Recently, there has been increased general awareness about the abuse of Oxycodone and other prescription medications. National media stories have drawn attention and raised the profile of the abuse of these medications.
Consequently, a number of worksites have, or are considering, expanding their testing standards from the standard 5-Panel drug test including Heroin and MDMA to larger test panels that screen for additional drugs.
There can be very compelling reasons to use an expanded panel test, but it is important to understand the true effects on your testing program. 12-Panel drug testing can have useful applications, as it provides an additional screening for safety risks associated with medical (prescription) drugs. Companies evaluating the 12-Panel testing for their program should be aware of the safety implications, operational impact and risks associated with the practice.
Cannamm’s goal is to provide clients with the information and the criteria to make an informed determination. This datasheet provides a thorough overview of the 12 Panel drug test.
For more information, please contact CannAmm at 1.800.440.0023.
CannAmm is pleased to announce that we are opening a new location in Calgary. Our new site is located on: Suite 136, 1935 -32 AVE N.E. Calgary, Alberta T2E 7C8
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CannAmm is very proud and excited to launch our new brand -- the next step in the company’s evolution. CannAmm began in 1996 as an upstart occupational testing firm set on revolutionizing the industry by providing top-tier quality and service. Built on a philosophy of “getting it done right, fast”, CannAmm has grown to be Canada’s most trusted provider of occupational testing results, and a valued advisor to our clients on how to establish and manage testing programs that help achieve their workplace safety goals, while also protecting the privacy and human rights of their most valued resource: their people. Never content to stand still, we continuously drive to look for better ways to serve our clients while maintaining the simple, reliable, accessible nature of our services and programs. While we may look a little different, we’re still the people our clients and stakeholders know and trust to provide them with the timely, accessible service they’re looking for. We owe a debt of gratitude to our clients and partners… in addition to the feedback and input they regularly share with us about their experience with CannAmm, over 700 client contacts participated in this re-branding project by providing feedback through web surveys or focus groups. As always, their role in shaping our future is greatly valued, and central to our shared success in making jobsites and workplaces safer. To them we say: “THANK YOU!” ,
Sincerely,The Team at CannAmm
For Immediate release
London, Ontario, 17 November 2011 — CannAmm Occupational Testing has joined forces with Threads of Life, a national charity offering peer support programs and services for families affected by a workplace tragedy, including fatalities, life-altering injuries and occupational disease.
Peter Deines, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, CannAmm Occupational Testing Services says, “When CannAmm set out to identify a charitable cause of choice, it was a daunting task because there are so many wonderful philanthropic organizations in Canada. We had participated in the 2011 Steps for Life walks and it became clear that there was tremendous alignment between CannAmm’s mission of saving lives in the workplace and Threads of Life’s mission to help families heal and promote the elimination of life-altering workplace injuries. Threads of Life and the Steps for Life walk is a cause that everyone in our organization believes in, and we’re very proud to be able to contribute our passion and resources to support them.” Says Shirley Hickman, Executive Director, Threads of Life, “We’re very excited to be able to work in partnership with CannAmm. They share our resolve and commitment to prevent future workplace tragedies and its ripple effect on families and their communities.”
About Threads of Life The Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support (known as Threads of Life) was created in 2003. The Canadian charity supports the healing journey of families who have suffered from a workplace fatality, traumatic life-altering injury, or occupational disease. It supports more than 1,200 families across Canada affected by workplace tragedies. Charitable organization business #87524 8908 RR0001.
Threads of Life’s Family Support programs and services includes annual Regional Family Forums across Canada, peer support from trained volunteers who have also experienced a workplace tragedy, subscription to a quarterly newsletter, Threads, and links to existing community resources. The Family Forums feature a signature Reflections Ceremony where families light a candle in honour of their loved one affected by workplace tragedy.
Threads of Life also offers employers access to a national Speakers Bureau of volunteers who speak out about the impact of a workplace injury or fatality in their lives. The Speakers Bureau is a popular program used successfully by employers to help re-engage its workforce to work safely. It recently launched its first book, Forget Me Not – Canadian Stories of Workplace Tragedy from the Families’ Perspective as a wake-up call to counter complacency in the workplace around health and safety. The hot seller is in high-demand. Many companies have given them to their employees as part of their health and safety initiatives and events. The book retails for $19.99.
Media Contact: Suzan Butyn Program Manager, Marketing & Communications Association for Workplace Tragedy Family Support – Threads of Life Dir: 905-826-5446; Toll-free: 1-888-567-9490; email: sbutyn@threadsoflife.ca www.threadsoflife.ca; www.stepsforlife.ca
CannAmm works rigorously to provide you with trusted testing results. One of the main challenges our clients face is sorting through the misinformation regarding untrustworthy test options, particularly recent marketing blitzes orchestrated by promoters of instant oral fluid devices. To lend a hand to our clients, this notice is our official position on instant oral fluid devices and the technology itself.
We have not adopted, nor do we promote, any Oral Fluid Instant testing devices due the current limitations of the available technology. The current irreconcilable limitations are:
Thank you for your attention and consideration. We encourage all our clients to apply critical thinking with respect to their drug and alcohol testing programs, and to be vigilant against misinformation by questioning the validity of the source and compare against established standards. When in doubt, please ask us... we recognize the responsibility of our role as your trusted advisor, and make it our business to know what options are best suited to your needs while mitigating the associated risks.
We hosted a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at our brand new Fort McMurray location on September 14, 2011. We were honored to welcome Mayor Melissa Blake for the ribbon cutting and also Councillors Dave Kirschner and Mike Allen at the grand opening.
To further improve the service for our Fort McMurray clients, we have also invested to develop improved logistical efficiencies so that we may provide faster turnaround times for lab-based tests. Our average turnaround time for a negative lab-based test is 30 hours, from the time of collection to reporting.
In the latest case on drug and alcohol testing, the New Brunswick Court of Appeal upheld the random alcohol testing policy for Irving Pulp and Paper Inc. and dismissed the policy grievance filed by an employee who was subjected to a random alcohol testing.
Click here to read more.
CannAmm is pleased to announce that we are opening a new location in Fort McMurray, AB on July 18th, 2011.
Our beautiful, brand new location is one of the largest collection sites in Canada with:
Our new address is: Bay 5, 122 Millenium Drive Fort McMurray, AB T9K 0J1 Phone: 800.440.0023
CannAmm is committed to promoting workplace safety in Fort McMurray and we are looking forward to continue serving the community in bigger and better ways.
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Recently, oral fluid has become a hot topic of conversation, particularly within the Alberta construction industry due to its inclusion in certain newly drafted collective bargaining agreements. There is a fair degree of misinformation floating around, and stakeholders have questions about this testing process and about how they may need to adjust their drug testing programs in light of the new collective agreements.
CannAmm – Canada’s leading and largest volume provider of drug and alcohol testing services – has the experience and knowledge to help our clients understand the implications of building Oral Fluid testing into your drug testing program. We can help you explore the advantages and drawbacks of this testing method in the specific situations you are dealing with. Contact us today if you have questions – we’ll help you gain clarity and “demystify” this topic within the context of your business needs.
In a recent decision from the Alberta Court of Appeals the definition of employer was clarified. In the case before the court Donald Luka was denied access to the Syncrude site in Fort McMurray because he failed a drug test. Mr. Luka was a long term employee of Lockerbie & Hole and was working on another site before being transferred to the Syncrude site. The Human Rights and Citizenship Commission had ruled that Syncrude had an employer relationship with Mr. Luka.
Lockerbie & Hole and Syncrude Canada Ltd. filed an appeal which was ruled on by the court on January 11, 2011. The court found that “The panel’s decision that Mr. Luka was co-employed by Syncrude is not one that can be supported on a proper interpretation of the ACT on either a correctiness or reasonableness standard.” In layman terms Syncrude did not have an employer relationship with Mr. Luka and thus did not have any employer responsibilities under the Human Rights ACT. Conversely Lockerbie & Hole had employer responsibilities under the ACT even though the drug testing was required by Syncrude.
This decision clarifies that if a site has a drug testing requirement the employer has responsibilities under the Human Rights ACT to follow the requirements. In his case Mr. Luka was not considered to have a disability because he was not an addict, but merely a recreational user of drugs. This decision makes it clear that employers that are sending employees to a site that requires a negative drug test for entry should have a drug testing policy. A proper drug testing policy can protect an employer from Human Rights ACT violations and should be in place before drug testing any employee.
For the full decision, click HERE
On January 17th 2011, CannAmm launched an SMS/Text Messaging based notice system to inform our clients that results have been posted that require their immediate attention. Due to an overwhelming number of our customers who have a cell phone number on file with us (over 98% of our clients), utilizing SMS (Short Message Service) technology was determined to be the most effective way for us to reach out and connect with them quickly when safety is on the line. Specific information has been emailed to clients with details on how this reporting method works - please check your email, or call us at 1-800-440-0023, extension 4 to speak with a client service representative about how this service can benefit you!
CannAmm is very pleased to launch our new website. This site has been re-designed to reflect a more modern look and feel, and make it easier to access the information our visitors need. Please take the time to browse the website and, if you're having any challenges, don't hesitate to contact our Client Services toll-free: 1-800-440-0023 in the East or 1-877-453-9439 in the West, then press 4.
CannAmm also welcomes recently transitioned MIHS clients to the new CannAmm.com website. We invite you to browse the site to learn more about the combined services and products CannAmm offers. If you are looking to access the MIHS portal, visit our home page and enter your information in the "MIHS Portal" section in the gray area on the left side of the site. If you have specific questions, call our toll-free numbers to reach Client Services (1-800-440-0023 in the East or 1-877-453-9439 in the West, then press 4)
We are pleased to announce that CannAmm OTS is now providing mobile occupational testing services in northern Alberta.
Through the acquisition of Mobile Industrial Health Services (MIHS), a leading provider of mobile drug and occupational health testing, CannAmm now has the expertise and equipment to bring testing to your employees on remote sites, saving you time and money.