Fitness for Duty Summit – 2019

DriverCheck’s 2nd annual Fitness for Duty Summit is being held in Edmonton, Alberta on October 2 and 3. Last year over 350 people attended the inaugural event in Milton, Ontario, and we expect this year to be even bigger! 

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Work Safe for the Moments That Matter

This two-day educational event will address workplace challenges that employers must navigate to ensure a healthy and safe work environment for their staff and the general public. This year’s program will address a variety of fitness for duty program considerations from both a physical and mental health perspective.

The objective of this event is to provide valuable information and resources to employers so that they can put actionable items in place to build a healthier and safer workplace. 

Topics covered will include:

• Hear about the journey of a recovered addict (our Keynote)

• Updates on recent alcohol and drug rulings

• Cannabis - a year after legalization, and what we’ve learned in the workplace

• Police enforcement of drug impaired driving

• A discussion about the future of Fitness for Duty Testing

• Mental health in the workplace

• Opioid epidemic in Canada

• Advice on how to manage injuries in the workplace

• How to make the most out of your pre-employment medical

• Maximizing your EAP and SAP programs

• Get certification for Alcohol and Drug Supervisor Training

What is Fitness for Duty?

Fitness for duty programs differ from company to company, but typically includes a form of medical examination(s) of a current employee/candidate to determine whether the employee/candidate is physically or psychologically able to perform the job (such as alcohol and drug testing, pre-placement medicals, audiograms, mask fit tests, etc.). It is through these medical tests and assessments that an opinion is formed to determine if the employee/candidate may have a condition that could prevent them from performing the job's essential functions, or inability to perform it safely.

Registration

Space is limited, and tickets will be approved on a first come, first serve basis. The price of admission is $625 plus applicable taxes. Breakfast and lunch will be provided on both days, and in the evening of October 2, we will be hosting a social gathering. We have reserved a block of rooms at the Delta Hotel by Marriott Edmonton South, which is the same location that the summit is being held.

To register for this event, visit: https://fitnessfordutysummit2019.eventbrite.ca

Agenda

Below is a detailed overview of the agenda and topics that will be covered.

Removing the Mask: Creating Wellness in the Workplace

Allan Kehler, Out From the Shadows Consulting

• Examine the impact that mental health has on the individual, the workplace, and society as a whole

• Understand how to approach and support individuals who are experiencing distress

• Examine the relationship that exists between performance and stress

• Review strategies that promote personal and professional wellness

Cannabis in the Workplace: 1 Year Later 

Dr. Melissa Snider-Adler, DriverCheck Inc.

• Legal cannabis – what will change on October 17, 2019?

• What changes have workplaces seen since legalization? 

• Update on cannabis for medical purposes in 2019 

• Update on current literature 

• Update on managing cannabis for medical purposes in the workplace 

• Drug testing in the face of all that is changing with recreational cannabis 

Police Enforcement of Drug Impaired Driving

Corporal Richard Nowak, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

• COMPARE: Alcohol and Cannabis

• PROVIDE: Canadian Context to Traffic Safety

• DEFINE: Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFST)

• DEFINE: Drug Recognition Expert (DRE)

• INTRODUCE: DRE Process

• OUTLINE: The Future of Impaired Driving

Continuing the Quest for an Impairment Test

Connor Page, DriverCheck Inc. and PJ Barclay, DriveABLE

• What is impairment?

• Which fitness for duty technologies have the most promise?

• DriverCheck’s approach with these emerging technologies

• DriverCheck’s and DriveABLE’s joint study

  • DriveABLE to present the initial findings of this study

Recent Rulings:
Implications for Company Alcohol and Drug Policies

Barbara Butler, Barbara Butler & Associates Inc.

• JD Irving Supreme Court – random testing

• Elk Valley Coal Supreme Court – importance of prevention initiatives

• ATCO Electric Court of Queen’s Bench – post incident testing

• Lower Churchill Transmission Supreme Court of Newfoundland and Labrador – accommodating medical cannabis

Healthy Minds, Healthy Workplace – Psychological Health & Safety in Your Organization

Paul Radkowski – Life Recovery Program

•  Leave with a greater awareness and understanding of mental health, addiction issues and what can be done about it

• How to identify some of the signs/symptoms of mental health/addiction issues and understanding what it's like to "walk in the other person's shoes"

• Identify some of the basic brain/biological underpinnings of what leads to someone developing mental health/addiction issues and its medical consequences

• How to identify the signs of workplace Burn Out, its main contributors and why its becoming a huge problem

• Understand the responsibilities for employers – simple do's, don'ts and how to get support

Opioid Use & Workplace Safety

Dr. Iris Greenwald, DriverCheck Inc.

• Prescribed versus recreational opioids

• Physical effects of opioid use

• Opioid use vs abuse vs dependence

• Drug testing options

• Opioid Substitution Treatments (e.g. methadone, buprenorphine)

• Fitness for duty concerns

Injury Management: Easing the Pain 

Dr. Gerhard Benadé, DriverCheck Inc.

• Prevention failed – now what?

• WCB life of a claim

• How everybody wins with quality Injury Management services

• Remote ≠poor outcomes – telemedicine 

• Who needs insurance? 

Making the Most of your Employee Assistance and Substance Abuse Programs

Paul Gardiner, Essential Organizational Services

• How do these different and distinct programs (EFAP and SAP) achieve similar goals of promoting health and wellness?

• Know the fundamental differences between these programs to understand when – and where –to refer employees

• Get an inside look at these sessions to understand what employees will experience “behind closed doors” when enrolled in one of these services

• How to set up and evaluate these services so they optimally meet the requirements of your unique organization

Determining Fitness for Duty and the Pre-Employment Medical

Dr. Jonathan Davids, DriverCheck Inc.

• What is a pre-employment medical, and why do it?

• What does fit for duty mean?

• Using pre-placement exams to reduce injuries and costs

• Using pre-placement exams to meet the duty to accommodate

Supervisor Training (Reasonable Cause) Summary

Chris Wilkinson, Program Consultant, DriverCheck Inc.

Course Content

• Overview of a Company Drug and Alcohol Workplace Policy

• Supervisors’ Responsibilities

• Signs and Symptoms of Misuse and Potential Health Effects

• Determining Reasonable Cause/Suspicion

  • Step 1: Observe

  • Step 2: Confirm

  • Step 3: Document

  • Step 4: Meet

    • Difficult Situation

    • Supervisor Traps

  • Step 5: Testing

• Dos and Don’ts for supervisors

• Protecting Confidentiality

 If you have any questions about the event, please contact Kristen Gouveia, Marketing Coordinator, at kgouveia@DriverCheck.ca.