New guidelines have been published on how construction companies should deal with the issue of drugs and alcohol, including the consumption of alcohol at corporate events.
Build UK has produced the workforce policy, which aims to bring a “consistent approach” to the issue of drugs and alcohol in the industry. The idea is for companies, including subcontractors, to adopt the template in its entirety or incorporate elements into their own policy documents.
It comes after the head of the Scottish Association of Plant Owners warned the Construction Management Board in April that the misuse of drugs and alcohol on construction sites was a “ticking time bomb”.
A version of the document was initially only released to Build UK members last year, but an updated version has now been made available across the industry.
The new version includes a section on alcohol consumption in corporate hospitality or official corporate functions. It comes after the scandal surrounding business lobby group the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which included allegations of cocaine use at CBI events and serious allegations of sexual misconduct.
“Employees who are considered company workers, but not on duty, may consume alcohol as part of corporate hospitality or official corporate functions, provided it has been approved,” the document says.
However, he adds: “Employees must be aware of their own limits and not drink excessively.
“Any employee found to be excessively intoxicated and/or acting inappropriately may be asked to leave a role and/or subject to disciplinary action.”
Staff who have been drinking at corporate events should not return to their “normal place of work” or “enter any company premises”, the policy recommends.
On drug testing, the template suggests companies tell staff they may be “randomly selected and tested for drugs or alcohol, regardless of their job role.” Among the drugs staff could test for are amphetamines “including ecstasy,” benzodiazepines, cannabis, cocaine and opiates “including heroin,” the draft says.
The policy also aims, in part, to create a climate that “encourages people who may be abusing drugs or alcohol to come forward and seek help.”
The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) said it approved the document.
“The CLC believes that … it will help raise awareness of the risks and potential health harms associated with drug and alcohol use and provide a framework to enable cases of misuse to be dealt with in a appropriate, fair and consistent manner”. said the group.
