Workplace Risks - Alcohol

There are a range of factors contributing to alcohol use by employees in the workplace and are generally things that cause anxiety or stress,and may include: 

  • Shift work and long shifts
  • Noisy work environments, equipment that is difficult to use, high risk of personal injury or illness
  • poor job design, including boring or extremely demanding work, unrealistic targets or inadequate resources
  • inadequate training or supervisory support
  • Bullying, harassment, discrimination or victimisation in the workplace
  • Access to alcohol at work, peer pressure or a culture tolerating or encouraging alcohol use during or after work hours.

There are a range of strategies you can implement to reduce to the risk of alcohol issues in the workplace. Effective responses should be tailored to best suit the needs and situation of the individual workplace and involve involve a range of strategies, incorporating: 

  • Policy: Policy provides the foundation. It outlines the formal process for responding to alcohol issues in the workplace and provides a guide for the roles and responsibilities of all staff. 
  • Education and Training: Can assist with the prevention of alcohol-related harms
  • Counselling and treatment: support for employees with alcohol issues

Though random breath testing can help you monitor employees, potential risks and especially those responsible for heavy machinery, prevention strategies, policies and education are always the best way to minimise risk when it comes to employee and workplace safety. 

*Alcosense Breathalysers

*Information gathered from the Department of Health issued by the State Government of Victoria  -  http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/