Policies - National Safety Council

Workplace Policies Build a Solid Foundation

Workplace policies support safety and wellbeing, assure equitable accommodations for all workers, and establish a clear plan for how your organization will address issues when they arise. A well-written policy reduces ambiguity, provides managers with clear procedures and gives employees confidence that their needs will be addressed fairly.

Rolling out new policies, however, can be met with a variety of responses. Some employees may welcome the change as a sign of progress, while others may feel uncertain or resistant to shifting practices. Anticipating these reactions and planning for a thoughtful rollout is key to success. Policies should be introduced as part of a broader culture of safety and respect, not simply as compliance documents. Building trust, engaging stakeholders and communicating openly about why the policy matters are all critical steps for ensuring policies are embraced and effective.

workplace policy templates

● Opioid Overdose

● Fair Chance

● Flexible Work

● Drug Testing

Things to Keep in Mind:

● Internal buy-in: Work with leadership, cross-organizational representatives, union leaders, subject matter experts, HR staff, EHS staff and others
● Develop and implement a plan for changing, updating and/or adding your new policy

º Communicate the need for the policy change or the new policy across your organization
º Provide opportunities to answer questions or get feedback
º Check in with workers about how the policy change is going for them

● Revise the policy as necessary to meet your organization’s needs
● Maintain the policy alongside your organization’s other policies
● Review policies regularly to assure they meet the evolving needs of your organization
● Work with legal counsel to ensure all policies are equitable and abide by local, state and federal laws

This page provides sample policies, templates and practical resources you can use to build or update workplace policies across multiple areas including substance use and recovery, flexibility and mental health. Employers can explore, adapt and integrate these materials to fit their organizational needs and strengthen a culture of safety and wellbeing.

Comprehensive Policies

Fair Chance Policy

Flexible Work Policy

Risk-specific Policies

Substance Use & Recovery

Opioid Overdose Policy

NSC encourages every workplace to supply naloxone (Narcan) to mitigate the risk of opioid overdose. If choosing to supply naloxone, employers need to have a related policy. While planning for a new policy, make sure to conduct a risk assessment and review legal considerations related to naloxone adoption. Please reference this state-by-state report and the accompanying one-pager to determine how to best prepare your workplace.

For more information on OSHA reporting and recordability requirements related to overdose, review this fact sheet.

Your workplace opioid overdose policies and programs may not all look the same, but they should all include some key components, including the policy's purpose. If you already have an emergency preparedness or first aid policy, you could add opioid overdose preparedness to it.

To implement an opioid overdose response plan in your workplace, download the Respond Ready implementation guide.

Learn more about Respond Ready.

If you’re just beginning the process of starting an opioid overdose response program in your workplace, use this buy-in memo template to solicit internal interest and gain traction.

Templates to Help You Create Your Policy

Drug Testing Policy

The ability to test for underlying causes of impairment or identify whether a person is impaired is a controversial topic. Some experts advocate for eliminating drug testing, others advocate for assuring drug testing is equitable, while others focus on assuring drug testing policies are developed through the lens of recovery supportive workplaces. Some state and federal laws require drug testing or drug free workplace policies.

NSC Resources to Support Substance Use Policy Development

NSC Workplace Drug Testing Quick Guide for Supervisors, Safety Professionals and HR — A practical NSC guide for supervisors, safety professionals and HR that explains workplace drug testing approaches, evidence and limitations, legal issues, policy design, post-test response steps, and employer best practices.

Position Statement: Performance Impairment in Safety-Sensitive Positions Related to Cannabis and Other Cannabinoids — An NSC ADID position statement outlining why cannabis and other impairing cannabinoids create safety concerns in safety-sensitive work, summarizing evidence on performance impairment, limits of THC threshold measures, and policy considerations for employers.

Explore More About General Workplace Drug Testing Policies:

Ethical Aspects of Drug Testing — An ACOEM position statement that examines the ethical foundations of workplace drug testing, including privacy, fairness, employee rights, and the role of drug testing in reducing risks related to impaired productivity, accidents, injuries and other workplace harms.

Benefits of Recovery-Ready Workplace Policies — A U.S. Department of Labor resource that explains the business case for recovery-ready workplace policies, including how they can improve productivity, reduce healthcare costs and turnover, lower substance-related accident risk, and support employers in recruiting and retaining workers in recovery.

Explore More About Workplace Cannabis Policies

Cannabis & Employment: State Policy Overview — An NCSL policy summary that tracks state medical and recreational cannabis employment laws, including anti-discrimination protections, employer accommodation issues, and liability considerations related to workplace cannabis use.

Attorney’s Guide to Cannabis and the Workplace — A Bloomberg Law overview for employers and legal professionals that explains how changing state and federal cannabis laws affect workplace drug testing, accommodation, policy design, and compliance, with practical guidance for managing cannabis-related employment and safety issues.

Marijuana in the Workplace Toolkit — A National Drug-Free Workplace Alliance toolkit developed to help employers navigate marijuana-related workplace issues, including safety, policy development, testing and broader drug-free workplace considerations.

Cannabis in the Workplace — A National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions employer guidebook covering cannabis-related legal issues, workplace use and consequences, policy development, testing, hiring and firing considerations, health and safety issues, and employee education.

Template to Help You Create Your Policy

Sample Policy

Mental Health

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Workplace Policies