On any given day, an average of 5,000 people working in safety-sensitive industries are turning up to work in South Australia alone, affected by methamphetamines. And that’s not including people working in hospitality or white-collar industries.
Many people don’t know that methamphetamines, and in particular ice, can stay in a person’s system for 48 hours. That worker could choose to take it on a Saturday night but the effects will linger long into Monday.
Workers affected by drugs pose a significant safety risk to themselves, their workplace and their colleagues.
Employers have a legal obligation to provide a safe work site. Workplace drug policies ensure businesses are prepared for incidents, accidents and emergencies, along with knowing how to deal with staff suspected of being affected by drugs.
The Ice Age discussion paper features case studies of white collar workers and former addicts discussing the signs and symptoms of affected workers, why policies are essential, the benefits of workplace drug testing, and how prevalent methamphetamine use is in the blue collar and white collar worlds.