We get it. Some South Australian businesses and workplaces in safety-critical environments are still sceptical of the need for drug and alcohol management, and drug and alcohol testing. Especially when the message is being pushed by a firm like Integrity Sampling, a workplace drug and alcohol testing provider.
But what if there were independent organisations that also conveyed the need for workplace drug and alcohol management? Organisations like SafeWork SA?
SafeWork SA is South Australia’s workplace health and safety regulator. They offer advice and education on all workplace health and safety matters, including managing alcohol and drug risks. Its webpage, Alcohol and drugs at work, outlines why drug and alcohol management in South Australia is not about punishment. Instead, it is about safety, health, and shared responsibility.
Below is a practical summary of SafeWork SA’s guidance and what it means for South Australian workplaces.
Why drug and alcohol management in South Australia is a safety issue?
SafeWork SA is clear. Alcohol and other drugs can impair judgement, coordination, reaction time, and decision-making. In the workplace, this increases the risk of incidents, injuries, and near misses.
The risk is particularly high in safety-critical environments such as construction, transport, mining, manufacturing, and logistics. Impairment can certainly affect safety, but also impact performance, behaviour, and workplace relationships.
The need for effective drug and alcohol management – and in some cases testing – is not just a safety nicety, in some instances it’s law. Under South Australian work health and safety laws, employers must provide a safe working environment. This includes managing risks associated with alcohol and other drugs.
In fact, in particularly safety-sensitive sectors such as road and rail transport, maritime, aviation, mining and federally funded construction, the law requires blood alcohol concentration levels to be set and drug and alcohol testing to be carried out.
That’s clear!
It starts with a policy
If you’re a workplace, how can you improve drug and alcohol management? Like Integrity Sampling, SafeWork SA agrees that it starts with a clear alcohol and other drugs policy. This policy should outline expectations, responsibilities, and procedures.
An effective policy typically includes:
- Clear rules about alcohol and drug use at work
- Information about impairment and its risks
- Processes for managing suspected impairment
- Support options for workers who may need help
- Consequences of policy breaches
Importantly, SafeWork SA highlights that policies should be developed in consultation with workers. This gets more buy-in and helps ensure the policy is understood, accepted, and applied consistently.
Beyond policy, drug and alcohol management in South Australia works best when workers know the rules and understand the reasons behind them. Which is why SafeWork SA places strong emphasis on education. Workers and supervisors need to understand how alcohol and drugs affect the body and how long impairment can last.
This includes legal substances such as alcohol and prescription medications, not just illicit drugs. Some medications can cause drowsiness, slow reaction times, or reduced concentration.
Education helps reduce stigma and encourages early conversations. It also supports a proactive approach, where issues are addressed before they result in incidents or disciplinary action.
Support is also important. SafeWork SA encourages workplaces to focus on early intervention and support. Not every issue requires disciplinary action. In many cases, support, referral, or temporary adjustments can reduce risk and help workers stay safe and productive. This approach benefits both the worker and the business. It also reinforces a safety culture built on care, accountability, and prevention.
Where drug and alcohol testing fits in
SafeWork SA does not promote drug and alcohol testing as a standalone solution. Instead, testing is positioned as one possible tool within a broader drug and alcohol management framework.
When used appropriately, testing can:
- Deter unsafe behaviour
- Identify impairment risks
- Support compliance with policies
- Reinforce safety-critical controls
Testing should always align with workplace policies, be fit for purpose, and respect privacy and fairness. It works best when combined with education, clear procedures, and support pathways.
How Integrity Sampling supports South Australian workplaces
If you’re a regular reader of our blogs, you’ll know that SafeWork SA’s messages align with ours. Effective workplace drug and alcohol management starts with a policy, requires education and support, and can be boosted by appropriate drug and alcohol testing.
And Integrity Sampling in South Australia can help with all these requirements.
Our services include workplace drug and alcohol testing, policy support, education, and ongoing program assistance. We can even provide advice on how to be support employees with substance misuse issues. We service metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia, including major industrial, construction, and transport hubs.
If your workplace wants to align with SafeWork SA’s expectations and reduce alcohol and drug-related risks, Integrity Sampling is here to help.
FEATURED IMAGE CAPTION:
Workplace drug and alcohol management in South Australia is vital. But don’t just take our word for it. Listen to SafeWork SA’s guidance on how to manage alcohol and drug risks effectively.
