The US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is currently funding a project that is working on an early warning system that will monitor illicit drug use through a social media tool.
It appears that drugs played a role in the crash of a train in New Zealand a couple of months ago. According to an article in Stuff.co.nz, the man driving the train had smoked cannabis prior to the crash.
In a move meant to improve workplace safety in NSW, 12 new codes were implemented on July 18 as part of the national harmonised laws on work. health, and safety that the NSW adopted in 2012.
The 12 new Codes of Practice are meant to replace a number of existing codes that were being implemented under past occupational health and safety legislation. According to Peter Dunphy, Acting General Manager of WorkCover’s Work Health and Safety Division, the new codes are all about creating much safer workplaces in NSW. (more…)
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A study conducted by American researchers has found a link between alcohol abuse and a decreased ‘work trajectory’.
According to an article in the University Herald, the study, which was published in the July issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, discovered that employees working with alcohol use disorders are more likely to have a work trajectory that is either flat or on a downward course. (more…)
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A drug and alcohol survey conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare last year reveals that smoking and drinking rates in Australia have declined, but illicit drug use in the country has gone up. (more…)
A joint campaign conducted by Australian and New Zealand police, road, transport, and safety agencies to apprehend erring drivers in the heavy vehicle industry has netted hundreds of truck drivers — many of them found to be impaired or were tested positive for drug driving. (more…)
A new UK study has found that doctors only need to ask two questions to accurately diagnose alcohol abuse in an individual, according to a report by News.com.au. (more…)
With drug abuse in the workplace becoming a growing concern among employers, it does not come as a surprise that workplace drug testing is becoming increasingly common. After all, drug abuse can have an adverse impact on the workplace. And it is within the rights of employers to take any action they deem necessary to protect, not only the health and safety of workers, but the organisation as a whole, as well. If you’re an employer and you’re thinking about conducting work place drug testing, know that there are a number of things you need to take into consideration. Here are some of them. (more…)