If you’re considering introducing alcohol and drug management and alcohol and drug testing in your workplace, a great reference is always the health and safety authority in your state. In Queensland, this is WorkSafe Queensland, which has a great document on their website entitled Framework for alcohol and drug management in the workplace.
One of the sections in the document looks in detail at alcohol and drug testing, which is one of the options you should always consider when implementing alcohol and drug management. Here are some of the highlights from this section of the document:
- Alcohol and drug testing should only be introduced in Queensland workplaces where safety is a priority. In health and safety speak, this means where a risk assessment has identified that having a person under the influence of alcohol or drugs in the workplace would cause a risk.
- Getting employees on side is important, so get workers, health and safety representatives and union representatives involved in the decision making. There’s no reason why they shouldn’t be on side, as it’s their health and safety that’s at risk.
- For some specific occupational groups, introducing alcohol and drug management and often alcohol and drug testing is not just imperative, it’s law. As the WorkSafe Queensland document uses as an example, “There is legislation to protect public safety in transport (covering commercial road transport, the railways, civil aviation, and marine transport) through restrictions on the use of alcohol and drugs and the development of drug and alcohol management (including testing) plans”.
- Only introduce testing as part of a comprehensive drug and alcohol management program. In addition, ensure all details of the testing to be carried out is listed and communicated to the workforce. Steps to be taken if an employee provides a positive result or refuses testing should also be included.
- Education and counselling should also form part of any workplace drug and alcohol management.
- The alcohol and drug management plan and testing must address any issues relating to privacy and confidentiality.
Which method of alcohol and drug testing for your Queensland workplace?
When it comes to which testing methods your Queensland workplace should introduce, WorkSafe Queensland is clear – it must be the least invasive and provide timely results.
“Breath testing for alcohol and oral fluid testing for drugs are recommended as the preferred methods of testing as they are non-invasive, discreet and quick to administer.”
Integrity Sampling Queensland
Integrity Sampling can help you will all aspects of developing and implementing a drug and alcohol management plan, including carrying out alcohol breath testing and saliva drug testing.
We have 5 branches in Queensland, based in Brisbane, Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton and Townsville, and our service area covers much of the state.
Source: To read the Framework for alcohol and drug management in the workplace in full, go to the WorkSafe Queensland website.
