1. Drugs & Alcohol In The Workplace
South East ALARM Conference
November 2006
2. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Who‘s He Then ?
• Mark Barnes – JLT Public Sector Risks
• Dedicated Public Sector Team
• Wide range of experience of Local Authority issues
and challenges
3. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Agenda
• Sack or Treat Affected Employees ?
• Relevant Legislation
• Effect On Business / Service Delivery
• Implementing An Alcohol & Drugs Policy
• Benefits Of A Policy
4. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Sack or Treat ?
Do we sack or seek to assist employees found to have alcohol
and/or drugs problems ?
5. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Current
Legislation
• Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
• Management of Health & Safety at Work Regs. 1999
• Road Traffic Act 1988
• Transport & Works Act 1992
Drivers must not be under influence of alcohol or drugs
Who’s driving your school bus ?
6. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Effect On Business
Annual cost to industry ( 2002 CMI )
• Drug abuse £800M
• Alcohol abuse £3.3billion
• Affect health & safety of staff and clients
• Business continuity and financial stability
7. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Service Impact
• Lower productivity
• Increased staff turn-over
• Increased absenteeism ( 2/3 times higher )
• Loss of clients / revenue
• Damage to reputation
8. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Service Impact
• Accidents & other Health & Safety breaches
( 20%-25% involve intoxicated people )
• Employee theft
• Lower staff morale
• Workplace bullying
• Increase stress levels
9. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
What Is Abuse
• Workplace problems not just due to addicts
• Alcoholics most likely to cause accidents but few of them
• Moderate drinkers cause most workplace problems
• Low quantity of alcohol can cause high level of
performance impairment
10. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Research Example
USA pilots study – had to perform tasks in simulator
• Before alcohol 10% could not perform all operations
• Blood alcohol concentration 0.10/100ml - 89% could not
perform all operations
• 14 hrs later 68% could not perform all operations
correctly
“The Problem of Alcohol Use By Pilots”
1990 New England Journal of Medicine
11. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Prevention In The
Workplace
• Establishment of prevention programmes
• Abuse cannot be separated from workplace – most
problem drinkers & drug users work
• Workforce is reflection of local community
• Workplace significant channel for preventative and
remedial action
• Certain industries and occupations seem higher risk
• Lower status, young, male
12. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Work Factors In
Abuse
• High stress
• Low job satisfaction
• Long hours or irregular shifts
• Fatigue
• Repetitious duties
• Periods of inactivity or
boredom
• Isolation
• Remote or irregular
supervision
• Easy access to substances
13. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Implementing A Policy
• Duty of care to employees
• Drive drugs and alcohol out of workplace, not employees
• Prevention as important as dealing with consequences
• Introduce comprehensive, unequivocal & effective drugs
and alcohol policy
• Deliverable
• Recognisable
• Understandable
• Guiding
• Straightforward
14. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Implementing A Policy
Stage 1 – Forming Team & Brief
• Senior officer mandated to implement
• Employee representatives, safety officers & Members to
be involved
• Feedback from all to be sought at appropriate stages
• Announce to all staff that a policy is being drawn up -
seek views, ask for team members
15. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Implementing A Policy
Stage 2 – Drafting Policy
• Who policy applies to – all or
selection. Contractors, out of
hours restrictions, prospective
employees
• Restrictions on bringing drugs
or alcohol to workplace
• Support to existing employee
misusers
• Random/routine testing & right
of search
• Enforcement & non-
compliance sanctions
• Education & training proposals
• Timescale & format for
introduction
• Auditing and effectiveness
• Employees rights & privacy
16. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Implementing A Policy
Stage 3 – Implementation of The policy
• Senior management must in implementation
• Date of implementation to be communicated to all
• Communication channels to include
• Interviews
• induction programme
• Staff handbook
• Intra-net & e-mail bulletins
• Posters & leaflets
• Specific training seminars
17. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Implementing A Policy
Stage 3 – Implementation of The policy
• Management training
• Contents of the policy
• Legal implications
• Signs & symptoms of misuse
• Methods of testing
• Dealing with consequences of misuse
• Managers could be tested to introduce procedures
• New employees must be made aware and policy part of
induction training
18. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
The effects of various
types of substances
Alcohol beer, wine, spirits
impaired judgement, slowed reflexes, impaired motor function,
sleepiness or drowsiness, coma, overdose may be fatal
Cannabis marijuana, hashish
distorted sense of time, impaired memory, impaired coordination
Depressants sleeping medicines, sedatives, tranquilisers
inattention, slowed reflexes, depression, impaired balance,
drowsiness, coma, overdose may be fatal
Hallucinogens LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), PCP
(phencyclidine), mescaline
inattention, sensory illusions, hallucinations, disorientation, psychosis
19. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
The effects of various
types of substances
Inhalants hydrocarbons, solvents, petroleum products
intoxication similar to alcohol, dizziness, headache
Opiates morphine, heroin, codeine, some prescription pain
medications
loss of interest, "nodding", overdose may be fatal. If used by
injection, the sharing of needles may spread Hepatitis B, or C and
HIV/AIDS
Stimulants cocaine, amphetamines
elevated mood, over activity, tension/anxiety, rapid heartbeat,
constriction of blood vessels
20. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Implementing A Policy
Stage 4 – Audit The policy
• Senior officer to take audit responsibility
• Regular review of
•documented arrangements
•training records, misuse incidents
•On-going action to detect and prevent misuse
•Management reports
21. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Benefits Of A Policy
• Ability to recognise problems & gives responsibilities
• Raises awareness of the effects of alcohol and drugs
• Helps Authority to deal fairly with a problem
• Gives clear understanding of the Authority’s rules
• Trains key staff how to deal with a problem
• Creates culture to acknowledge problems
• A service that protects employees and service delivery
22. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
Sack or Treat ?
Do we sack or seek to assist employees found to have alcohol
and/or drugs problems ?
23. Jardine Lloyd Thompson Insurance Broking Division
The End
Any questions or comments ?
Lets go for a cup of tea !
