1

Peter Allan

Lisa J Roberts

June 2014

Compliance – The Links of Occupational Health Intervention and Drug and Alcohol Testing

Content

Introduction to Alere Toxicology

Importance of having a drug and alcohol policy

Principle of the policy

Key elements of the policy

Consequence of testing positive

Scenario - Occupational Health - the missing link

AWP0134 1.a 1AWP0134 1.a 2

Alere Toxicology overview

Alere Toxicology is a subsidiary company of Alere Inc

Alere Toxicology is a leading provider of drug and alcohol testing services in Europe

Two UKAS accredited ISO/IEC:17025 laboratories

Over 10 Million drug tests per annum

Over 5,000 Customers including the Police and Home Office

AWP0134 1.a 3

Alere Tox Abingdon Alere Tox Canary Wharf

Importance of having a policy

4

Safe workplace

Healthy workforce

Productive workforce

Satisfy legal responsibilities

Agreed process to deal with misuse issues

AWP0134 1.a 4

Principle of a policy

5

A policy should drive

Drugs & Alcoholout of the workplace,

not Employees

AWP0134 1.a 5

Key elements of a policy

6

Scope

Rules and responsibilities

Help for those with dependency problems

What’s available?

How is it managed?

When should it be made available?

AWP0134 1.a 6

Key elements of a policy

7AWP0134 1.a 7

Key elements of a policy

8

Education

Communication of the policy

Drug and alcohol awareness

Recognising signs and symptoms of misuse and taking appropriate action

Control measures

Testing programme

Pre-employment testing

For cause testing

Random testing

AWP0134 1.a 8

Consequences of testing positive

9

Dismissal?

Two strikes and out?

Help with rehabilitation?

Is it a dependency problem (evidence)?

What should help with rehabilitation include?

What conditions are attached to the offer of help?

AWP0134 1.a 9

Synopsis

10

Drug and alcohol misuse can create tough challenges, impacting on communities, the workplace, families and individuals. Every day employers have to take on these challenges – often making difficult decisions that will affect the health and wellbeing of those in their employment.

The missing link in the majority of cases is OH.

AWP0134 1.a 10

Scenario

11

Organisation has a drug and alcohol policy

Absence due to sickness, trends may be identified

Minor ailments only identified, work has deteriorated

Signs of neglect to physical appearance and ‘troubled’ relationships with colleagues

Manager raises concern

Individual goes off absent prior to any management meeting

Individual then reports having a drug / alcohol dependency

AWP0134 1.a 11

OH Case Management

12AWP0134 1.a 12

What OH can bring – a holistic approach

13

Effective communication and planning led by OH Case Managers

Clear evidence based and targeted advice to employer, consideration of safety critical roles

Ensuring appropriate and planned care pathway into primary care

Evidence based practice to support presenting problem

Increase unannounced drug and alcohol testing on individual

Programme Management

AWP0134 1.a 13

Conclusion

AWP0134 1.a 14

Engage OH services to provide the missing link of;

Holistic approach to OH Case Management

Clear advice to enable effective management of individual

Utilise supportive information technology

Manage absence – early intervention is key

Increase awareness – employee training / education

Set out clear schedule guidance

Provide a sound random screening programme

Consideration to health and wellbeing

Questions

Thank you for listening

Questions

If you would like to speak to us in more detail or about reviewing your drug and alcohol policy or occupational health and wellbeing come and speak to us on stand M2000.

AWP0134 1.a 15