Breathalysers and drug checks: Why you need workplace drug and alcohol testing for safety critical roles, now.
Do you know your legal responsibility?
Under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, you could be prosecuted for failing to assess risks. When it comes to the impact of drugs and alcohol in the work environment, an employer can be held liable for an employee's wrongful acts if there is a "sufficiently close connection" between the employee's actions and their employment. This means employers may be liable if an employee drives or causes an accident while operating machinery under the influence of drink or drugs.
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Prevent serious reputational damage
Let’s face it, any prosecution of staff who were under the influence of drugs or alcohol while working for you is going to make your business appear negligent. Testing your workforce regularly with breathalysers and/or drug checks could be protecting your reputation as well as their safety.
Driving under the influence: Be ready for changes in the law.
The public generally does not understand the 35 mg/100mlbreath drink/drive limit due to the residual levels in blood alcohol being dependent upon variable factors from weight and gender to stress levels. In Scotland, lower allowable alcohol levels have been reduced to an amount which effectively means drinking any amount could result in a positive breath test with a roadside breathalyser. This has slashed the levels of drink driving, and so the UK will be following this change shortly. New laws will also allow more roadside drug testing.
Workplace Wellness with drug and alcohol testing
A drug and alcohol workplace testing programme will have wider benefits than you think. Enacted correctly, a clear drug and alcohol policy and testing regime may well lead to a happier and more productive workplace, where people are more invested and confident in their safety.
What you will get from the Drug & Alcohol Safety Guide, from Anchor Safety:
- Find out more about how you can implement an employee drug and alcohol testing programme
- Understand what is needed from an occupational drug and alcohol policy.
- Learn how a workplace drug and alcohol testing policy can benefit your business across the board.
- Understand workplace breathalysers, onsite drug screening and how and when to implement worksite drug and alcohol testing.