WHAT IS THE SUPERVISOR’S ROLE IN MAINTAINING A DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE?
Each organization defines the role of a supervisor differently, based on factors such as the nature of the work, how the work is organized, and where the work occurs. Some supervisors (for example, the foreman of a construction team) work near their employees every day. Others (such as the supervisor of a traveling sales team) see their employees less frequently. The levels of risk associated with the work environment and the workers are likely to differ in each industry—perhaps even in each workplace. Accordingly, the supervisor’s role in maintaining a healthy, safe, drug-free workplace must be tailored to suit each specific organization. All supervisors are key players in promoting a safe and healthy drug-free workplace. A drug-free workplace program’s effectiveness may even hinge on the supervisors. Through routine interactions with employees, supervisors carry out many of the policy and program elements developed by the employer’s drug-free workplace team. And supervisors reflect t
