost feelings of self-confidence can make it a charming companion in good times and bad. However, excessive drinking is too often a damaging path that leads to addiction and ultimately - broken relationships - at home and in the workplace.

In the workplace, two patterns of drinking arise that have a negative impact. Many people drink right before or during work hours (think lunch and company parties), while others drink heavily the night before, arriving at work with a wicked hangover or calling in sick.

Together, these behaviors take a high toll on everyone involved and contribute to lost productivity, workplace accidents and injuries, employee absenteeism, low morale, and increased illness. Moreover, drinking by employees is linked to a variety of antisocial behaviors such as sexual harassment, verbal and physical aggression, and disrespect targeted at colleagues.

About 17.6 million adults in the U.S. currently suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence. Several million more people engage in risky, binge drinking patterns that can lead to alcohol addiction. Binge drinking means drinking five or more alcoholic beverages on the same occasion on at least one day in the past 30 days.

Consider the following sobering statistics:

• In 2014, 60.9 million people ages 12 and older reported binge drinking.
• Every year, about 5,000 youth ages 21 and younger lose their lives due to underage drinking.
• In 2012, 58.3% of youth who tried alcohol for the first time were younger than age 18.
• Binge drinking on the weekend was reported by 24% of teens and young adults.
• In 2014, 37.9% of college students ages 18 to 22 reported binge drinking.
• About 92% of U.S. adults who drink excessively reported binge drinking in the past 30 days.

About one-quarter of college students say that excessive drinking causes them to miss and fall behind in classes, perform poorly on exams, and receive lower grades overall. Binge drinking starts early, so by the time a person is ready to seriously pursue a career, these patterns may be hard to break. Heavy drinkers may find themselves in a similar situation as they did at school, but now their livelihood and financial future are at stake.

Workplace Facts and Stats
About 20% of workers and managers across a wide range of industries and company sizes said a coworker’s on- or off-the-job drinking threatened their productivity and safety. Industries with the highest drinking rates are mining (17.5%) and construction (16.5%). The cost of excessive alcohol use reached $249 billion in 2010 or about $2.05 per drink. Of all these costs, the highest by far was attributed to a loss in workplace productivity (72% of the total cost).

Research also indicates that alcohol was a factor in at least 11% of all workplace-related deaths.

Alcohol Takes a Physical and Mental Toll
Drink too much, especially long-term, and this can result in a host of physical and mental effects - none of them good. For example, drinking can make depression worse, and depression can increase drinking. People who drink alcohol are also at greater risk of abusing illicit drugs. Alcohol use is associated with a variety of illnesses such as liver disease and cancer, and binge drinkers are 72% more likely to have a heart attack. Perhaps most sobering, heavy drinking reduces life expectancy by 10 to 30 years.

Clouded Judgment, Conflicted Relationships
You don’t have to binge drink for alcohol to take its toll. The point at which alcohol affects the ability to make sound decisions and live responsibly varies greatly from person to person. A young woman may drink two glasses of wine and feel tipsy, while her boyfriend is under the misconception he can get in a car and drive after four shots of hard liquor. Regardless of your personal tolerance level, drinking can greatly impair your capabilities at home and on the job. When it becomes habitual, it can destroy everything you hold near and dear.

Marriages in which only one spouse drinks heavily end in divorce 50% of the time. Alcohol abuse is one of the top 10 reasons why employees get fired, and also related to at least four others including excessive absenteeism, the inability to get along with coworkers, not being able to perform assigned tasks, and work fraught with errors.

Bottom line:
It is a harsh reality that alcohol abuse can negatively impact mental and physical health, disrupt relationships, stall or destroy careers, and lead to financial ruin. The good news is that even if you’ve already burned personal and professional bridges, recovery is possible. When you begin the process of seeking help, you’re one step closer to attaining the personal and professional success you deserve.

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/brian..._12039814.html

The doctor/RX opioid overuse is criminal. To purposely push a dangerous highly addictive substance, mail them to your home etc is really a new low for big pharma and the so called doctors in the middle that allow this in their offices daily.

Workplace Accidents and Drug or Alcohol Abuse

posted in Before Treatment,Know: Chemical Dependency,Know: Drugs and Alcohol


Drug and alcohol abuse can easily lead to workplace accidents. According to the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration, also known as OSHA, “Of the 17.2 million illicit drug users aged 18 or older in 2005, 12.9 million (74.8 percent) were employed either full or part time.” In addition, they found that 10-20 percent of work related fatalities test positive for drugs or alcohol. Alcohol and drug abuse affects people beyond the substance abuser. Substance abuse endangers your co-workers, employers, and those who have a relationship with your company, whether as consumers, clients, or partners. Workplace accidents due to alcohol and drug abuse can have far reaching implications.

When people think about workplace accidents related to alcohol or drugs, many consider someone who drives a vehicle under the influence. The tragedies associated with truck, car, airplane, or boat wrecks come on the news over and over again. Often times, the driver, pilot, or captain at fault tests positive for alcohol or drugs. Causing injury or death to others is tragedy enough, but these individuals also face criminal charges, civil suits, unemployment, and fractured personal relationships. These consequences are not just for those who use alcohol and drugs while driving, but any workplace. This includes people who operate heavy machinery, doctors, military personnel, paralegals, cooks, grocers, and anywhere else. If you are not clear-headed, you could injure yourself, your co-workers, your clients, and your community.

Despite the numerous safety protocols at the workplace, 40% of all industrial workplace fatalities are caused by substance abusers. These people may not realize the danger they create by using at work, or while recuperating from alcohol or drug abuse. An individual who is inebriated or hungover has decreased productivity and alertness. This means workplace accidents are more likely to happen. In fact, workplace accidents caused by inebriation or a hangover is five times more likely to injure someone. In addition, substance abusers are ten times more likely to miss work, negatively impacting themselves and others by jeopardizing their jobs and creating backlogs.

There are a few things you can do if you suspect your colleague or employer abuses drugs or alcohol. Depending on your relationship with the person, you can talk to him or her. Ask whether he or she recognizes the problem, and see if he or she is willing to get help. If you are unable to talk with the person, or if it does not seem to affect the person, you can reach out to others. Some companies have an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which provides counseling and guidance tos employees. You can also discuss your concerns with a supervisor, and explain how you think drugs or alcohol affects workplace safety. Finally, you can contact your Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) field office anonymously to report work site safety concerns.

The possibility or occurrence of workplace related accidents due to alcohol or drug abuse is a serious issue for all involved. Whether you are chemically dependent or know someone in the workplace who is, complacency really is not an option. You may feel it is none of your business but the truth is you, your co-workers, the community at large, and the substance abuser are all at risk for injury or fatal accidents. Your workplace should be a safe space and the only way to prevent a tragedy is to take action.

https://bradfordhealth.com/workplace...alcohol-abuse/