If you’re a Queensland business owner or manager, why should you conduct drug and alcohol testing in your workplace?
There are many reasons why drug and alcohol testing in a Queensland workplace, or any workplace in Australia for that matter, is important, especially if your workplace is safety-focussed. However, if you’re only looking for one reason here it is: while drug and alcohol testing and management of drugs and alcohol may cost you to implement, it can save you plenty in the long run.
Why? Because any accident in your workplace is likely to cut into your bottom line and one involving drugs or alcohol can be particularly expensive.
Workplace injuries cost Queensland and Australian businesses billions each year. Safe Work Australia estimated the cost of workplace injuries to be $61.8 billion a year (and that was a few years ago; in real terms it’s likely to be higher now). It’s a staggering figure that represented 4.1% of Australia’s gross domestic product or GDP.
While it’s difficult to know exactly how many injuries involve people affected by drugs or alcohol and how much these injuries contribute to the over $60 billion, there’s no doubt that drugs and alcohol are major factors.
What’s the potential cost to your Queensland workplace? What could it cost your workplace if one of your employees was affected by drugs or alcohol and had an accident?
This will of course depend on the extent of any injuries and damage to equipment. What we can say with certainty is that if one of your employees is seriously injured or killed, the impact on your bottom line is going to be high and the legal and governing factors alone could send some businesses to the wall. That’s not to mention the pressure and stress of potentially facing the Coroner’s Court in the event of a fatality, and being asked to show your policy for managing drugs and alcohol and how you act on and police this policy.
Drug and alcohol testing in Queensland workplaces a key part of any robust safety program
Conducting drug and alcohol testing in your Queensland workplace, and having drug and alcohol policies and procedures, is a vital part of any robust workplace safety program. Your policies and procedures should clearly detail the responsibilities of everyone in the workplace, what drug and alcohol testing is carried out, the procedure for someone who is detected under the influence of drugs or alcohol, disciplinary actions and the support available for those needing help with drug or alcohol issues.
Talking of support, if you need help in any aspect of your Queensland workplace’s drug and alcohol program, whether it be policy and procedure development, drug and alcohol testing or education programs, Integrity Sampling is well positioned. Our Queensland head office is based in Brisbane and is supported by a regional network of technicians strategically based to ensure we are able to service most areas of this vast state.
Call us today on 1300 SALIVA to discuss your workplace’s needs.
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Conducting drug and alcohol testing in your Queensland workplace could save you in the long run. Credit Photomatic Agent https://www.flickr.com/photos/tribephotomatic/14069404075/ and Peretz Partensky https://www.flickr.com/photos/ifl/3915405300/ (images modified)
