Drink and drug misuse
Substance misuse, including alcohol and illegal drugs, as well as some prescription medications, poses serious risks to workplace safety, productivity, and public health. It is estimated that 40 per cent of industrial accidents at work are linked to substance abuse1, and alcohol misuse alone is estimated to cost UK employers over £7 billion annually in lost productivity2.
A Best Practice Guide for Managing Drink and Drug Misuse in the Workplace and when Driving for Work produced by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), in partnership with Draeger Safety UK, outlines practical steps for organisations to manage impairment risks, improve safety, and meet legal obligations.
Aimed at HR departments, fleet managers, and health and safety professionals across all sectors, the guide provides a step-by-step framework for developing workplace policies and introducing and conducting fair and confidential impairment testing programmes. It also highlights the impact of alcohol and drug use in UK workplaces and the risks posed, especially for safety critical roles such as those involving the operation of heavy machinery or when driving for work.
Key points include:
- •Creating and communicating a clear policy
- •Conducting risk assessments to identify safety critical roles
- •Implementing fair testing procedures, complete with employee consent and confidentiality
- •Providing support and resources for employees with substance issues
- •Training managers to address misuse effectively
The best practice guide recommends a combination of education, consent-based testing, and rehabilitation support, and also outlines modern technologies for screening and testing, such as saliva and breath testing, as well as alcohol interlock systems, which, once installed in a vehicle, rely on a negative breath test to allow the engine to start.
The legal frameworks that employers must navigate are also referenced in the guide, including the Health and Safety at Work Act and UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Meanwhile, Dräger’s research, for its annual Dräger Safety and Health at Work 20223, indicates that 83 per cent of workers support drug and alcohol testing at work, reflecting growing awareness of the issue and support for proactive safety measures. This is set in the context that 78 per cent of managers surveyed said that their organisation had concerns about workplace impairment (and resulting injuries/accidents) due to alcohol, drugs and prescribed medications such as antidepressants.
Download the full guide
1 The Hidden Cost Of Substance Abuse In The UK | UKAT blog
2 Alcohol in the workplace - Institute of Alcohol Studies