Cannabis training

[Leonard Maccarone]

#110694

Forum: Private

Please advise if cannabis training is required in Ontario workplaces and if so which ones?

We are also searching for an LMS course on Cannabis in the workplaces for someone who is visually impaired.

Your assistance is appreciated.

[Glenn Demby]

#110698

Strictly speaking, “cannabis training” isn’t specifically required under OHS or employment laws. However, such training may be implicitly required to the extent it directly impacts a worker’s safety, accommodation rights under human rights laws, or other aspects of the job.

Can you please give me some more information. Specifically, can you clarify exactly what you mean by “cannabis training”? What kind of business are you in, who are the employees you want to train and for what purpose? Once I know these details, I’ll be able to give you a more specific answer and analysis of your legal responsibilities. Thanks and sorry to keep you waiting. G

Glenn Demby, OHS Compliance Insider, Editor in Chief

[Glenn Demby]

#110699

Hi. It’s me/Glenn again. One thing I should have mentioned is the importance of ensuring that all employees understand your company’s Fitness for Duty/Sober Workplace policy and drug/alcohol testing protocols, including:

* Triggers for testing, e.g., post-incident, reasonable cause, random, etc.
* How determinations to test are made
* The testing methods
* Who performs the tests and where
* The safeguards in place to ensure privacy and sample integrity
* The consequences of testing positive

[Leonard Maccarone]

#110702

Hi Glenn,
The enquiry is for March of Dimes Canada, a not for profit national organization that provides services to the disabled – mainly home and community care for daily living activities and skills development and employment services also for people with disabilities. We have approximately 2500 employees and operate in all provinces and territories.
I don’t know if this helps or you need further information.

Please let me know.
Leonard

[Glenn Demby]

#110703

First, I want to give my love to your organization, people and work.

Cannabis use by employees away from work is a personal matter over which employers have very limited responsibility. But that changes when employees use cannabis at work or show up for work impaired as a result of using it away from work. In other words, employers have a right and even a duty to require employees to come to work sober and fit for a duty and discipline them if they don’t, especially if the impaired employee performs a safety-sensitive job.

Training plays very little role in these principles. Employees need to know about the organization’s drug policies and testing procedures and understand that being buzzed or high at work isn’t permissible, whether due to cannabis, alcohol, legal prescription drugs, or any other substance whether legal or illegal. I guess the employer effort would be better described as providing education and information rather than training.

Hope this helps and keep up the great work, March of Dimes people. Feel free to follow up if you’d like to continue. Glenn

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