Drug-free workplace signs

A drug-free workplace sign is one of the most common signs in any lobby, warehouse or job site trailer. It tells employees, contractors and visitors what the rules are before they walk in. But the sign is the smallest part of a drug-free workplace, and it helps to know what sits behind it.

The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988

The federal Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 applies to certain federal contractors and to recipients of federal grants. It does not apply to private employers in general. Covered organizations must make a good-faith effort to maintain a drug-free workplace, which includes:

• Publishing a policy statement telling employees that the unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, possession or use of controlled substances is prohibited in the workplace, and what action will be taken against violators.
• Running a drug-free awareness program that covers the dangers of drug abuse in the workplace, the policy, any available counseling, rehabilitation and employee assistance programs, and the penalties for violations.
• Giving each employee working on the contract or grant a copy of the policy statement, and notifying employees that, as a condition of employment, they must follow it and report a workplace drug conviction.

A sign on the wall does not do any of those things. It is a reminder of a policy that has to exist on paper and be communicated to every employee. The Act also does not require drug testing; testing is governed by other rules, such as the Department of Transportation's regulations for safety-sensitive transportation jobs, and by state laws that vary widely. If you are a federal contractor or grantee, read the Act and your contract or grant terms; if not, your own written policy is what counts.

Choosing the wording

Match the sign to the policy, word for word where you can. If the handbook says zero tolerance, the sign can say zero tolerance. If the policy covers alcohol and drugs, say both. If you test, and your policy allows you to say so, a testing notice at the entrance sets expectations for applicants and visitors. Avoid promising consequences on a sign that your written policy does not support.

Cannabis is the topic that changes most often. Many states have legalized it for medical or adult use, and some limit what employers can do about off-duty use or about pre-employment testing for it. A sign that says no cannabis on the premises is usually uncontroversial; a sign that says anything about off-duty use is a policy question, so check your state's law or ask an attorney first.

Pictograms

Every header sign can carry a pictogram for workplace rules: pills, a syringe, cannabis, a cigarette, beer, wine, a cocktail or a bottle, drawn with a red circle and slash for prohibited, a green ring for permitted, or bare. A pictogram helps a sign read at a glance and across languages, but the words still carry the rule.

Ready-made signs

The Weapons, Drugs and Alcohol series in the directory has ready-made drug-free, alcohol, smoking and weapons signs. Each opens in the builder, where you can edit the wording to match your policy, add a second language as described in bilingual safety signs, and download it. For the weapons side of that series, see no-weapons signs and state law.

Or start from scratch with a NOTICE sign and pick a pictogram.