Managing drug and alcohol misuse in the workplace

All employers have a legal duty to protect their employees health, safety and welfare. You need to be able to identify the signs of drug and alcohol misuse and be able to manage the health and safety risk that this could pose in the workplace.

What do we need to do?

  • Develop a Policy to deal with drug and alcohol-related problems 

  • Train Managers and Supervisors so they can identify the signs of drug and alcohol misuse

  • Consult with your employees, provide information about the effects of drugs and alcohol

  • Support staff who ask for help and encourage them to get help from their GP or a drug and alcohol specialist

What do we need to look out for? 

  • Staff having frequent and unexplained absences

  • Staff showing changes in their behaviour

  • Attitude towards other members of staff

  • An increase in accidents or near-misses

  • Staff performance 

Other things to consider

  • Are staff operating machinery, working at height or driving for work 

  • Do you want to implement a screening and testing for drugs and alcohol

Additional information can be found at the following:

Alcohol support services | Drinkaware

Drinkaware Home | Drinkaware

Drugs and driving: the law - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Honest information about drugs | FRANK (talktofrank.com)

For more support on Managing drug and alcohol misuse at work, contact our team

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