Just how prevalent are drugs and alcohol in the workplace?

How well do you know your staff? Are you concerned that some of your employees may be affected by drugs or alcohol while at work? Are you an employee worried about your colleagues’ drug or alcohol habits, and what effect could that have on your safety?
If you’re concerned about drugs and alcohol in the workplace, statistics show you have every right to be. Because:

• Five per cent of employees in Australia admit to working under the influence of
either drugs or alcohol at some point in their career.

• It’s estimated that drugs and alcohol cost Australian workplaces around $5.2 billion
a year.

• Alcohol-related absenteeism alone costs Australian companies approximately $2
billion a year.

• Alcohol use in the workplace contributes to more than 10 per cent of workplace
accidents and injuries in Australia.

• Around 1/3 of Australian employees have experienced negative impacts from a
colleague’s use of alcohol.

Another issue with drug and alcohol use and its relationship with the workplace is that it can affect people while under the influence and in the days following.

Both alcohol and drugs cause hangovers, withdrawals and fatigue that can affect a person’s ability to react quickly, concentrate, and make correct decisions. These can be dangerous effects when combined with work, particularly in a safety-focussed environment.

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** Please note that this is an example only **