Alcohol and drug testing - a hot topic at Safety in Action Darwin 2014

While most would agree that drug and alcohol use in the workplace environment could be harmful, drug and alcohol testing in the workplace continues to be a topic of contention. Advocates of workplace drug testing argue that it can work to reduce risk to workers, while many opponents perceive these types of measures to be intrusive of privacy.

Historically, alcohol use in the workplace has often been tolerated. While attitudes have since changed, it was not until 1962 that the International Labour Organisation acknowledged social policies which prohibited alcohol as a payment for labour. Now, in 2014, drug and alcohol testing has become as important as ever in certain high-risk occupations.

Breathalyser Sales & Service Managing Director Ben Smit says: “Over the past 10 years there has been a significant shift in employee attitudes towards drug and alcohol testing at work. In the bad old days it was seen as an invasion of privacy and an unreliable method of keeping tabs on the workers.

“Today, it is viewed by both employer groups and employee associations, including unions, as an essential OHS practice. In fact, some unions who were once suspicious of our products now insist they are on-site and available for the members to use,” he says.

Smit says that “since taking Breathalyser Sales & Service products and performing regular drug and alcohol testing in the workplace, most clients have seen significant decreases in workplace injuries and sick leave. For example, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) conducts its own random alcohol and drug tests. [It] recorded seven positives for alcohol and two for drugs out of 11,252 samples during the 2012-13 year. This is a huge decrease since they first started testing several years ago.

“Incorporating high-quality drug and alcohol testing equipment into an organisation’s workplace testing regime can only enhance a company’s ability to ensure the safety of its employees,” adds Smit.

In the ‘2010 National Drug Strategy Household Survey’ report, driving was listed as the “most common risky activity to be undertaken whilst under the influence of drugs”. Australian Drug Foundation CEO John Rogerson poses the question: “No one objects to the breath testing of an automobile driver, so why would individuals who are engaged in safety critical work expect not to undergo the same drug and alcohol testing to reduce risk and harm to themselves and others?”

These issues will be further discussed at the Safety in Action show in Darwin. Supported by NT WorkSafe, the two-day event is being held at the Darwin Convention Centre on Wednesday 19 March and Thursday 20 March 2014. Key expert speakers include: Australian Drug Foundation Head of Workplace Services Phillip Collins; Rapid Test Director Matthew Fry; and Western Diagnostic Pathology’s Dr Johan Conradie.

Catering for anyone whose job involves the safety of themselves or those around them, the event will also feature an interactive exhibition where attendees can try out some of the safety products. Exhibitors include: Breathalyser Sales and Service, Fit 4 Duty, Lane Work Safe, RapidTest and many more.

The event is free to attend and full details on how to register are available at: www.safetyinaction.net.au/darwin.

To register for the free training seminar on ‘The Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals' that is taking place at Safety in Action Darwin, visit: www.safetyinaction.net.au/darwin/visitor/whats-on/safe-work-training.