 |
|
Dunk, Drugged - and working at the next desk? |
|
 |
Think your company has no staff with drug or alcohol problems? Think
again! Approximately 62% of Australian drug and alcohol abusers are
permanent employees*. Picture your company. For every 100 staff, based on current
Australian statistics, there’s potentially…
- 6 who are harmful hazardous drinkers
- 15 more experience alcohol related problems
- 2-4 are benzodiazepine users
- 5 have taken amphetamines in the last year
- 15-42 are regular marijuana users
- 1-5 use cocaine
- 1-3 have taken ecstasy in the last year
- Up to 3 have used heroin in the last 12 months
There are also a range of commonly used
medications which can affect performance as seriously as illegal drugs
or alcohol, particularly if they are mixed with alcohol. These include
pain relievers, sleeping pills, tranquillisers, cough medicine and
antihistamines.
Besides the absenteeism, injuries, lost
productivity and poor performance associated with drug and alcohol abuse
by employees, the problem can have further implications for an employer
in discrimination claims, lost work time, injury and disruption to other
employees.
So how can you deal with these problems constructively?
In NSW, drug and alcohol use in the
workplace is covered by the NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act
2000**. The Act requires 'employers to ensure the health, safety and
welfare at work, of their employees and visitors' and it also requires
'employees to take reasonable care of the health and safety of others
and to co-operate with employers in their efforts to comply with
occupational health and safety requirements'.
The development (and maintenance) of a drug and alcohol policy should
address three main factors:
- Identify risk factors in the workplace, so as to reduce the
incidence of these factors
- Educate your staff. This involves publicising the drugs and
alcohol policy of your organisation and
providing an information and education program for all your staff,
both as an induction and as part of your ongoing training.
- Counselling and discipline, where the
objective should be to guide an employee
towards safer work practices, away from inappropriate drug or alcohol
use.
Healthworks can assist with the education factor of your Drugs and
Alcohol policy. We have a range of material available on the subject
including:
* Workcover Statistics
**there is a similar clause in the Acts for other states.
Sources: Workcover; Drug and alcohol
abuse in the Workplace - NSW Business Chamber; NSW Occupational Health &
Safety Act (2000), Drugs and Alcohol Booklet - Healthworks
|
|
|
|
Reading Between the Lines |
|
 |
Healthworks currently produce a wide range of booklets on all sorts of topics.
We're currently running a survey and asking you for your suggestions on what we
offer (and what you would like us to offer).
So click here to tell us what you think!
We're also offering the chance to win a
little something for your time.... |
|
Budget to Motivate (on a
Budget)! |
|
|
 |
A recent article in Human Capital Magazine has cited the increasing trend of
US companies in using work-life initiatives in their quest to attract, retain
and motivate valuable employees. And in today's tight economy, it turns out that
such incentives don't have to cost the earth to be a winner. Steve Gross,
Senior Partner and Total Rewards Leader at Mercer, recently said, “Balancing
no- or low-cost Total Rewards components such as work-life
initiatives with pay and benefits is critical for retaining top
performers, attracting new employees and enhancing the company’s
financial performance."
While rewards are a great concept, if
such incentives can be integrated into your OH&S strategy so much the
better. Motivating employees and getting them involved in fun activities
like
Health Expos or
Team Challenges
also increases their health and
wellbeing, and gives the employer the associated benefits of reduced
absenteeism and improved morale, among other benefits.
And such incentives don't have to cost a great deal. A basic
desk drop can
encourage and motivate staff (who doesn't like a little something on their desk
that's not work?) without making a huge dent in the budget. A team challenge
that gets the office abuzz with friendly competition and team spirit will
provide a huge lift in morale and encourage everyone to participate.
Healthworks has a wide range of work-life incentives that suit any
size organisation (and budget).
We can provide:
Contact us today to discover how we can help your organisation to
motivate and retain your valuable employees.
|
|
|
|
National Health Events |
|
 |
What's happening in health and safety for the next few
months?
There's lots of health events throughout 2010.
If we've missed one
you think we should know about, let us know! |
|
June |
|
6-12th |
Bowel Cancer
Awareness Week |
bowelcanceraustralia.org |
Check out their
It's Crunch Time program for workplaces. Healthworks also provides
material on
cancer awareness.
|
|
9th |
Red Apple Day |
bowelcanceraustralia.org |
Australians are
encouraged to help raise funds for bowel cancer research through the
purchase of a $2 apple pin.
|
|
11th |
Go Red for Women
Day |
goredforwomen.com.au |
A Heart Foundation
event, this has a focus on
heart disease in
women.
Women's health in general could also be a
focus in your workplace. |
|
14th |
World Blood Donor
Day |
www.un.org
donateblood.com.au |
Have you considered
donating blood? Find out if you can at your local Red Cross Blood Bank. |
|
14-20th |
Men's Health Week |
menshealthweek.com.au |
Increase awareness
of Men's Health issues. Healthworks has a range of
seminars and
material to assist. |
|
20-26th |
Drug Action Week |
drugactionweek.org.au |
The theme this year
is 'Looking after YOUR Mind!' Drugs in the workplace are a serious issue.
Healthworks can provide
booklets,
posters,
seminars and a
range of products and services to assist in
education. Ask us how! |
|
25th |
Red Nose Day |
rednoseday.com.au |
Major fundraiser
for SIDS and Kids. Research into SIDS and support for bereaved families. |
|
July |
|
1st-31st |
julEYE |
juleye.com.au |
The Eye
Foundation's charity fundraiser for eye health. Vision loss is often
preventable. Healthworks has a booklet on
eye safety. |
|
11-17th |
Diabetes Week |
diabetesnsw.com.au |
Alerting people to
the link between family history and diabetes. You are at higher risk if
family members have diabetes. Check out our booklet on
heart care. |
|
19-25th |
Wee Week |
kidney.org.au |
How's your kidney
health? Drinking plenty of
water?
Eating right? |
|
August |
|
1-7th |
National Healthy
Bones Week |
osteoporosis.org.au |
A joint initiative
between Osteoporosis Australia and Dairy Australia, the vision is Healthy Bones for all Australians for life. Nutrition
and
exercise play a large role. |
|
1-7th |
National Cerebral
Palsy Week |
tccp.com.au |
This year's there
is the aspirations of children with cerebral palsy. You can register your
support at their website. |
|
6th |
Jeans for Genes
Day |
jeansforgenes.org.au |
The major fundraiser for the Children's Medical Research Institute. Focus is on
prevention and treatment for a host of genetic diseases. |
|
15-21st |
National Glaucoma Week |
glaucoma.org.au |
Glaucoma is a major cause of sight loss in Australia, but it is often undiagnosed. Healthworks
has a booklet available which encourages regular checkups and covers all aspects of eye safety.. |
|
22-28th |
Hearing Awareness Week |
hearingawarenessweek.org.au |
Raising
community awareness of hearing impairment and ways to protect your hearing.
Healthworks has
educational material available on hearing
safety. |
|
|
|
|
Have your
say! |
|
Want to see an
article on something else? Got a recipe you want to share? Did we get
something wrong? We want to know! Tell us what you think of your
Healthworks For You.
Talk to us! |
|
|
|
Quote of the
month: |
|
"If not us, who? If not now,
when?"
- John F. Kennedy. |
|
 |
|
A real winter warmer for dinner - and good for you
too! Check out the chickpea, pumpkin and eggplant curry recipe here....
It's cold outside - so reduce the chances of catching one! Help your co-workers out too -
the healthier they are this winter, the less likely you are to catch
whatever they've got! With a little assistance, it'll be easy. Check out
a sample of our
eVision
Winter Survival Seminar here. Make sure you have your sound on, as
it's a two minute bite of excellent information on how to survive the
winter in style.
And for other great ideas on winter health,
let us show you how to make your workplace cold and flu proof this
winter.
WAIT -
THERE'S
MORE!
Take a peek at our
booklet warehouse sale. Booklets from just
$1.00 on a whole range of topics.
Grab the tools to motivate and educate staff now!
|
