Risk control: implementing alcohol and other drugs strategies

Risk control: implementing alcohol and other drugs strategies

The third step is to implement control measures, such as alcohol and other drug strategies, to
eliminate or reduce the risks of people being injured or harmed. It should be ensured the control
measures are monitored and reviewed on an ongoing basis.
While there is no single way to prevent or address safety and health issues arising from alcohol
and/or other drug use at the workplace, a number of strategies may be adopted.
The aim of any alcohol and other drugs strategy should be to eliminate alcohol and other
drugs related safety and health risks, as far as practicable. This can be achieved through
adopting several approaches suitable for the particular workplace.
Deciding which strategies to adopt will depend on a number of different 'risk factors' (see above),
and the extent of alcohol and/or other drug use, the nature of the industry and the size and
resources of the business.
The strategy should be tailored to meet the needs of the particular workplace. Information,
education and training about alcohol and other drugs should form part of the range of strategies
adopted by the workplace.
The strategies may include:
• developing an alcohol and other drugs policy and supporting procedures for all levels of staff,
based on a workplace hazard identification and risk assessment (see sections 2.1 and 2.2).
The procedures should outline how to deal with impaired people, both staff and visitors, at the
workplace;
• communicating, to all at the workplace, the policies and procedures on alcohol and other drug
usage and related issues arising and the general expectations for occupational safety and
health;
• encouraging those in management positions to support the policies and procedures;
• providing information, education and training to workers, which includes the risks from alcohol
and other drug use;
• implementing safeguards on tasks, processes and equipment that require a high level of
concentration or motor coordination, where a hazard identification and risk assessment
identifies a high level of risk if workers are impaired by alcohol and/or other drugs;
• identifying and responding to factors that may contribute to symptoms of stress and/or fatigue,
for example redesigning jobs and providing regular breaks. See also the Commission and
MIAC's Code of practice: Working hours;
• depending on the situation, providing ready access to counselling and/or support groups early
in the apparent development of alcohol and/or other drug problems; and
• where relevant, providing recreational options, especially where boredom might be a risk factor,
for example where workers are isolated from family and friends.