9th January 2014, 06:06 PM
PhaseSI Wrote:Is this a trick question?! Yes it is different. Having drugs or alcohol in your system can impair your ability to work safely, endangering you and others. I can't see why anyone would be overly upset about it or think that it isn't about anything other than safety. Bit odd.
I've seen people on site with alcohol in their system (e.g. had a heavy session the night before) yet still operate perfectly safely, and in some cases more so than someone who has no alcohol in their system but just happens to be an idiot. Sorry, did I say idiot? Probably meant '...happens to have no awareness of the environment around them'. Also, some drugs can stay detectable in the body long after any (possibly) detrimental effects to the users abilities to operate safely have passed. A detectable level of alcohol or drugs in a person's system does not equate to them being a danger. And this highlights how ridiculous H&S on site can get. To be done properly it HAS to be done on a case by case basis. Otherwise it is failing both on a practical level (as in actually helping keep people safe and healthy whilst allowing them to earn their keep) and in the eyes of the law.