recognising drug use in the workplace
TRANSCRIPT
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
Recognising Drug Use in
the Workplace
The prevalence and consequences of
using drugs at work
Richard Evers
Laboratory Manager
Synergy Health Laboratory Services
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
Synergy Health Laboratory Services
+ Fully Accredited analytical services to clients in all industry sectors
+ Private Pathology Services
+ Drug and Alcohol Testing
+ Policy Implementation
+ Drug awareness training
+ Nationwide 2 hour response collection services
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
+ Signs of Drug Use
+ Prevalence of Drug use in the UK
+ Consequences of Drug Use at Work
+ Effects of Cannabis
Agenda
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
Physical Signs of Drug Use?
+ Weight Loss
+ Injection marks on arms
+ Multiple bruises (different ages)
+ Tremor and sweating hands
+ Signs of intoxication
+ Bleary eyed (cannabis)
+ Pupils - Constricted/Enlarged
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
+ Sudden Mood changes
+ Relationship difficulties
+ Work Colleagues
+ Home life
+ Confusion
+ Personal Grooming
+ Financial difficulties
+ Borrowing Money
Social Signs of Drug Use
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
Recognising Signs of Drug Use at Work
+ Fluctuations in concentration & energy
+ Impaired Job Performance
+ Avoiding Supervisor
+ Poor timekeeping
+ Late back from breaks
+ Absenteeism
+ Dishonesty & Theft
+ Blaming Others
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
MixMag Survey (2003)
+ Dance and Clubbing Magazine
+ 1,134 responses
+ 63.9% said illicit drugs had affected
their work
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
TUC Online Magazine Survey (2003)
+ 71% admitted that they (or someone they
know) had worked under the influence of
drink or drugs
+ 58% felt their performance had been less
effective
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
Institute of Personnel and Development
+ 1998 Survey of Personnel Professionals
+ 18% reported illegal drug testing
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
How Common is Drug Use?
+ British Crime Survey 2009-2010
+ Working Age Adults in England and Wales
+ 8.6% used drugs in the last 12 months
+ 3.1% used a Class A drug
+ 6.6% used Cannabis
+ Young Adults (16-24)
+ 20% used drugs in the last 12 months
+ 10.7% used a Class A drug
+ 16.1% used Cannabis
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
+ Includes prescribed and over the counter medications
+ UK Energy Industry 2010
+ 6.5% positive
+ UK Leisure Industry 2010
+ 7.9% positive
+ UK Light Industry
+ 4.1% positive
Incidence of Positive Tests – SHLS Data
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
Consequences of Drug Use - Personal
+ Lethargy
+ Tiredness
+ Lateness
+ Expense
+ Debt
+ Financial Problems
+ Personal Standards
+ Hygiene and Cleanliness
+ Smartness
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
+ Fines
+ Imprisonment
+ Rehabilitation
+ Restrictions on work
Legal Consequences of Drug Use
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
+ Absenteeism
+ Poor performance
+ Lower profitability
+ Customer complaints
+ Damaged reputation
+ Increased accident rates
Consequences of Drug Use - Business
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
+ Misuse of Drugs Act 1971
+ Offence to allow drug use, or fail to act if drug use is known to employers
+ Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
+ Health, Safety and Wellbeing of employees
+ Reasonable care to protect Health and Safety of people affected by work
+ Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992
+ Assess the Health and Safety to their employees and the public
+ Transport and Work Act 1992
+ Offence to work if unfit through drink and drugs
+ Operators liable if negligent in preventing recurrence
Criminal Liability
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
+ Plaintiff often works for the company
+ Damages
+ No Win No Fee
Civil Liability
“Competent staff
Your employer must ensure, to the best of his ability, that the people that
he employs around you are competent in their jobs, and do not put
others at risk by their actions. So if an employee injures another through
a failure to use equipment properly, or a drink or drugs problem, or
simply when messing around, then the employer is potentially liable for
those actions.” http://www.lawontheweb.co.uk/Personal_Injury/Work_Injury 8/3/2011
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
Acute Effects of Cannabis Use
+ 1976 study of 7 professional and 3
private pilots
+ Flight simulator performance 30
minutes after smoking 6mg
+ Deviation from desired height of 2600ft
+ Placebo gave deviation of 680ft
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
How long do the effects of Cannabis last
+ 1985 study of 10 private pilots
+ 19mg THC (3 x 1976 dose)
+ How close to the runway midline can
they land in a simulator
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
Article 8
European Convention on Human Rights
Right to respect for private and family life
1. Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his
home and his correspondence.
2. There shall be no interference by a public authority with the
exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and
is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national
security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for
the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or
morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
Recognising Drug Use in the Workplace - Richard Evers
Thank You for Listening
Any Questions? [email protected]