Cold and flu season is upon us, and no workplace is immune! Though rest is often the best remedy, your employees may attempt to push through with the help of medication. ALL medications can have side effects and some of these can affect a person’s ability to work (e.g. drowsiness or dizziness that can adversely affect the ability to complete tasks) and can even produce a non-negative drug test. So, how can you manage this?
Encourage your employees to ask their pharmacist or GP about their medications, their effects, how they may affect their work and encourage them to stay home when unwell. Make sure persons affected by medications are not undertaking dangerous tasks like operating heavy machinery and ensure you are using lab testing, not DIY kits, to get an accurate picture of employee substance use. Using an independent Medical Review Officer (MRO) may also be a relevant option with declared medication and a positive lab result.
#drugs #health #safety #healthandsafety #workplacehealthandsafety #workplacetesting #mobileclinic #TDDA #australia #perth #teamTDDA
