OHSMS 1043-3
Work Place Alcohol & other Drugs Testing
1. Scope
This guideline covers the requirements associated with the testing of employees, contractors and
visitors for the presence of alcohol and/or other drugs which could hinder their ability to maintain
a safe workplace environment.
2. Objective
To ensure that all Fenner Dunlop personnel are aware of the workplace alcohol and/or other
drugs testing requirements and that disciplinary action will be taken in the event of a breach to the
organisations alcohol and/or other drug policy.
3. Definition
BAC – Breath Alcohol Concentration (%BAC)
4. Issues to be addressed
The major issues addressed in this guideline are as follows:
4.1 Self testing
Self test equipment to indicate the level of alcohol present in a person will be available for an
individual to use if he / she believe that their ability to work safely has been hindered.
The results of a self initiated test will not be recorded in the individuals personnel file.
An individual who considers themselves unfit for work, including as a result of self initiated
testing, must not attend or return to their worksite until they return a zero level for alcohol or
drugs.
The individual must advise the line manager of the absence in accordance with current
procedure. (Refer to HR941 Absenteeism)
An individual who has an unacceptable level of absenteeism, e.g. multiple short notice events,
particularly following on from time off, without substantive reasons may be disciplined by their
Line manager and / or have action taken to resolve the work attendance issue. (Refer to HR961
Disciplinary and Dismissal Procedure)
Procedure No: OHSMS 1043/3 Work Place Alcohol & Drugs Testing
Authorised by: Divisional Manager - SEaQ
(Uncontrolled document – currency of revision assured for day of printing only) Printed 29-Jul-17
Page 1 of 5
Effective date 08/03/11
Revision No: 2
OHSMS 1043-3
Work Place Alcohol & other Drugs Testing
4.2 Workplace testing
To allow on-going protection for staff, customers and the public individuals will be required to
undergo and participate in alcohol and/or other drugs testing as apart of:
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Pre employment screening (refer to HR900 Recruitment Policy and Procedures)
Contractor pre attendance inductions
Random work place testing programs
Post accident investigations (including but not limited to)
o An injury requiring medical treatment
o Damage to plant, equipment, property, buildings or structure
o Spills of chemicals
o Incidents involving mobile equipment and / or company motor vehicles
Any acts of violence on company premises or managed sites
Observable behaviour that shows consistence with the use of alcohol and / or drugs
Information or circumstance which indicates an individual may be under the presence of
alcohol and / or drugs above the prescribed levels described in the Procedure
Client / customer site testing frequency requirements or regime, which may include urine
testing to AS4308.
Return to work testing – if an employee tests positive to drugs or alcohol a negative result
is required prior to the employee commencing work.
Daily pre-start breath alcohol testing (at the Facility / Branch Managers discretion)
Prior to any test for drugs and / or alcohol the individual must declare any medication that may
affect the test.
4.3 Types of test equipment
Testing for the presence of alcohol and / or other drugs will be performed under recognised
testing practices or Australian Standard.
Collectors are required to have received approved training in alcohol and drugs testing from an
accredited service provider (Registered Training Organisation)
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Testing for the presence of alcohol will be conducted using a Breathalyser which
conforms to AS3547 to determine the %BAC of the individual following the device
manufacturer’s instructions.
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Testing for the presence of drugs will be conducted using an oral fluid swab to determine
if drugs are present in the individual. Oral Fluid a specimen collection and testing
procedures shall be in accordance with AS4760:2006.
Client / Customers alcohol and/or drug testing procedures may be different from those of Fenner
Dunlop Australia and as such will take precedence under the contract of the service work
performed.
Procedure No: OHSMS 1043/3 Work Place Alcohol & Drugs Testing
Authorised by: Divisional Manager - SEaQ
(Uncontrolled document – currency of revision assured for day of printing only) Printed 29-Jul-17
Page 2 of 5
Effective date 08/03/11
Revision No: 2
OHSMS 1043-3
Work Place Alcohol & other Drugs Testing
4.4 Results of tests
The results of all alcohol and/or drug tests will be treated in confidence.
Those tested which return a negative result:
 Will be able to return to work for the completion of their shift
 Results will not be reported to the Human Resources Department.
Those tested which return a positive alcohol result:
 Will require a second test, which shall be carried out 20 minutes of the first test. No
eating, drinking or smoking allowed during this period. Full supervision during this period
by the Branch / Department Manager will occur
 A negative result on the retest will be accepted as conclusive.
 If no second test is given or outside the 20 minute time frame then the original result will
be accepted as conclusive.
 Results will be reported to the Human Resources Department on document OHSMS
F1043/1/1 Breath Alcohol Confirmation Testing Form.
4.5.1 Positive alcohol test
An individual will be deemed to have a positive test if:
 The results of the %BAC are greater then 0.00% (measuring to 2 decimal places only
regardless of the accuracy of the machine).
If an employee has a positive result to alcohol they must:
 Cease work immediately
 Provide a negative result to a return to work alcohol test prior to the commencement of
the next shift
4.5.2 Positive drug test
(to an onsite oral fluid/saliva drug test being performed)
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If the onsite saliva device produces a non negative or a sample that requires further
investigation result and is consistent with declared medication, no immediate action will
be taken. At the manager’s discretion, the employee may continue normal duties until the
confirmation results from the laboratory is obtained (24 – 48 hours typically). This will be
determined on an individual basis in consultation with the Manager and medical advice.
If the onsite saliva device produces a non negative or a sample that requires further
investigation result for an illicit drug, the employee will be stood down from work until
such time as the laboratory confirmation is obtained.
Transportation will be arranged.
If laboratory results indicate that the employee has not contravened the Policy and the
result is negative the employee will be reinstated to work and will be reimbursed full back
pay for normal work shifts and other normal entitlements which the employee would
otherwise have received in the course of his or her normal duties.
If laboratory result confirms that the employee has contravened the Policy and the result
is confirmed positive to an illicit drug, then the employee will be subject to the current
Fenner Dunlop disciplinary procedure (Refer to HR961 Disciplinary and Dismissal
procedure)
A negative return to work test must be obtained prior to commencing work.
Procedure No: OHSMS 1043/3 Work Place Alcohol & Drugs Testing
Authorised by: Divisional Manager - SEaQ
(Uncontrolled document – currency of revision assured for day of printing only) Printed 29-Jul-17
Page 3 of 5
Effective date 08/03/11
Revision No: 2
OHSMS 1043-3
Work Place Alcohol & other Drugs Testing
Fenner Dunlop shall consider the following actions by employees to be serious misconduct
and as such will follow the current disciplinary process (refer to HR961 Disciplinary and
Dismissal procedure)
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The presence of agents that may have been taken to attempt to mask the presence of
drugs sought for detection.
The sample provided is a substitute
They have tampered with the test equipments
They fail to submit a sample.
They refuse alcohol and/or other drug test
4.6 Breaching the Alcohol and other Drugs Policy
The consequence of breaching the alcohol and drugs policy will result in the following action
being taken.
Employees
 Will be stood down and arrangements made for them to be transported to a safe location
e.g. domestic residence or temporary accommodation.
 The disciplinary action taken will be determined by the seriousness of the breach and
may range from a verbal warning, suspension of duties while on Fenner Dunlop and
clients sites, or dismissal.
Should such disciplinary action be required, it will be subject to the current Fenner
Dunlop disciplinary procedure (Refer to HR961 Disciplinary and Dismissal Procedure)
Contractors
 Be required to leave the site immediately and arrangement will be made with their
principle, or directly, for them to be transported to a mutually agreed safe location e.g.
domestic residence or temporary accommodation.
 Have a written notice issued to their employer advising of the individual breach of Fenner
Dunlop Policy.
 Be prohibited from entering or carrying out work on any Fenner Dunlop premises or
managed site without providing negative results prior to the commencement of all work.
Visitors
 Will be required, at the line manager’s discretion, to leave the site immediately with
arrangements being made with their principle, or directly, for them to be transported to a
safe location e.g. domestic residence or temporary accommodation.
5. Responsibilities of Personnel
The following personnel should assume the primary responsibility for the activities covered by this
guideline:
 All Managers
 Human Resources Manager
 All employees
 Contractors
 Visitors
Procedure No: OHSMS 1043/3 Work Place Alcohol & Drugs Testing
Authorised by: Divisional Manager - SEaQ
(Uncontrolled document – currency of revision assured for day of printing only) Printed 29-Jul-17
Page 4 of 5
Effective date 08/03/11
Revision No: 2
OHSMS 1043-3
Work Place Alcohol & other Drugs Testing
6. Supporting Documents
Work Instructions
AS4760-2006 Procedures for specimen collection and detection and quantitation of drugs in orals
fluids.
Forms
OHSMS F1043/3/1 Breath Alcohol Confirmation Testing Form
7. Related Documents
OHSMS 1043-A Alcohol and other Drugs Policy
OHSMS 1008 Accident / Incident procedure
HR900 Recruitment Policy
HR941 Absenteeism
HR961 Disciplinary and Dismissal Procedure
Procedure No: OHSMS 1043/3 Work Place Alcohol & Drugs Testing
Authorised by: Divisional Manager - SEaQ
(Uncontrolled document – currency of revision assured for day of printing only) Printed 29-Jul-17
Page 5 of 5
Effective date 08/03/11
Revision No: 2