TOOL BOX TALKS

1
TOOL BOX TALKS

• Dugs and Alcohol

2
OHS Legislation

• Sections 8 (12) requires an employer to ensure
  the health, safety and wellbeing of employees and
  others in the workplace. All places where work
  is undertaken by staff is regarded as the
  workplace
• Section 20 of the OHS Act 2000 places a legal
  obligation on all employees to ensure the health
  and safety of others whilst at work.

3
Effects of drugs and alcohol

• Impaired coordination
• Impaired judgement
• Impaired intellectual capacity and ability to act
  quickly
• Blurred vision
• Impaired problem solving ability
• Trouble concentrating
• Move and think more slowly
• Impaired ability to relate with others

4
Facts and Myths

• Eating whilst drinking alcohol will slow down the
  time required to reach maximum intoxication but
  not the level of intoxication
• The liver metabolises 95 of ingested alcohol
  thus eliminating it from the body
• The metabolism rate is set by the weight, age,
  level of fitness of the individual
• A person eliminates between 7ml and 12ml of
  alcohol from the body per hour average of
  9.5ml/hr.
• Even for chronic users with higher tolerance
  levels functional impairment still present.

5
Personal and lifestyle stresses that contribute
to drug/alcohol problems

• Marital or personal relationship problems
• Grief and bereavement
• Trauma or stress
• Health issues or concerns
• Gambling or financial problems
• Habituation or addiction

6
Employee Assistance Program

• Counselling service with expertise with
  drug/alcohol problems
• Confidential service
• Free of charge for ? Sessions
• Referral procedure
• Contact phone number
• Sick leave provisions for users of service

7
Company Policy Provisions

• Acceptable/not acceptable behaviour
• Reporting Observed Impairments
• Managers/supervisors responsibilities
• Counselling/Disciplinary Procedure
• Testing practices if applicable
• Privacy