Two new reports by insurance company CNA highlight the risk from employee abuse of opioid drugs, with the construction industry named as one of two industries at high risk.
An estimated 15.1% of construction workers and 6.5% of manufacturing workers have engaged in illicit drug use, CNA says. CNA used claim data to analyze industry averages against potential opioid abusers and post-accident spending.
"The opioid abuse epidemic is taking a toll on many aspects of the U.S. economy, including businesses' workers' compensation losses," said Bill Boyd, senior vice president, Risk Control, CNA. "The delay of returning injured employees to work can affect operations and, therefore, negatively impact a company's bottom line. Opioid abuse is a real and emerging risk for businesses to consider, and through these Risk Outlooks, I hope our customers will learn solutions to avoid return-to-work pitfalls."
"By partnering with leading construction and manufacturing associations, we have seen increased concern about prescription opioid abuse, as well as how it increases worker injuries and businesses' losses," said John Tatum, senior vice president, Middle Market, CNA. "Many of these associations are developing programs to educate their members about the issue in order to provide the tools, training, and resources they need to address opioid abuse in their own workplaces."
Related Stories
Contractors | Nov 2, 2015
ABC: September's nonresidential spending slip no cause for concern
Despite the monthly drop, September's year-over-year increase is largest in seven years. Seven of 16 nonresidential construction sectors saw spending increases.
Contractors | Oct 30, 2015
ABC: Economic growth stronger than headline GDP figure suggests
GDP expanded 1.5% during the third quarter while nonresidential fixed investment expanded by 2.1% during that period.
BIM and Information Technology | Oct 29, 2015
MIT develops ‘river of 3D pixels’ to assemble objects
The Kinetic Blocks can manipulate objects into shapes without human interference.
Contractors | Oct 28, 2015
Office construction costs highest in New York City, San Francisco, says CBRE
A CBRE report found that New York’s construction costs are more than $500 per sf. San Francisco isn’t too far behind.
Contractors | Oct 16, 2015
ABC report: Confidence rises during the first half of the year
In the first half, sales expectations and profit margin expectations rose while staffing level intentions dipped slightly.
Contractors | Oct 7, 2015
Construction equipment continues to be vulnerable to theft
Poor security and lax inventory control make jobsites sitting ducks for robbers, according to crime-data analysis by LoJack.
Office Buildings | Oct 5, 2015
Renderings revealed for Apple's second 'spaceship': a curvy, lush office complex in Sunnyvale
The project has been dubbed as another “spaceship,” referencing the nickname for the loop-shaped Apple Campus under construction in Cupertino.
Contractors | Oct 2, 2015
OSHA’s top 10 workplace safety violations for 2015
Fall protection, hazard communication lead the list.
Contractors | Oct 1, 2015
Nonresidential construction spending expands for seventh consecutive month
Spending totaled $696.3 billion on a seasonally adjusted, annualized basis in August, a 0.3% increase from the previous month.
Airports | Sep 30, 2015
Takeoff! 5 ways high-flyin' airports are designing for rapid growth
Nimble designs, and technology that humanizes the passenger experience, are letting airports concentrate on providing service and generating revenue.