Drinking Alcohol at Work Policy
11 January, 2022
Consuming alcohol is a pleasurable pastime for some people. Alcohol is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. Adults, especially in the workforce, are fond of gathering together after working hours to grab a drink or two. According to health experts, consuming alcohol is perfectly fine if it’s in moderation. However, the problem arises if you lose track and drink more than you can manage. Overconsumption leads to high intoxication and severe impairments. Generally, the legal limit for alcohol is 0.05% BAC (blood alcohol content), or 0.05g alcohol in every 100ml of blood. High impairments can pose a safety hazard on the road and at work. Therefore, workplaces implement the “No Drinking Alcohol at Work Policy” to minimise the risks of accidents.
Alcohol-induced Impairments at work is a severe safety hazard. Workers who drank alcohol the night before can show up for duty with the aftereffects of alcohol still present. Operating heavy equipment with the aftereffects of alcohol can lead to injuries. However, it is outside the employer’s control what their workers do after work hours. Instead, they can implement a Drinking Alcohol at Work policy to prevent alcohol usage and manage risks. A valuable tool in determining a person’s alcohol level is through devices like BACtrack workplace breathalysers. Breathalysers can efficiently screen the breath for alcohol traces and estimate the BAC level in seconds. Like the BACtrack Pro Series, a workplace breathalyser uses advanced fuel cell sensors to give precise BAC readings. These sensors are also less likely to provide false-positive results.
Drinking Alcohol at Work Policy Contents
What should employers include in a Drinking Alcohol at Work Policy? A workplace alcohol policy should tailor to an organisation’s specific needs and circumstances. For example, the policy should indicate:
- Staff shall not consume alcohol during working hours. There should be concrete hours and locations that are allowed or not.
- Staff who operate machinery or drive a vehicle must not consume alcohol before duty or during meal breaks.
- Department heads should ensure there are drinks available that have zero or low alcohol content in a work event. There should also be a sensible limit on the amount of alcohol available.
A “Drinking Alcohol at Work Policy” aims to maintain and enhance a safe working environment by raising awareness of the harm of excessive alcohol consumption. It should also be consistent, fair, and applicable to everyone in the workplace. Consequently, if an employee is perceived as working impaired, the policy enables the employer to conduct an alcohol test. Employees who fail at a breathalyser test are subject to disciplinary actions. However, the sanctions and provisions of the alcohol policy should balance the employees’ rights with the employers’ obligations. You can perform your tests with the aid of highly accurate BACtrack workplace breathalysers. BACtrack breathalysers are the leading professional breath testing devices for personal and workplace use.
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