OPP officers must report ‘fit for duty’

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OPP officers must report ‘fit for duty’

Postby Thomas » Wed Oct 17, 2018 2:23 am

The Ontario Provincial Police is warning its officers they must report “fit for duty” as recreational marijuana use becomes legal nationwide tomorrow.

The force said in a news release it is committed to maintaining a drug- and alcohol-free workplace.

They say a member is fit for duty when they are in a physical, mental and emotional state that “allows the individual to perform assigned duties competently and in a manner that does not compromise or threaten the safety or health of that individual or others, the environment, or OPP property.”

OPP Commissioner Vince Hawkes says ensuring the health and well-being of all their members helps to provide effective support to the community.

Police forces across the country are implementing new safety measures for when recreational marijuana becomes legal in Canada tomorrow.

https://www.chch.com/opp-officers-must-report-fit-duty/
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‘Fit for Duty’. OPP policy remains paramount to an officer’s

Postby Thomas » Wed Oct 17, 2018 1:14 pm

‘Fit for Duty’. OPP policy remains paramount to an officer’s ability to provide service

(ORILLIA, ON) – The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is committed to the health, safety and wellness of our members and the communities we serve. Maintaining a drug and alcohol-free workplace is a crucial step to fulfilling that commitment.

As a safety-sensitive workplace, all OPP members must report to work fit for duty. A member is fit for duty when they are in a physical, mental and emotional state that allows the individual to perform assigned duties competently and in a manner that does not compromise or threaten the safety or health of that individual or others, the environment, or OPP property.

“Our policy remains – all members must report to work fit for duty. The health and well-being of all our members enables the OPP to continuously provide effective support to our communities,” states OPP Commissioner Vince Hawkes.

Reporting to work fit for duty requires a member be without limitations resulting from, but not limited to, all drugs (including cannabis, over-the-counter and prescription medication) and/or alcohol. If a member has accommodation needs, the OPP will continue to review such accommodation requests and needs in accordance with the Ontario Public Service’s Disability Accommodation Policy and the Ontario Human Rights Code.

Maintaining a drug- and alcohol-free workplace is crucial to ensuring that our environment, members and the families and communities that depend on them, remain safe.

https://saultonline.com/2018/10/fit-for ... e-service/
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OPP must be ‘fit for duty’

Postby Thomas » Wed Oct 17, 2018 1:18 pm

The Ontario Provincial Police will not ask employees to adhere to a specific time-frame regarding the use of cannabis for recreational purposes.

Instead, the force this week affirmed its requirement that all employees must report for work “fit for duty.”

“A member is fit for duty when they are in a physical, mental and emotional state that allows the individual to perform assigned duties competently and in a manner that does not compromise or threaten the safety or health of that individual or others, the environment or OPP property,” the provincial force said in a news release Monday.

The release goes on to say that “Reporting to work fit for duty requires a member be without limitations resulting from but not limited to all drugs, including cannabis, over-the-counter medication and prescription medication and alcohol.”

The OPP has a review process for employees who need to be accommodated due to a medical prescription for cannabis products.

Individual requests will be weighed against the Ontario Human Rights Code and the province’s disability accommodation policy for the Ontario public service.

“Our policy remains: All members must report to work fit for duty,” OPP Commissioner Vince Hawkes said in the news release. “The health and well-being of all our members enables the OPP to continuously provide effective support to our communities.”

In the same release, the OPP say “Maintaining a drug- and alcohol-free workplace is crucial to ensuring that our environment, members and the families that depend on them remain safe.”

The OPP’s policy on recreational use has been released two days before cannabis for recreational purposes becomes legal across Canada.

Police forces in Ottawa and Vancouver have adopted the same “fit for duty” standard as the OPP.

The Toronto Police Service caused a stir earlier this month when it imposed a policy stating that officers and employees must allow 28 days to elapse between using cannabis for recreational purposes and reporting for work.

The Toronto Police Association – the employee group representing rank-and-file officers – has suggested it will challenge this.

For its part, the Canadian Armed Forces has imposed a buffer requiring members to wait at least eight hours between ingesting recreational cannabis and reporting for duty.

In Ontario, cannabis for recreational purposes will initially be available for purchase at the province’s “cannabis store” on the internet. Storefront sales of recreational cannabis will be legal April 1 of next year.

https://www.simcoereformer.ca/news/loca ... t-for-duty
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