Alcohol and Other Drug Related Risks in the Workplace

Alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues in your workplace
AOD problems can impact your workplace even if they are not consumed onsite. Being impaired or hungover at work affects people’s behaviour at work and is a significant risk that needs to be minimised.According to the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, Alcohol and Drugs could be a hazard you should be managing. The Act defines a hazard to include a person’s behaviour where that behaviour has the potential to cause death, injury, or illness to a person (whether or not that behaviour results from physical or mental fatigue, drugs, alcohol, traumatic shock, or another temporary condition that affects a person’s behaviour). Have you got this covered? 
 
The possible benefits of reducing alcohol and drug risks in your company are vast:
  • Complying with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
  • Increased profit
  • Reduced health and safety risks
  • Improved productivity
  • Reduced absenteeism
  • Increased safety of employees
  • Improved physical health
  • Improved mental health

MHERC provides workshops for those interested in:

  • raising awareness about the impacts of AOD issues in the workplace
  • providing education on how to cut down drinking and/or drug use
  • how to have a brief intervention conversation with someone you’re worried about
  • information about numerous free resources to support people minimise their use
Workshops can be tailored to meet your needs:
  • provided onsite or offsite
  • workshop duration
  • small group workshops or larger sessions
Topics we offer include:
  • Minimising Alcohol and Drug Related Risks in the Workplace
    Develop an understanding of the impacts of alcohol and other drug issues in the workplace, how to reduce drinking and drug use, minimise risk, how to have a brief intervention conversation with someone you are worried about, and where to seek help or resources.
  • Minimising Methamphetamine and Synthetic Drug Risks in the Workplace
    Develop an understanding of methamphetamine and synthetic drugs, how to minimise risk of harm in the workplace and where to seek help or resources.

View our AOD flyer

Talk to our team today about how we can assist your organisation.
Contact us on 0800 424 399 or 03 365 5344 or email our Business Development Manager here


Resources

Free, anonymous, confidential information, resources and services:

There is an effective process you can follow to safely reduce this hazard that also complies with other relevant legislation.  

 


Leading the Way Towards a Safer Industry

AOD Construction Group

How all it began
In January 2014, 11 organisations came together to address the AOD issues in the construction industry in Christchurch. This included five construction companies, who have worked together to lead the way towards a safety industry; Hawkins, Naylor-Love, Fletchers, Corbel and Arrow/Southern Response. Ihi Research, funded by ACC assessed whether AOD use was prevalent within the construction industry. With evidence this was an issue that needed to be addressed, the CDHB supported MHERC to develop AOD toolbox talks and workshops to deliver in 2014 and 2015 to reduce the AOD issue in our community. The group continues today, developing ways to further support the Christchurch population gain a safer alcohol and drug culture. The group also works towards expanding services nationally for a safer Aotearoa.

New Zealand Workplace Safety Awards 2016
The AOD Contrustion Team was a finalist in the 2016 Occupational Health category. Our initiative involved working with construction companies to provide brief intervention workshops for construction employees to reduce alcohol and drug use and improve overall wellbeing. This project gained us a Top Three position in the WorkSafe New Zealand Best Initiative to Address a Health Risk in 2016.