Interface

36 Issue 3 2020 A s construction is already a high-risk industry, the dangers associated with drug use carry far more potentially serious consequences than may be the case for other sectors. The slightest lapse in attention or focus can cause serious incidents, especially where heavy machinery and vehicles are being used or when working at height. Coupled with this, the e ects of drug use within construction can lower the quality of work and drive up costs because of absenteeism, health issues and the need to redress poor standards of workmanship. BusinessGuard, HAE EHA’s HR support service, recently reported an incident within the construction where, following an accident onsite, the employee responsible failed a subsequent drugs test. The individual was immediately ‘red carded’ o site, barring him from any future work on that site and he was taken through the disciplinary procedures of the contracted company. The end results were that the individual concerned was dismissed and the reputation of the building contractor was severely damaged in the eyes of the client. Fortunately, the contractor and client had a long-standing working relationship and the contractor was allowed to complete the job, however this was only the case because of the comprehensive drug-related policies that the contractor already had in place prior to the incident. Had this not been the case, the contract and future relationship would have been lost. HIGH RATES AND HOW TO HANDLE The construction industry has one of the highest rates of drug abuse among all UK sectors, standing just behind the food preparation sector in second place. But why might construction workers be more inclined towards illicit drug use, and what can be done to mitigate the wider in uencing factors? Depression is closely linked with substance abuse and, with the rates of mental illness so high within the industry, it stands to reason that many may be taking drugs as a coping mechanism to numb the e ects of depression or stress. Construction remains a predominately male profession. Add to this the fact that the biggest killer of UK men under the age of 45 is suicide, and it follows that mental health is highly likely to be a key contributory factor to the problem. The pressures faced by construction workers can include long hours, heavy manual labour, working away from family and friends for long periods of time or perhaps the uncertainty of not knowing when and where their next job may be. Whilst the risks involved in drug abuse within construction are indeed grave, rather than taking a heavy-handed approach and simply dismissing those involved, a longer-term, more holistic view could involve exploring the reasons why individuals are taking drugs and referring them on to specialised professional help. The challenge of drug abuse within the construction industry must be tackled at its root if it is to be prevented in the future, and there are many excellent resources available for supporting employees struggling with mental health and/or substance misuse. An in-house option which can help support sta is to designate a suitably trained employee as a mental health ‘ rst-aider’. These are increasingly becoming a feature of many a workplace and are likely to become mandatory in the not too distant future. Current legislation states that employers must gain consent if they want to carry out drugs testing within the workplace. This is usually obtained by incorporating it into a comprehensive health and safety policy as part of the employment contract, details of which should be stated in the contract or sta handbook. Employers are only permitted to test those employees who need to be tested because of the nature of their jobs - and testing must be random. Employees cannot TACKLING DRUG ABUSE ON CONSTRUCTION SITES According to a report conducted by the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) in 2016, more than a third of UK construction workers have witnessed a colleague under the influence of drugs or alcohol on site.