Page 28 - PWM2026_JANUARY EBOOK

TECHNOLOGY REPORT

Drink and drugs in the

workplace

n September of 2024 the British Safety Council
reported that 40% of industrial accidents were
impaired judgement, slower reaction times and reduced
concentration. This increases the risk of accidents
linked to substance misuse, alcohol was responsi-
Times have changed. I under the influence of drugs or alcohol can experience
Society’s attitude ble for 20%-30% of all recorded accidents, and that which could lead to serious injury or even fatalities,
half of all workplace fatalities involved alcohol.
especially in safety-critical roles involving machinery,
towards things like driving or physical labour in places such as factories,
drink driving have This is not new a problem; it was recognised by the warehouses or construction sites”.
Risks aside, she says that from an employer’s perspec-
changed hugely in Royal Navy back in July 1970 when the daily ‘tot’ was tive, under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974,
recent decades. But discontinued due to concerns that alcohol consumption “employers must ensure, so far as reasonably practica-
was a safety risk for sailors operating complex machin-
it’s not quite the ery in a modern navy. ble, the health and safety of their employees and others.
same when it comes But beyond the matter of alcohol abuse is the recrea- Allowing impaired staff to work could expose the busi-
to alcohol – and tional use of drugs by drivers and employees. The physi- ness to liability if accidents occur”.
But beyond safety matters, substance misuse causes
indeed drugs – in the cal incarnation may be different but the effect on the absenteeism, mistakes, poor decision-making, poor per-
workplace. individual can be just as harmful. formance and strained working relationships. It may
And it’s why the HSE has a page on its website enti- also lead to reputational damage for an employer if an
tled ‘Managing drug and alcohol misuse at work’. employee’s conduct affects clients or the public. And
Words by this is something that Mandy Robson, head of business
The issues
Adam Bernstein services at the BPIF picks up upon. As she says, “it’s
Tina Chander, head of employment law at Wright much broader than just the odd hangover or someone
Hassall, considers safety, reliability and productivity to being unreliable. The impact runs right through produc-
be issues in the workplace and cause for concern when tivity, safety and culture. Hangovers alone are estimated
substances are involved. As she highlights, “employees by the Institute of Alcohol Studies to cost the UK econ-

26 PrintWeek MENA January 2026 www.printweekmena.com