This document discusses the importance of having a drug and alcohol policy in the workplace. It outlines key elements that should be included in a policy, such as education programs, testing protocols, and consequences for testing positive. The document also presents a scenario where an employee's work performance declines and they report having a drug dependency. It argues that occupational health can play an important role by providing case management, clear advice to employers, and ensuring employees receive appropriate treatment and support. Engaging occupational health services can help create a holistic approach to managing substance abuse issues in a way that prioritizes both treatment and workplace safety.

1. 1
Peter Allan
Lisa J Roberts
June 2014
Compliance –
The Links of Occupational Health
Intervention and Drug and Alcohol Testing

2. Content
 Introduction to Alere Toxicology
 Importance of having a drug and alcohol policy
 Principle of the policy
 Key elements of the policy
 Consequence of testing positive
 Scenario - Occupational Health - the missing link
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3. Alere Toxicology overview
 Alere Toxicology is a subsidiary company of Alere Inc
 Alere Toxicology is a leading provider of drug and alcohol testing
services in Europe
 Two UKAS accredited ISO/IEC:17025 laboratories
 Over 10 Million drug tests per annum
 Over 5,000 Customers including the Police and Home Office
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Alere Tox Abingdon Alere Tox Canary Wharf

4. Importance of having a policy
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 Safe workplace
 Healthy workforce
 Productive workforce
 Satisfy legal responsibilities
 Agreed process to deal with misuse issues
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5. Principle of a policy
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A policy should drive
Drugs & Alcohol
out of the workplace,
not Employees
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6. Key elements of a policy
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 Scope
 Rules and responsibilities
 Help for those with dependency problems
 What’s available?
 How is it managed?
 When should it be made available?
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7. Key elements of a policy
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8. Key elements of a policy
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 Education
 Communication of the policy
 Drug and alcohol awareness
 Recognising signs and symptoms of misuse and taking
appropriate action
 Control measures
 Testing programme
 Pre-employment testing
 For cause testing
 Random testing
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9. Consequences of testing positive
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 Dismissal?
 Two strikes and out?
 Help with rehabilitation?
 Is it a dependency problem (evidence)?
 What should help with rehabilitation include?
 What conditions are attached to the offer of help?
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10. Synopsis
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Drug and alcohol misuse can create tough challenges, impacting
on communities, the workplace, families and individuals. Every day
employers have to take on these challenges – often making difficult
decisions that will affect the health and wellbeing of those in
their employment.
The missing link in the majority of cases is OH.
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11. Scenario
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 Organisation has a drug and alcohol policy
 Absence due to sickness, trends may be identified
 Minor ailments only identified, work has deteriorated
 Signs of neglect to physical appearance and ‘troubled’ relationships
with colleagues
 Manager raises concern
 Individual goes off absent prior to any management meeting
 Individual then reports having a drug / alcohol dependency
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12. OH Case Management
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13. What OH can bring – a holistic approach
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 Effective communication and planning led by OH Case Managers
 Clear evidence based and targeted advice to employer, consideration
of safety critical roles
 Ensuring appropriate and planned care pathway into primary care
 Evidence based practice to support presenting problem
 Increase unannounced drug and alcohol testing on individual
 Programme Management
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14. Conclusion
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Engage OH services to provide the missing link of;
 Holistic approach to OH Case Management
 Clear advice to enable effective management of individual
 Utilise supportive information technology
 Manage absence – early intervention is key
 Increase awareness – employee training / education
 Set out clear schedule guidance
 Provide a sound random screening programme
 Consideration to health and wellbeing

15. Questions
Thank you for listening
Questions
If you would like to speak to us in more detail or about reviewing
your drug and alcohol policy or occupational health and wellbeing
come and speak to us on stand M2000.
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