SAFETY TALK
Do you enjoy a
drink? Most people do and alcohol
gives great pleasure to millions of men and women but there are times when
drink leads to danger. In a high-risk
industry like ours alcohol and work are not compatible.
Alcohol is a depressant drug, which depresses parts of the brain function. When you work at heights or with machinery or are involved in moving large items you require all your brain functions to save you from injury.
Organization have, therefore, made it their policy and a condition of employment on this site that if it is suspected that anyone is intoxicated by drink, or is under the influence of drugs then they will not be permitted on site.
Any alcohol you drink will affect your actions and it takes time for alcohol to work out of your system - 1 unit of alcohol (0.5 pint of ordinary beer or lager, a single whiskey, or a glass of wine) will take 1 hour to leave your body.
A few facts may alert you to the hazards of drink.
- 50% of all drivers killed are over the legal driving limit (very roughly equivalent to 5 units, dependent on your weight, sex, or recent food intake)
- Do not rely on this approximation. If you drink “Don’t Drive” 35% of fatal accidents are related to alcohol.
- Keep your head clear, leave your drinking sessions to sociable occasions, where you cannot cause injury to yourself or others.
intoxicants
Working under the influence of alcohol is strictly prohibited. This means more than just not drinking on the job. Tests have shown that alcohol can still have an effect on your body up to 18 hours after you have stopped drinking. Alcohol use is a legitimate on-the-job safety issue - and not just an attempt to control off-the-clock lifestyles.
Alcohol is a sedative. Drinking any quantity of alcohol impairs a person's judgment, thinking ability, and coordination to some degree. Some people can "handle" alcohol better than others, but it is a fact that any alcohol consumed has some effect. Other factors which influence your body's ability to metabolize alcohol include your weight, medications, and previous medical conditions. You may not feel it right away, but remember, alcohol affects judgment.
After drinking, you are no longer in a position to assess your own capabilities. You don't have to be drunk to have some impairment. If you can't make it through the day without a drink, you could have a problem and should seek professional help.
What should you do about a co-worker who is drinking on the job? Should you ignore the situation or report it? Most people would ignore the situation because they do not want to cause problems on the job or do not want to get involved. People would prefer to avoid conflict at almost any cost. But look at it this way -- the drinker, no matter how nice a co-worker, is not doing you any favors. It's a fact that the drinker is less productive. Who has to pick up the slack? You do. It is a fact that the drinker is more 1ikely to be involved in accidents. Who else is he or she placing at risk? You!
Are you allowing the drinking to continue?
- • You are - if you cover for the drinker's poor productivity
- • You are - if you cover their mistakes.
- • You are - if you make excuses to others for them.
Take control of the situation.
- Don't allow the situation to continue. Stop covering for the drinker.
- Talk to your supervisor. It is your responsibility to talk to your supervisor whenever any performance or safety issues affects your job. A drinking worker could be just as dangerous as a defective saw. You wouldn't hesitate to bring the saw to your supervisor's attention, would you?
- If you are uncomfortable, suggest to your supervisor that there may be a problem. A good supervisor will take the initiative and pick up the issue from there.
Whatever you do, make sure you do something. Watch out for your co-worker as they may need help. If you don't, you may pay dearly for someone else's mistake.
General Point to Remembered:
- Do not get drunk the night before coming to work and expect to work safely the next da – alcohol takes time to work its way out of your system. As a rough guide, allow one hour for every single unit of alcohol you drink ( a unit equates to a glass of spirit / glass of wine or ½ pint of beer)
- Be aware of the signs of drug abuse in others; these could include watery eyes, pin-point or dilated pupils, runny nose, constant sniffing, sores, ulcers, trembling or fatigue. If you see signs or you are concerned, raise the matter with your supervisor. Ignore it and it could be you that is injured or indeed killed.
- If you are prescribed drugs that affect how safely you can work, let your supervisor know.
Presenter should outline the following:
- Alcohol and Drug policy
- Disciplinary Policy
- Awareness programmes
- Point to Note
YOU MUST BE FIT FOR WORK. DRUGS AND ALCOHOL CAN CAUSE FATALITIES
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