Workplace Safety, Supervisor & Leadership Training, Fitness for Duty, Drug & Alcohol Awareness, Compliance Training, Occupational Health & Safety, and HR & People Management

Reasonable Cause Supervisor Training

Course by: ShiftOHS

SKU: 11444

Description

Supervisors play a critical role in maintaining a safe, healthy, and productive workplace. When a worker may not be Fit for Duty—whether due to substance use, fatigue, mental health, or physical health—supervisors must know how to recognize concerns and take appropriate, compliant action.

Shift OHS’ Online Reasonable Cause Supervisor Training provides practical, easy-to-understand guidance to help supervisors confidently navigate these situations. This self-paced course blends legal context with real-world application, helping learners understand not just what to do, but why it matters.

Participants are guided through key supervisory responsibilities, including Human Rights, privacy, and occupational health and safety obligations. The course builds strong substance awareness across alcohol, cannabis, drugs, and medications, while clearly connecting these topics back to Fitness for Duty principles and workplace policy expectations.

Learners develop the skills to conduct Fitness for Duty assessments, recognize observable signs that may indicate a worker is not safe to work, and respond appropriately in post-incident and Reasonable Cause situations. The course also provides insight into how refusals and positive test results are typically managed, helping supervisors understand their role within a broader organizational process.

This training meets and exceeds the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Supervisor Training requirements and the Canadian Model for Providing a Safe Workplace, making it a strong choice for organizations operating in safety-sensitive environments or across multiple jurisdictions.

Designed with frontline supervisors in mind—and supported by interactive activities, knowledge checks, and video-based instruction—this course promotes fair, consistent, and defensible decision-making that protects workers, organizations, and supervisors alike.


Course Outline

Introduction: Meet Shift OHS

  • Welcome to the course and introduction to Shift OHS

  • Our approach to Fitness for Duty and workplace safety

  • Why this training matters for supervisors

  • Warm-up activity to begin thinking like a Fit for Duty leader


Supervisory Legal Responsibilities

  • Supervisor roles and accountabilities

  • Human Rights, privacy, and occupational health & safety considerations

  • How legislation shapes Fit for Duty policies, procedures, and investigations

  • Making defensible decisions


Alcohol Awareness

  • How alcohol is absorbed and eliminated by the body

  • Effects of alcohol on safety and performance

  • Managing alcohol use in safety-sensitive workplaces

  • Industry standards, best-practice expectations, and policy recommendations


Cannabis Awareness

  • Cannabis products and legalization considerations

  • How cannabis affects the body and performance

  • Impairment differences based on method of use

  • Drug testing considerations and policy implications


Drug and Medication Awareness

  • Common workplace drugs and substances

  • Prescription and over-the-counter medication considerations

  • Managing medication disclosures

  • The medical clearance process and required documentation


Fitness for Duty Assessments

  • Understanding Fitness for Duty beyond substances

  • Observable signs related to behaviour, speech, movement, appearance, and smell

  • Conducting fair and consistent assessments

  • Documenting observations


Post-Incident Protocols

  • Evaluating Fitness for Duty following an incident

  • Supervisor responsibilities during post-incident investigations

  • Using a post-incident decision-making tool

  • Aligning actions with policy and procedure


Reasonable Cause Protocols

  • When Reasonable Cause may exist

  • Reasonable Cause investigation process

  • How to approach and communicate with workers

  • Observation and documentation best practices


Managing Refusals and Positive Test Results

  • Supervisor responsibilities during refusals

  • Understanding next steps after positive results

  • Overview of HR processes and substance abuse assessments

  • Human Rights considerations and return-to-work pathways


Course Completion

  • Final knowledge assessment (80% required to pass)

  • Certificate of completion issued

  • Reinforcement of key learning outcomes

Course Details
Length:
4 hours
Language:
English
Certification:
Yes
Mobile Friendly:
Yes
Digital Badge:
Yes
Requirements
This course requires email to be filled