With 15 per cent of injuries at work worldwide caused by drugs and alcohol, the importance of workplace drug and alcohol management can’t be understated. Managing the risks of drugs and alcohol doesn’t just improve workplace safety, however. It can also help improve various other aspects of your business and, above all, protect your business.
In this article, we’ll look at some of the ways quality workplace drug and alcohol management can protect your business. We’ll also look at a scary example from the US, where a Delta Air Lines pilot was narrowly prevented from flying a plane while inebriated, because drug and alcohol management policies were developed and followed.
The true cost of poor workplace drug and alcohol management
While safety is the main reason for implementing workplace drug and alcohol management, if that’s not enough to convince you, consider these facts:
- Drugs and alcohol in the workplace can also affect other areas of your business, such as absenteeism, productivity, moral and workplace culture.
- Around 2.5 million days are lost each year in Australia due to alcohol-related absenteeism.
- The cost to businesses in Australia from drug-related accidents is around $1.3 billion a year.
- The total cost to Australian businesses each year due to drugs and alcohol is over $5 billion.
- In most states and territories of Australia, industrial manslaughter laws can enforce harsh penalties on companies and individuals, who’s reckless or grossly negligent conduct results in the death of a person. This includes up to 20 years jail for owners, managers and directors.
The scourge of drugs and alcohol poses significant risks to all Australian businesses. It’s time to protect your businesses today by improving the way you manage drugs and alcohol in your workplace.
Contact Integrity Sampling today for help.
Flying high
An excellent – and scary – example of strong workplace drug and alcohol management in action comes from a recent case in aviation. It involves a Delta Air Lines pilot who was stopped by airport security for a routine search. This was before a flight on which he was due to pilot from Edinburgh to New York.
The search discovered bottles of alcohol in his bags, including an open bottle. As reported by various media outlets, in line with drug and alcohol management, the pilot was asked to undertake alcohol testing, which showed that his blood alcohol level was well over the legal limit.
This incident occurred in June last year and the pilot, 63-year-old Lawrence Russell, was charged with reporting for duty as a pilot while being impaired through drink or drugs. His case was recently heard in court, where it was revealed that his blood alcohol level was “not less than 49mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood”. This equates to an alcohol testing reading of around 0.05 – our standard legal limit on the roads. The legal limit for pilots in Scotland is 20mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood.
The pilot has plead guilty to the charges. His lawyer says he has been receiving treatment for alcoholism. Sentencing in the case is expected soon.
It hasn’t been announced by Delta Air Lines whether the pilot will be able to return to his duties. But we would suggest that given the seriousness of the charges, it’s unlikely he’ll ever pilot a commercial airplane again.
While it’s fair to say that most workplace drug and alcohol incidents don’t end up in court, this example shows the value of robust drug and alcohol management. Imagine if the pilot hadn’t been subjected to a routine bag search? Imagine if he had been able to pilot the airplane on the international flight and his action had led to a crash.
Is workplace drug and alcohol management important? You bet!
Note: Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to our newsletter to receive up to date information about workplace drug and alcohol management.
FEATURED IMAGE CAPTION:
A recent incident involving an inebriated pilot shows the value of workplace drug and alcohol management. Credit Colin Brown https://www.flickr.com/photos/cb-aviation-photography/48885291003/
