2.1 Safety Impacts of Alcohol and Other Drugs in Construction

The overarching goal of this project was to enhance the safety of all workers engaged in the Australian infrastructure and building construction workforce by reducing the risk of accidents resulting from impaired performance caused by the use of alcohol and other drugs.

A nationally consistent collaborative approach across the construction workforce – involving employers and employees, unions, clients, con- tractors, and sub-contractors was required to engender a cultural change in the construction workforce – in a similar manner to the on-going initiative in securing a cultural change to drink-driving in our society where peer intervention and support is encouraged.

Project partners include: John Holland, Queensland University of Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, and Curtin University. This project had active participation from leaders in applied research in the evaluation of drugs and alcohol impacts in mining, energy, aviation and rail sectors: Professor Jeremy Davey, Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q, QUT) and Professor Steve Allsop, Director of the National Drug Research Institute (NDRI, Curtin).

The challenge was to build safer workplaces through working together on this key national project. The project was led in a strategic sense by an Industry Steering Committee chaired by a high-profile industry leader, with membership comprising representatives from:

• Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner
• Australian Constructors Association
• Austroads
• Engineers Australia
• Australian Procurement and Construction Council
• Civil Contractors Federation
• Master Builders Australia
• AWU
• CFMEU

Project Outcomes

This project will fundamentally contribute to a greater understanding of the impact of alcohol and other drugs in the Australian infrastructure and building industry and, critically, bring together the employer, employee, and representative groups nationally. Never before has this level of collaboration been possible at a national level. Project outcomes will include:

1. Drugs and alcohol consumption and behaviour audit. A national qualitative and quantitative assessment of the use of drugs and alcohol within the industry. This will build upon similar studies carried out in the Australian energy and mining sectors.
2. Development of an appropriate industry policy. This will adopt a non-punitive and rehabilitative approach developed in consultation with employers and employees across the infrastructure and building sectors, with the aim it be applied nationally for adoption at the construction workplace.
3. Development of a cultural change management program. Together with the Office of the Federal Safety Commissioner, lead industry associations and key stakeholder groups, this project will initiate an industry-wide nationally consistent collaborative approach to reducing the risk of impaired performance on construction sites and increasing workers’ commitment to drugs and alcohol safety.

Safe Construction Website

The aim of the website is to introduce the participant to the options to prevent and reduce alcohol and other drug related risks and problems in the workplace. It is aimed at managers, supervisors and health and safety staff.

SAFECONSTRUCTION.ORG.AU