Rapid, on the spot safety screening could prevent costly and dangerous workplace incidents

“Over half a million cannabis users acknowledge they have consumed cannabis before or during work —an unsettling finding for those organizations operating in safety-sensitive environments.” Arruda (2019), Fit for Duty: Alcohol and Drug Testing in Canadian Workplaces, Conference Board of Canada

There is no question that workplace health and safety is a critical priority for the mining industry. Employees operating highly specialized equipment or in safety critical positions are expected to work safely and be fit for duty. Yet, the growing prevalence and use of central nervous stimulants and recreational drugs such as cannabis to manage stress, fatigue, and performance is cause for concern. Arruda (2019) found that 91% of employers in safety- sensitive organizations have implemented some form of alcohol or drug impairment testing to confirm that staff are “fit for duty”. Yet current alcohol and drug testing methods are very invasive to employees and more importantly are limited in what they can measure.

WorkfitTM : a rapid eye screening device that can quickly signal safety and performance risk without the need for invasive testing such as blood or urine samples.

While some tests can detect the presence of a substance such as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) —a fat soluble that is stored in the body’s fatty tissues and can remain present for varying lengths of time —there is no tool that can objectively assess an employee’s loss of cognitive function and performance. Most often, testing takes place based on reasonable cause at the request of a supervisor or following safety incident where mistakes are costly and where the risk of injury to employees is high. Safety standards and processes alone cannot eliminate the risk of safety incidents that can endanger lives.

Prevention through Detection

Cognitive function testing using visual stimuli is a scientifically validated method that measures a person’s ability to process information and respond to external stimuli such as response time.  Workfit TM incorporates a series of specialized eye screening tests used in law enforcement that can be performed in minutes. It can help mitigate risk in safety critical situations. This non-invasive, mobile cognitive screening solution can be deployed on project work sites prior to employees operating equipment and any other safety critical work.

A tailored screening tool that automates cognitive assessment testing immediately— either as a hand-held, mobile device for operators or at a self-assessment kiosk. Managers or supervisors can access objective and real time data of a person’s cognitive abilities signaling a potential safety and performance risk. This device eliminates subjective assessments and is compliant with recommended protocols in workplace health and safety.

Workfit TM can be utilized as a screening program to focus testing and management resources and fosters safety behavior and adherence to corporate and workplace compliance standards.

Learn more about Ocular Mobile’s rapid eye screening technology and software and how it can become a critical tool in your organization’s comprehensive health and safety program. www.ocularmobile.com