Research conducted by the Health & Safety Executive highlighted that alcohol was a factor in 20 – 25 % of all industrial accidents in the UK. We are frequently consulted by engineering businesses that have staff working with machinery and who are concerned about the risk of accidents caused by staff under the influence of drugs or alcohol. We have provided a number of businesses with workplace drug policies and where appropriate implemented drug and alcohol testing programmes to minimise the risks.
Many people who misuse drugs fail to acknowledge the potentially devastating consequences that their drug use can have particularly if employed in safety sensitive roles. However many businesses with our support have realised the potential damage to their reputation through employees misusing drugs and alcohol but in roles such as engineering working under the influence of drugs or alcohol can also have a significant impact on the quality of work produced and levels of productivity.