Can anyone advise me where to look for information regarding protocol and procedures in dealing with alcohol testing in the workplace? IBEC were unable to shed any light.
Thanks. After contacting Health Safety Authority and National Employment Rights Association, we were given the same website. However, in the mean time IBEC contacted us to let us know that there is an act for dealing with the issue. The act is there for 3years but the relevant government minister has stated that the act isn't enforceable yet as it hasn't been agreed by all parties. Therefore we should have our own policy included in the contracts.
Covered in the Safety Heath and Welfare at Work Act 2005 - link is below. Do a serach for 'intoxicants' and this will bring you to drug/alcohol testing and roles and responsibilities - all sounds nice on paper but not sure how it would transpire in reality - huge HR implications I suspect.
The section of the 2005 act that sets out the testing of employees for intoxicants has yet to be enacted. It probably never will be. All alcohol and drug testing in the work place tends to be the subject of local agreements. There can be some dissent from unions (of course!) but in critical industries it makes sense. I have come across it in the oil refining business in Ireland where random drug tests were carried out. It would be important to make sure it is done by a medical doctor and an accredited testing facility is used. Just think of the claim if you wrongly accussed an employee of testing positive for drugs. In respect of alcohol you would need to set a maximum allowable blood / urine limit as you can't really have a zero limit as most persons would be over zero after a night out. Perhaps the current driving limit would make a good reference point.