Louisiana State Police Troop F and Mothers Against Drunk Driving announced Wednesday they have teamed up to warn others about the dangers of impaired driving.
As part of the collaboration, a Christmas tree was set up at Troop F's headquarters, adorned with pictures of victims of collisions with impaired drivers from around the state and MADD ribbons.
Troop F commander Capt. Kevin Reeves said the idea sprung from a decoration at state police headquarters in Baton Rouge.
"When I was down there about two years ago, I saw this tree in their lobby with pictures all over it," Reeves said.
Reeves said a fellow trooper he was visiting with at the time stood before the tree, looking into the eyes of the people in the pictures for about five minutes.
"He said, 'Do you know who these people are?'" Reeves said. "It's a reminder of why we do what we do. I thought it was a good idea."
Reeves said troopers contacted the local MADD chapter to discuss the matter.
"I take the time to walk in and look into these people's eyes every day," Reeves said. "And I want our troopers to do the same."
Gail Dupuy, the mother of one person depicted on the tree, knows from personal experience how impaired drivers can affect others. Her daughter, Leigh Ann Carlton, a 2001 graduate of Ouachita Parish High School, died in an crash with an impaired driver in July 2001.
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Showing posts with label drug test. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drug test. Show all posts
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Are mandatory drug test becoming the new standard for school employees?
THIBODAUX — Lafourche public-school employees may soon be required to take a drug test after any on-the-job injuries, if a plan headed to the Lafourche School Board on Wednesday is approved.
The change would lower costs and make the workplace safer, officials said.
By discouraging drug and alcohol use, the policy would make it mishaps less likely in the first place, said Lafourche schools Safety Manager Seth Holloway.
“It makes the place safer, not only for our employees but also for our staff and our kids,” Holloway said.
Fewer accidents means less money would be spent on worker’s compensation claims, Holloway said. And any mishaps involving drugs or alcohol will not cost anything beyond the drug test.
“If they do get injured and they are caught as far as drug and alcohol use, they can be terminated immediately,” he said. “So their worker’s comp claim won’t be paid.”
Worker’s compensation claims can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars, Holloway said. Drug testing would cost $5,000 to $10,000 per year, he said.
The effort is meant to increase overall safety.
“There’s no person or department where we’re saying they’re” working while using drugs or alcohol, he said. “But in any workforce there’s a percentage doing this.”
The change would include working closely with Thibodaux Regional’s medical network, including an online tracking system that keeps school officials up-to-date with the status of injured employees. The intent, Holloway said, is to “get them back to work faster.”
If the board agrees to enter the program, the Policy and Procedure Committee will be tasked with making necessary changes to the school system’s policy manual before drug testing begins.
SOURCE
The change would lower costs and make the workplace safer, officials said.
By discouraging drug and alcohol use, the policy would make it mishaps less likely in the first place, said Lafourche schools Safety Manager Seth Holloway.
“It makes the place safer, not only for our employees but also for our staff and our kids,” Holloway said.
Fewer accidents means less money would be spent on worker’s compensation claims, Holloway said. And any mishaps involving drugs or alcohol will not cost anything beyond the drug test.
“If they do get injured and they are caught as far as drug and alcohol use, they can be terminated immediately,” he said. “So their worker’s comp claim won’t be paid.”
Worker’s compensation claims can easily cost tens of thousands of dollars, Holloway said. Drug testing would cost $5,000 to $10,000 per year, he said.
The effort is meant to increase overall safety.
“There’s no person or department where we’re saying they’re” working while using drugs or alcohol, he said. “But in any workforce there’s a percentage doing this.”
The change would include working closely with Thibodaux Regional’s medical network, including an online tracking system that keeps school officials up-to-date with the status of injured employees. The intent, Holloway said, is to “get them back to work faster.”
If the board agrees to enter the program, the Policy and Procedure Committee will be tasked with making necessary changes to the school system’s policy manual before drug testing begins.
SOURCE
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