Prescription drugs often carry a warning not to drive or operate heavy machinery – a message which can be even more important for rail safety workers. Transport Safety Victoria has asked its workers to carry a new drug control card to raise awareness of workplace drug testing laws.
Victorian rail workers are being urged to carefully review their drug use – including off-the-shelf medicines and prescriptions – or risk breaching workplace drug testing laws.
Transport Safety Victoria has advised rail workers that their obligations under the Rail Safety Act 2006 – which makes it an offence to work while impaired by drugs – extend beyond illegal substances.
It has warned that prescription medicines, off-the-shelf medications such as sedatives, tranquillisers and herbal remedies may affect workplace safety. By law any rail worker believed to be impaired will be required to undertake drug and alcohol testing.
Transport Safety Victoria has produced an information card which its workers can present to professionals who either prescribe or dispense medications. The card aims to improve awareness among health professionals and rail workers of the types of drugs which can impair safety at work.
Rail workers have been advised to:
- Tell their doctor that they are a rail safety worker and that under the Rail Safety Act they cannot be impaired by drugs while at work;
- Describe their line of work and ask for advice about the effects of any drugs or herbal remedies;
- Talk to employers about their onsite drug and alcohol testing obligations;
- Advise a supervisor if concerned about the effects of any medication that has been prescribed;
- Never use medication prescribed for someone else.
What the law says
Workplace drug testing has become mandatory in many high-risk industries, including mining, transport and construction.
The Rail Safety Act 2006 (Victoria) makes it an offence for rail safety employees to work while impaired by a drug, which under the act can include over the counter medicines, herbal remedies, tranquilisers, stimulants, prescription medicines and banned drugs.
The Act stipulates that impairment can refer to any loss of:
- Mental alertness, attentiveness and concentration;
- Vigilance;
- Divided attention skills;
- Visual skills and acuity;
- Hand-eye and foot-eye coordination;
- Tracking (ability to maintain lane control);
- Reaction time to situations; and
- Judgment and decision making.
Onsite drug and alcohol screening service provider Mediscreen has welcomed the drug control card initiative. The leading Perth-based drug test agency has worked closely with the transport sector to improve awareness of drug safety and testing obligations. For more information contact 1300 7970 40 or email admin@mediscreen.net.au.
Sources:
http://www.transportsafety.vic.gov.au/rail-safety/newsroom/news
