Dealing with alcohol-related problems at work

The publication entitled 'Don't mix it!' covers a wide range of issues, including the legal position, screening, who to consult with and developing a workplace alcohol policy.

Previous research conducted by the HSE has shown that 90% of bosses consider alcohol consumption to be a problem for their organisation, and whilst most thought it was as an issue involving only a small number of employees, 17% believed it was a "major issue".

As well as loss of productivity, poor performance, lateness and absenteeism - companies highlighted safety issues and the impact on employee relations as their main concerns, as well as the effects on company image and customer relations.

The HSE said that alcohol caused between 3% and 5% of all absences from work in the UK each year - around 8 to 14 million lost working days.

And while there were no precise figures on the number of workplace accidents where alcohol was a factor, the Executive said that alcohol clearly affected judgement and physical co-ordination. "Drinking even small amounts of alcohol before or while carrying out work that is ‘safety sensitive’ will increase the risk of an accident," it said.

Policy in place?

The guide acknowledged that for employers, the prospect of tackling when and how much employees drink could be "daunting" - particularly for smaller firms without a personnel specialist.

However, it also stressed that under health and safety legislation, any employer knowingly allowing someone to continue to work under the influence of alcohol could be prosecuted if this placed the employee or others at risk.

The HSE recommends a "straightforward four-step process" for dealing with alcohol problems at work - finding out if there is a problem; deciding what to do; taking action; and then checking what has been done.

These steps are outlined in greater detail within the new HSE booklet, with particular emphasis being placed on developing a workplace alcohol policy.

Norwich Union Risk Services' training and consultancy manager, John Phillips, said the issue was one that no employer could afford to ignore.

"This guide, freely available via the HSE website, is an excellent starting point for any business that hasn't already put a policy in place for tackling alcohol related problems in their place of work."

Research conducted by the Chartered Management Institute three years ago revealed that only half of employers had developed a policy to tackle drugs and alcohol related issues. A link to the new HSE guide is provided above/right.