Drug-Free Workplace Program (DFWP)

DFWP is an incentive program designed to help employers establish a safer and more cost-effective work place. As defined in BWC’s DFWP, substance use and misuse involves the use of alcohol and other drugs, including prescription, over-the-counter and illegal drugs, in the work place, in violation of the employer’s written DFWP policy.

DFWP employers detect and deter substance use and misuse and take the appropriate corrective action. As an incentive, employers may receive technical support and may be eligible for a 6 to 20 percent premium discount for a period up to five years. However, even employers who do not qualify for the discount will benefit from establishing a substance-free environment for their employees.

If you’re not convinced that drugs in the workplace are a problem, take a look at the following statistics,

• 47 pecent of serious work place accidents and 40 percent of fatal work place accidents have drug and/or alcohol involvement (Occupational Medicine);
• 38 percent to 50 percent of all workers’ compensation claims are related to alcohol or drug abuse in the work place (National Council on Compensation Insurance);
• Over 90 percent of alcohol users and 74 percent of drug abusers are employed (National Institute on Drug Abuse, Department of Health & Human Services);
• An average of 15 percent to 17 percent of employees in every U.S. company are substance abusers (Bureau of Labor Statistics);
• 40 percent of the time a substance user causes an accident, a coworker is injured (Occupational Medicine).

• Improved safety and health of employees;
• Protecting employees’ rights;
• Protecting the company from liability;
• Reducing work-related accidents;
• Reducing workers compensation costs.

• Written substance use policy;
• Employee education;
• Supervisor training;
• Drug and alcohol testing;
• Employee assistance;
• Work place safety program (such as BWC’s 10-Step Business Plan).*