CEO Notes
We’re in full swing of the spring rush! It is a very busy season for the communities that we work in and those we travel to! Recently, our Operations Manager, Ginny Clay traveled to Hoonah, AK to perform pre-employment drug screens for a client. Thirty-plus drug screens were completed in just over 3 hours. She’s a rock star! Ginny has worked with me for nearly 20 years. 20 YEARS!
In a time when we can hardly find workers, the value of a qualified workforce cannot be overstated. Every employer I know is searching for staff. It’s hard to find people who can perform the job. And then, we have to be in a position to afford the wage that is being commanded. It can be very difficult to balance the needs of the staff, with the needs of the company. I don’t have any great answers that will solve those problems.
What I have, is an immense gratitude to the staff at TSS. They are dedicated, they want our clients to be successful and they care about the future of TSS and the communities we serve. That shows in the longevity of service of several of our staff members. We are nothing without them. So, the next time you have a chance to visit with one of our team members, please say THANKS. They are working hard for you and the safety of your company.
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Best regards,
Renee Schofield
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U.S. DOT Issues Final Rule for Oral Fluid Testing |
This is big news! If you have a DOT-mandated workplace drug and alcohol testing program you may soon be able to order oral fluid testing instead of, or in addition to, urine specimen testing. Read DOT's final rule here.
What does this mean for you?
To learn more about:
- How this change could impact your business and make testing more flexible and efficient,
- What needs to happen before oral fluid testing becomes a legal option for DOT testing,
- The ways in which TSS will make the transition as easy as possible.
If you are interested in additional training and information concerning DOT oral fluid testing, the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association (NDASA) this week added new offerings to its conference schedule (May 23-25) focused on this issue.
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Avoid Electrical Hazards in Your Home Office |
Since the start of COVID, the home has become a workplace for many of us. That means that in addition to general use, we are now relying on our residential electrical system to handle the needs of our home offices.
While at our actual workplaces safety policies and occupational safety laws and regulations help to protect us from electrical hazards, most people aren’t as on top of it at home. But as it is National Electrical Safety Month, we urge you to turn your attention to your home office.
According to Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), an estimated 51,000 residential fires involving electrical failure and malfunction occur each year. On an annual average, these destructive fires are responsible for 500 civilian deaths, 1,400 injuries, and $1.3 billion in damage to property. The most common causes of electrical fires are incorrectly installed wiring (often DIY wiring), overloaded circuits, and misuse of extension cords, and the home office is prime real estate for electrical fire risk.
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National Safe Boating Week
(May 20 - 26)
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| By Ginny Clay, TSS Operations Manager
To me, the most important message you should take away from National Safe Boating Week each year is: WEAR YOUR LIFEJACKET.
In March, I, as the Flotilla Commander, for U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 170-01-05, had the privilege of helping members from the USCG Marine Safety Detachment in Ketchikan, Alaska to teach the KIDS DON’T FLOAT Program. Between the members that volunteered and the MSD personnel, we helped get the message out and normalize the importance of life jackets to approximately 305 young people over three days, during six sessions, and in 14 classes.
The training goals included teaching kids about the effects of cold-water immersion, life jacket laws, how to choose the correct life jacket and the importance of wearing it.
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Meet the Collector: Eric Bartholomew |
This article is part of a series of posts introducing you to the TSS team and the people you may be working closely with.
My name is Eric Bartholomew and I work in TSS’s Midwest office, located in Keokuk, Iowa. I started with TSS in April of 2017. Prior to joining the TSS team, I worked in the industrial staffing industry and also spent some time as a touring musician.
I wear a variety of hats at the Keokuk location. In addition to carrying out the various collections and tests in the office, I teach CPR classes, lead online as well as in-person safety-related training courses, and handle day-to-day clerical duties, such as billing and processing results.
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Tuesday, May 9 is National Fentanyl Awareness Day.
Fentanyl is involved in more deaths of Americans under 50 than any cause of death, including heart disease, cancer, homicide and suicide.
“Fentanyl is the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered,” said Administrator Anne Milgram. “Fentanyl is everywhere. From large metropolitan areas to rural America, no community is safe from this poison. We must take every opportunity to spread the word to prevent fentanyl-related overdose death and poisonings from claiming scores of American lives every day.”
Join this national effort to raise awareness about how prevalent and often hidden this lethal drug is.
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Drug Alert: Biden Administration Issues Xylazine Alert |
Now, the Biden administration has added its voice to the increasing concern about the dangers posed by the mixture of fentanyl and xylazine, designating this combination of drugs as an ‘emerging threat’ to the United States.
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is many more times powerful than heroin. It has a legitimate use in the treatment of severe pain. However, in recent years, it has been used illicitly and is responsible for a growing number of deaths in the U.S. Xylazine is increasingly being used to cut or dilute fentanyl and the combination of the two drugs is extremely dangerous.
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Coaching Corner: Imagine the Possibilities |
As a certified health and wellness coach, I am always gathering resources to help people live their best life.
What’s possible?
There are many entrepreneurs in the world. Especially since coming through COVID, we find so many people wanting to own their own destiny.
But they don’t know where to start or how to get the first piece done. Or, they won’t allow themselves to dream about what’s possible. It’s a big question that is often followed with “what if I fail?” I am here to tell you to fail. Fail hard, fast, and furiously. Because in each failure comes knowledge. And knowledge builds your future. Lay the foundation with what you learn and use the mountains that you scale to do it.
But how do I get out of my own way?
With a coach. I can say, from experience, that a coach is the guide to keep you focused. My coach held me accountable, helped me sort out problems, and so much more. My business coach had her work cut out for her. I was the most coach-resistant person, ever. Her patience, her talent for listening deeper for the truth, and the pouring in of all the things I needed, grew my business in ways that are unmeasurable. Yes, we improved revenue. Yes, we increased our client base. But more than that, I learned about myself, my why, my heart center and my gifts for the world. I can never measure those things. I am forever grateful. Those are the very reasons I became a board-certified coach. I want to share what I have learned, both from my coaches and from education, to help others achieve their own success.
So, again, what’s possible?
All of it. Every last bit. If only you begin.
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TSS TRAINING
Webinar, online, blended
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If you don't see a course you need on our website, our team of safety specialists are more than happy to customize a training, or series of trainings, for you. Just let us know how we can help.
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Signs & Symptoms for Supervisors
Tuesday, May 9
10 a.m. - noon (AKT)
Cost: $129
Forty percent of workplace fatalities involve employee substance abuse. Do YOU know the signs & symptoms?
It is essential for employers to understand the prevalence, trends and costs related to substance use among employees and how to respond. This training meets the requirements for DOT mandated training on drugs and alcohol and is appropriate for all supervisors, DERs and employees who need training.
Designated Employer Representative Training
Tuesday, May 16
10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. (AKT)
Cost: $79* (free for consortium members)
Do you receive the drug & alcohol screening results for your company?
Do you maintain the records of screening results?This webinar is designed to educate the Designated Employee Representative (DER) on what their responsibilities are regarding the drug screening program within their company. We'll cover drug screening, random selection, document retention and more.
*Consortium members: contact TSS to register for this webinar for FREE.
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View our featured online courses on TSS's revamped website homepage. Make sure to keep checking back for new content!
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In-Person Instruction
COST: $85
2-Year Certification.
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Blended Learning
COST: $85
2-Year Certification
- Take the classroom portion of the course online.
- Then, schedule a hands-on evaluation at your convenience.
Same skills. Same certification.
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Schedule Your Drug
Screen at
(877) 225-1431
or
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