Workplace drug testing

Workplace Drug Testing and Reasonable Suspicion Standards

Within a workplace setting what does an employer do when there is a legitimate reason to believe that the employee has been abusing alcohol or taking other drugs.  The law regarding employee privacy is evolving and many workplace drug testing programs should be considered open to a legal challenge.  What is the right balance of
negligent entrustment

Negligent Entrustment and the Cost of Employer Oversight

A tragic crash in Michigan highlights the deadly consequences of negligent entrustment. This blog explains how poor hiring decisions, fatigue, and lack of corporate safety policies can lead to legal and financial ruin. Learn how employers can reduce liability and protect lives through proper vetting, training, and risk management.
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Distracted driving

Distracted Driving: As Dangerous as Drunk Driving

Did you know December is Impaired Driving Prevention Month? Did you know that distracted driving is included in impaired driving prevention month? Did you know that using a cell phone is as dangerous as impaired driving from alcohol or other drugs? If you use a cell phone while driving, this article is for you. For
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Hospital liability

Hospital Liability: Understanding Malpractice and Administrative Negligence

Hospital liability arises from two separate and distinct sources. The first comes from malpractice committed by medical staff and the second arises from the negligence of administrative staff.   The legal theories behind these two sources of litigation are different and can cause confusion for hospital administrators. While a hospital’s liability for the negligence of its
Drowsy Driving

4 Tips for Companies in Combating Drowsy Driving

Do you have employees who operate motor vehicles for your company? What steps have you taken to ensure your employees are wide-awake when driving? Do you have a policy? Have you provided education programs? If you answered the last two questions with “no,” you are putting your employees and your company at risk. This blog
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Drugged Driving

Marijuana in the Workplace

Along with alcohol and other drugs in the workplace, the advent of the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana in many states requires employers to face a variety of issues related to the use of marijuana by employees. The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) estimated in 2013 that 9.1% of full-time
Vicarious Liability and Company Vehicles

Vicarious Liability: Employer Liability for Employees’ Driving

The common law legal theory of vicarious liability existed long before the invention of the first motor vehicle.  Applying the concept of respondeat superior, courts have held that an employer is responsible for the wrongful acts or omissions of their employees during their scope of their employment. For an act to be considered within the
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Traffic safety culture at work

4 Steps to Creating a Traffic Safety Culture at Work

This article will discuss why it is important to create a “traffic safety culture” at work, and the 4 steps you, as the employer, can take to create it. Why does it Matter? Every 16 minutes someone dies in a motor vehicle crash, every 14 seconds an injury occurs and every 8 seconds a crash
texting and driving dangers

Texting and Driving Dangers Surpass Drunk Driving Risks

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) driving while distracted is six times more dangerous than driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 yet it is a continuing problem. In recent surveys “…more than eight in ten drivers believed it was completely unacceptable for a motorist to text or email behind the
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