Time right for action on drugs and alcohol at work

WITH recent changes to the Corporate Manslaughter Act now in force, there has never been a better time for organizations to address the issues of drugs and alcohol misuse at work, according to Grendonstar, one of the UK’s leading authorities on the problems associated with drugs and alcohol in the workplace.

‘Companies are required to do everything which is reasonable to prevent an accident or incident resulting from the actions of an employee who is under the effects of substances or due to preventable ill health,’ explained Simon Truelove, general manager of Grendonstar.

‘As a result of the new corporate manslaughter legislation, it will not be the company owners, chief executive officers and managing directors who will be targeted for prosecution. Instead, it will be those in management positions, such as human resources or transport managers, who are deemed to be senior enough to have put policies and procedures in place to limit the risks posed by drugs and alcohol and poor health.’

Grendonstar, who offer an all-encompassing service from writing and implementing policies through to carrying out management training, as well as supplying a range of drug and alcohol testing devices, say a carefully written, successfully implemented drugs and alcohol misuse policy clearly demonstrates a company’s commitment to health and safety at work.

It also means that routine tests can be performed to check for alcohol or drugs without falling foul of human rights issues, and allows companies to choose to install equipment, such as Interlock, a breath alcohol measuring instrument complete with vehicle immobiliser.

CEVA Logistics, one of the UK’s leading distribution and logistics organizations, say they have had very positive results following the implementation of a substance misuse policy. The policy, which covers 7,000 employees, was written and implemented by Grendonstar and has been well received throughout the company.

John Paterson, human resources director at CEVA Logistics, explained: ‘Following a thorough evaluation of the benefits that a substance misuse policy would bring, and after discussion with our trade unions, we felt that the most positive action would be to take a welfare approach rather than treat the policy as a punitive measure.

‘The benefits to the business are obvious. Not only do we retain the employee and the investment already made in that employee but, through the welfare approach, the employee has the opportunity to address his or her problems without the added stress of losing their job.

‘By employing the services of Grendonstar to carry out testing, we have empowered our line managers to resolve a potential problem wherever and whenever the need arises. Handled professionally and with minimal fuss, drugs and alcohol testing can be quickly and easily carried out in a private, hygienic and non-confrontational way,’ said Mr Paterson.