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Do You Require Safety in the Workplace?

Drug Testing Equipment, Drug ScreeningStandard concept of safety

When we say “safety in the workplace” people normally assume we mean safety gloves, safety boots and so on1. Safety in the workplace actually means that and more. Let me explain by narrating a small incident:

Inadequacy of Standard Safety Concepts

When Roy stepped out of his home and proceeded to work at his workshop in Melbourne, he and his family definitely expected him return home safe and sound after yet another hard day at work. However, that was not to be.

Monday morning turned out differently for Roy. Each morning the first task he does is to adjust the blade on the main cutting machine. While still at the task, one of his employees absentmindedly switched on the cutting machine – Roy did get back home that day but minus one finger. He was lucky because it could have been a whole lot worse.

The irony of the incident was that, Roy is a stickler for safety. He has fluorescent safety signs fixed all over the workplace. Safety shoes, safety gloves and safety glasses are mandatory. “But you can’t wear gloves and adjust the blade” he told me the next day.

What Roy did not know and could not have foreseen was that one of his staff was suffering from a major hangover from an all night party and was in no position to perform his job well. In light of this incident, you will agree that safety in the workplace needs to be re-examined2.

Indeed, the incident quite nicely brings into focus the need for safety in the workplace that transcends normal safety regulations.

Inherently Dangerous Workplaces

Some workplaces are inherently dangerous. These include3:

  • Workshops
  • Road surfacing
  • Concrete mixing
  • Factories
  • Mining
  • Hospitals and Clinics
  • Pumping stations
  • Police station
  • Transportation
  • Air traffic
  • Diving
  • Electricity Department
  • Zoos and Animal Care Centres
  • Day care centres, etc.

Staff working at above or similar worksites not only need to adhere to normal safety regulations, they ideally also need to ensure that each of them is 100% fit. Any employee suffering from any illness that could harm a co-worker should ideally seek the day off or seek reassignment to a worksite where he or she could cause no harm4. Such illnesses could include:

  • Alcohol abuse
  • Drug abuse
  • Sickness
  • Tensions brought upon by incidents related or unrelated to workplace, etc.

Need for Mental fitness as Safety Concept

Because their own lives could be at stake, the best way forward is for staff working in high-risk workplaces to request for, and voluntarily agree to alcohol and drug testing. Habitual abusers will need to be reassigned to non-dangerous workplaces and should be encouraged to join rehabilitation centres.

A humanitarian approach on the part of departmental heads or owners of businesses is required. Staff members need to be informed that they will not be victimised or penalised. Drug and alcohol abuse should be treated as a sickness to be dealt with compassion – this is the best way to get employees to agree to voluntary alcohol and drug testing5.

References:

1. Legislature governing safety equipment at workplaces: http://www.hse.gov.uk/equipment/

2. Safety in the workplace needs to be re-examined: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/99-101/

3. Some dangerous workplaces:

http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-777-Career-Growth-Change-Worlds-Most-Dangerous-Jobs/

4. Mental fitness at the workplace: http://www.gilbertacton.com/PDF/GA/ManagingEmotionsatWork.pdf

5. Dealing with alcohol and drug abusers at the workplace: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/dual_diagnosis.htm

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