Start 2025 with a new focus on drug and alcohol management

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Start 2025 the right way with a review of your workplace’s drug and alcohol management policy and procedures.

As many of us settle back into work routines after the festive season, it’s easy to get back into the work cycle by clearing emails and tackling daily tasks. But if you’re aiming to prioritise safety and start 2025 on the right note, now is the perfect time to enhance your workplace drug and alcohol management practices.

At Integrity Sampling, we understand the essential role a strong drug and alcohol management plan plays in protecting employees and fostering a safe workplace. But where do you start? Simple – a great starting point for improving drug and alcohol management is to revisit and update your workplace drug and alcohol policy.

Steps to update your workplace drug and alcohol policy in 2025

Whether you’re updating an existing policy or creating one for the first time, begin by defining your goals. These typically include ensuring compliance, adopting a proactive approach to safety and fostering a healthy, secure work environment:

  • While there are generally no specific laws for workplace drug and alcohol management in Australia, all workplaces must meet occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements. Familiarise yourself with these regulations and ensure your policy aligns with them.
  • Drug and alcohol management in Australian workplaces is primarily about safety. People coming to work under the influence can negatively affect absenteeism, productivity, morale and culture, but the top concern is the potential safety risks they pose.
  • Many Australian states and territories now have industrial manslaughter laws. These laws impose severe penalties, including up to 20 years’ imprisonment for individuals and multi-million-dollar fines for companies, if gross negligence leads to a worker's death. This alone underscores the importance of robust drug and alcohol management practices.

Key elements of a workplace drug and alcohol policy

A comprehensive drug and alcohol policy should be detailed, clear and easy to understand. Here are the essential components to include:

  • Defined objectives – State the purpose of the policy, emphasising safety, employee wellbeing and compliance with laws.
  • Prohibited substances – Clearly identify restricted or banned substances, including illegal drugs, alcohol and prescription medications.
  • Consequences of violations – Specify the repercussions for policy breaches, such as when someone provides a positive test for drugs or alcohol, or refuses a test.
  • Support resources – Include information about support programs like Employee Assistance Programs and rehabilitation services to encourage employees to seek help when needed.
  • Education and training – A policy is only effective if employees understand it. Ensure it’s regularly communicated through training, awareness campaigns and reminders. Use this as an opportunity to highlight the dangers of drugs and alcohol.
  • Testing protocols – Outline all aspects of your drug and alcohol testing approach. This includes the type of testing (e.g. saliva or urine), the circumstances for testing (e.g., random, post-incident or pre-employment) and how testing will be conducted.

Partner with Integrity Sampling for expert support

Navigating workplace drug and alcohol management on your own can be challenging, but Integrity Sampling is here to help.

We specialise in developing and updating workplace drug and alcohol policies tailored to your needs. Beyond policy development, we provide a full spectrum of services, including employee education and professional drug and alcohol testing.

For more information, visit Integrity Sampling’s workplace drug and alcohol management page or contact us. Let’s work together to create a safer, healthier workplace in 2025.

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Start 2025 the right way with a review of your workplace’s drug and alcohol management policy and procedures.

Start 2025 the right way with a review of your workplace’s drug and alcohol management policy and procedures.

By Michael

Michael is the founder of Integrity Sampling and is responsible for overseeing all national operations. He is based at Integrity Sampling's head office in Melbourne and is also responsible for the co-ordination of drug and alcohol testing within Victoria, assisting in the implementation of drug and alcohol (fit for work) policies and the presentation of drug and alcohol education and awareness programs. You can connect with Michael Wheeldon on LinkedIn

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