Security Services
Workplace drug and alcohol testing (WDT) is a controversial topic. Surely what a person does for recreation is of no business to anyone else? However, the use of excess alcohol or drugs can seriously affect an individual’s performance at work, causing reduced reaction times, impaired perception and poor decision-making. British businesses incur massive financial losses every day due to the growing problem of employee drug and alcohol use. Studies have shown that recreational drug use is associated with far-reaching health and safety implications, which should be addressed by law. A drug and alcohol policy in the workplace is about inappropriate use of substances and, in addition to banned substances, should also address prescription drugs and over the counter medicines.
A 2001 survey by the CIPD indicated that 60 per cent of companies have alcohol and drugs policies, although there is no definitive national assessment of how many employees are actually tested. Here are the facts:
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Studies prove that employees under the influence of drugs or alcohol are four times more likely to have an accident at work than their colleagues. |
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The use of excess alcohol or drugs can seriously affect an individual’s performance at work, causing reduced reaction times, impaired perception and poor decision-making. |
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It is the duty of a responsible employer to ensure the safety of their staff at all times - including protecting them from the mistakes of co-workers under the influence of drugs or alcohol. This is explicit in the Health and Safety at Work Act and other workplace legislation. |
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Recreational misuse of both alcohol and illicit substances has no social, economic or age boundaries. |
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Research shows that the rate of drug use is increasing. |
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A survey by Alcohol Concern and the TUC suggests that one in four accidents is caused, and around 40 million working hours lost, through alcohol misuse. |
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A recent report in The Lancet revealed that 37 per cent of male junior doctors admitted to current use of cannabis, and 14 per cent cocaine, amphetamines, barbiturates, LSD, ecstasy, magic mushrooms or other substances. The figure for women is 12 per cent. |
In British businesses where testing takes place, it tends to be applied to all employees in the interests of ‘business safety’. This top-to-bottom approach also demonstrates fairness in the system, which is extremely important for credibility and in avoiding ‘us and them’ confrontations over discrimination.
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