ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS AT THE WORKPLACE

ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS

AT THE WORKPLACE

  Introduction

A range of factors, both at the workplace and in people's personal lives, impact on the ability to

work safely. The use of alcohol and/or other drugs may be one of them.

Alcohol and other drugs usage becomes an occupational safety and health issue if a worker's

ability to exercise judgment, coordination, motor control, concentration and alertness at the

workplace is impaired, leading to increased risk of injury or incidents to themselves or others.

Co-workers may be placed in difficult situations, expected to cover unsafe work practices or faced

with reporting a fellow worker.

Workers must take reasonable care of their own safety and health and not endanger the safety

and health of others at the workplace. The consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs while at work

is therefore unacceptable, except in relation to any authorised and responsible use of alcohol at

workplace social functions. Workers should present themselves for work and remain, while at work,

capable of performing their work duties safely.

For employers, alcohol and other drugs can cause a range of problems. In some cases, their use

may lead to loss of life, injury and damage to plant or equipment. Employers have a general 'duty

of care' obligation to ensure that, as far as practicable, workers are not exposed to hazards and

risks that could arise from workers being impaired by alcohol and/or other drugs and, where they

may arise, address them through a systematic risk management process.

This guidance note is presented as a starting point to address relevant issues where usage

of alcohol and/or other drugs may have occupational safety and health considerations at the

workplace.

Where the ability to work safely is impaired, the employer and workers should respond in a

humane manner based on the information available. A range of strategies to address alcohol

and/or other drugs safety and health risks at the workplace is discussed in sections 2, 3, 4

and 5.

The strategy adopted by a workplace must ensure workplace hazards and risks associated with the

use of alcohol and other drugs are eliminated or reduced, as far as practicable. It may include a

range of initiatives to deal with the particular hazards and risks specific to the workplace.

Having an alcohol and other drugs policy in place that sets out clearly how to address safety and

health risks arising from people impaired by alcohol and drugs can help reduce the risk to all

people involved. If a policy is adopted as part of a strategy, it should reflect the safety and health

needs of the particular workplace.

Education and information about the ways in which alcohol and other drugs can affect safety

and health should form part of every strategy. It is important that people at a workplace

understand the effects that alcohol and other drugs may have on their ability to work safely.

Workers and safety and health representatives, where they exist, must be consulted on safety and

health matters, such as the development of an alcohol and other drugs policy. Consideration may

also be given to consulting relevant employer and employee organisations and people with relevant

expertise.