Research has found that risky alcohol use is more prevalent in some professions than others. Tradespeople and hospitality industry workers are more likely to be problem drinkers than their white-collar counterparts. The research highlights the need for onsite drug and alcohol testing.
Nearly one fifth of Australia’s hospitality workforce drinks too much alcohol, putting them at risk of long term harm.
Research published by the National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA) in 2011 identified 18.9 per cent of hospitality workers as being at risk of harm in the long-term due to their drinking habits.While alcohol testing is not mandatory, many employers are adopting alcohol and drug testing as part of occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements.
Tradespeople were the second highest at-risk group. The Workplace Drug Testing: Evidence and Issues report identified 16.3 per cent as being at long-term risk of harm from alcohol consumption.
The research was based on data collected from nearly 30,000 Australians during a 2004 national drug survey.
The report found that 90.7 per cent of Australian workers were drinkers and that young, single, rural working men (without children) were most likely to drink at levels associated with harm.
The percentage of workers at risk of long-term hard from alcohol consumption varied significantly according to their occupation.
Those working within the mining sector were at the lowest risk – just 6.6 per cent – of long-term harm from alcohol. Testing is a requirement of many mining companies, which has been seen as a significant safety measure and includes both alcohol and drug tests. Perth has been driving the relatively-new industry on the back of the State’s mining boom.
The proportions of other occupations at risk of long-term harm from alcohol consumption include:
- Construction at 14.4 per cent;
- Admin/defence at 9.5 per cent;
- Agriculture at 16.6 per cent;
- Retail at 12.5 per cent; and
- Manufacturing at 10.8 per cent.
Alarmingly the report also identified that 17.4 per cent of the Australian workforce had used drugs for non-medical reasons in the 12 months prior to being surveyed.
The most popular drugs used by workers were:
- Cannabis at 13.4 per cent;
- Ecstasy at 4.4 per cent;
- Methamphetamines at 3.9 per cent; and
- Painkillers/analgesics at 2.8 per cent.
Workplace drug testing has become more widespread as employers strive to meet increasingly stringent OHS and welfare obligations. Workplace drug testing laws are being shaped by recent legal decisions, affirming the rights of employers to conduct alcohol and drug screening.
For more information about drug testing equipment & services contact leading supplier Mediscreen on 1300 7970 40 or email admin@mediscreen.net.au.
Sources:
http://nceta.flinders.edu.au/nceta/publications-and-presentations/nceta_publications/?a=date#id
