Transcript drugs

ALCOHOL, DRUGS and
PREVENTION in the
WORKPLACE
Conference Pompidou Group / Council of Europe
Strasbourg, 14 May 2012
Jean-Michel MILLER
Research Manager
Eurofound / Dublin
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European Social Charter
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The European Social Charter guarantees the fundamental
freedoms and rights of every day, such as:
• “policy for preventing illness with, in particular the
guarantee of a healthy environment;”
• “elimination of occupational hazards so as to ensure
that health and safety at work is regulated by law and
guaranteed in practice;”
“promotion of joint consultation, collective bargaining,
conciliation and voluntary arbitration;”
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My presentation
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Eurofound Comparative Analytical Report / Research
Question.
Data sources.
Key findings / extent of the problem.
Reasons / consequences.
Approaches.
Testing.
Prevention.
Final considerations.
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Eurofound work
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Alcohol and drugs a reality at the workplace.
• Identify main sources of information.
• What is the real extent of the phenomenon?
• How to deal with it:
• - types of legislation / agreements.
• - preventive action programmes put in place.
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Definition.
Methodology: Comparative Analytical Report.
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Information sources
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European level.
EMCDDA; Pompidou Group.
Surveys:
- General reports.
- Workplace surveys.
- Alcohol / drugs at the workplace related questions in
surveys.
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Key findings
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Between 5 and 20% of workers addicted to alcohol or at
risk of being so.
Information on drugs at work is scarcer; prevalence levels
appear lower.
Alcohol and drug consumption amongst workers differs by
economic sectors (Construction, HORECA, transport
appear particularly hit by this problem).
The higher the levels of education, the less likely are people
in the workforce to drink.
Canabis seems particularly consumed among young
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workers; cocaine higher prevalence among highly qualified.
Extent of the problem
ES: alcohol and drugs are highly consumed among Horeca
and Construction workers ; 18.8% and 18.1% of the
workers in the HORECA and construction sectors, report
having consumed cannabis over the last 12 months.
PT: 25% of the construction workers declared to drink
alcohol during the working time in 2007.
FR: 10% of French workers report that the consumption of
alcohol at work is part of the organisational culture. This
perception is higher in agriculture and transport where 23%
of workers report the link between alcohol and organisational
culture.
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Reasons (1)
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Work-related reasons:
- Tough physical / uncomfortable working conditions.
- low level of satisfaction at work.
- irregular working time.
- low social support from colleagues and superiors at
work.
- mobbing and stress at work.
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Findings of the
European Working Conditions Survey (2010)
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The proportion of workers performing monotonous tasks has
increased to 45%. Work has not become intellectually more
challenging.
One in three workers carry heavy loads at least a quarter of
their working time. The extent to which workers are exposed
to physical hazards remains largely unchanged.
People with a good balance between work and non-working
life are healthier than those whose work demands do not fit
well with their family and social commitments. They are
nearly twice as likely to report good health. (In total 82% of
European workers are satisfied with their work-life balance.)
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Findings of the
European Working Conditions Survey (2010)
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A quarter of workers in Europe do not think they will be
able to do the current job at the age of 60. Another 16%
would not want to.
The proportion of workers with a temporary contract has
risen. 2010: 14% in the EU 27.
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Reasons (2)
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Social/personal reasons:
- “High” social tolerance towards alcohol / drug
consumption.
- Cultural patterns more “prone” to alcohol/drug
consumptions.
- “Easy” accessibility to these substances.
- Existence of an alcohol family background.
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Consequences (1)
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Negative consequences for the workers themselves and
the companies they work for.
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Higher sick leave / short-term absenteeism, reduced
performance, lower productivity, labour conflicts and bad
working environment, higher number of work accidents,
loss of reputation, damages on equipment / products, low
quality services. …
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Consequences (2)
ES: 15-25% of total labour accidents due to problems
related alcohol.
• UK: the HSE estimates that up to 14 million working
days are lost each year due to alcohol-related
problems in the workplace, costing British industry
an estimated of 2.67 billion EURO each year.
• NO: costs of reduced quality / efficiency estimated at
1,12 billion Euro / year.
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Approaches
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Majority of European countries have some kind of
general legislation or agreements intended to prohibit,
regulate or prevent the consumption of alcohol and drugs
at the workplace.
Disciplinary: limitations to alcohol or drugs use at the
workplace are foreseen in the Labour Codes.
Preventive: regulations of alcohol and drug use are
included in H/S at work laws, so that the responsibility of
preventing alcohol and drug consumption at the
workplace lies with the employer.
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Difficult to categorise countries.
Regulation / agreements
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In a few countries general preventive laws establish
regulations of alcohol / drug use at the workplace.
In a reduced number of countries collective agreements
between the social partners prevail for regulating alcohol
/ drugs consumption at work.
Special regulations for alcohol / drug consumption
regarding sensitive sectors and occupations (transport,
construction, health, education …) have been elaborated.
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Testing
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Testing: control and avert alcohol and drug use at the
workplace.
Important differences in national legislations on testing
practices (rights and obligations of workers, conditions
under which the tests can take place, type of tests,
monitoring, communication / access to the results,
consequences of positive tests …).
Topic of great controversy in the EU countries:
- Health / Safety considerations.
- Rights to privacy.
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Prevention
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Many actors.
Examples:
- Information campaigns.
- Education / training.
- Counseling services.
- Research.
Sensibilisation campaigns (workers / trade union
negotiators).
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Final considerations
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Alcohol / drugs at the workplace = reality.
Good, accurate up to-date data necessary.
Observatories.
Development of indicators: improve comparability / data on
alcohol and drugs + health, injuries, harm.
Research: Work place reality.
Latest available technology (knowledge / affordability).
Further work.
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ALCOHOL, DRUGS and PREVENTION in the
WORKPLACE
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Conference Pompidou Group / Council of Europe
Strasbourg, 14 – 15 May 2012
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Many thanks for your attention!
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[email protected]
www.eurofound.europa.eu
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