Everyone agrees that maintaining a safe workplace is good for business because it keeps people safe and healthy, improves productivity, and reduces operational costs. In fact, keeping a workplace safe is an employer duty of care, and it does not matter if it is a large or small business. An important safety consideration is a drug free workplace. However, corporations can afford to pay attorneys and have managers with a small army of staff who can assess risks, develop and write policies, and hold elaborate training programs. The small business usually does not have those kinds of resources, yet it is just as important that it have a workplace drug and alcohol policy in place.
The next logical question is: How does a small business begin to develop a policy within a limited budget and resources? The answer, of course, is to rely on the quality programs already written and available. They can be used as guides or templates and then adapted to the business. The first step is to understand the principles it should include. WorkCover of NSW outlines those principles as:1
Commitment to ensuring the health, safety and welfare of workers and anyone else who is in the workplace
Mixing of drugs and/or alcohol in the workplace is unacceptable
Information will always be available for people who need help dealing with a drug or alcohol problem
Workplace supervisors know how to respond to suspected workers drug or alcohol use Notice that the first principle is a commitment to a safe working place, followed by a firm statement that substance use will not be tolerated. The next two statements address the fact an employer is not developing policy as a means of control. Rather, the policy is formed using a positive and helpful approach.
Sending Wrong Messages
One thing that keeps the busy small business owner from getting around to developing a policy is a misconception that it has to be fairly elaborate and expensive. There can be a temptation to put off developing the policy and instituting a drug and alcohol testing program as a result. The truth is that the longer it is put off, the more likely that drugs and alcohol will be used, given the growing number of people of all ages who are using legal and illicit substances.
A lack of policy sends the wrong message to workers that workplace drug and alcohol use is not considered important enough to justify the time needed to develop a policy. It can also increase the risk of attracting substance users and abusers who seek employment at places where they can escape detection.
Fortunately, there are well-developed policies and guidelines available that small business owners can easily use to jumpstart the process. For example, the Building Trades Drug & Alcohol Program, called “Not at Work, Mate”, is a simple and to-the-point program that establishes a policy, including the right of dismissal should a worker refuse to get help.2 One of the advantages of using this policy as a starting point is that it is written so that it covers a business with more than one job site. The policy references a Building Trades Drug and Alcohol Training Course, which can be purchased if desired.
This is just one example of a workplace policy that is easily viewed online. If this one does not prove to be suitable, then contact an organisation like DrugInfo Clearinghouse or the Australian Drug Foundation and take advantage of their many resources. The one thing a small business should not do is put off developing a policy any longer. The safety of the workplace and legal liability makes it an imperative.
Mediscreen (mediscreen.net.au/) works with any size business that wants to manage a random drug and alcohol testing program in support of a policy. We offer substance screening services that are suitable for all industries, and the program can be designed to fit any budget.
This article has been taken from http://mediscreen.net.au/articles/?p=2050
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