Recent amendments to the Building Code 2013 will require contractors on publicly-funded construction sites to have a policy in place for mandatory drug and alcohol testing on 16 October 2015.

Former Employment Minister Eric Abetz has been quoted as saying “Safety is a paramount consideration on construction sites. It is simply an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of employees and the public to have workers affected by drugs or alcohol on construction sites”.

The construction industry is considered to be the first of many industries to implement mandatory testing for drugs and alcohol, with Victorian Police having also recently providing statistics that 156 truck drivers have provided positive tests for drug use on Victorian roads alone. The Australian Drug Foundation has also reported that one in five employees have performed duties while under the influence of alcohol, with a similar proportion taking sick leave due to the use of alcohol. The Australian Drug Foundation has also provided information to suggest that 40% of employees in Australia have attended work while feeling the after effects of alcohol.

It is important to consider that whilst this amendment to the building code has now been implemented, it is incredibly important for employers to consider their responsibilities to their employees when considering implementing mandatory drug and alcohol testing within their workplace. Businesses will need to consider numerous points when implementing such policies and we would recommend that you consult your trusted legal advisors and HR Partners.

If you would like to know more about this, or would like to be introduced to the appropriate persons to implement such policies within your workplace, get in touch.

Information taken from an article written by Chloe Taylor on HC Online Website