Page 21 - Gi flipbook June/July 2018

prohibit the misuse of both illegal EVIDENTIAL BREATH TESTS collected is certified accurate if required
drugs and prescription medication, For high-risk industries, it is for future use as legal evidence.
particularly in the case of offshore recommended that drugs and alcohol In addition to breathalyzers, alcohol
operations. Therefore, operators do testing be carried out on a regular basis. interlocks are also extremely versatile
have a duty of care to maintain a For alcohol testing, a range of and can be utilised on equipment or
safe working environment through professional police-grade breathalyzers machinery preventing them from
testing their workforces, not only are available for screening workers that starting until a negative breath test
under industry rules and regulations, provide quick, accurate and has been given. Another form of
but also under the provisions of the instantaneous results. In the event an interlock device, which requires no
Health and Safety at Work Act. If employee returns a positive result from mouthpiece, can also be fitted to
methods for detecting misuse are a screening test, the company should unsupervised turnstiles, electric gates,
not implemented and an accident re-test the employee with a UK Home and other barrier systems – working
occurs, it is employers who could Office or EN approved breathalyzer to 24/7 to prevent anyone impaired by
face hefty fines or even prosecution. guarantee that any information alcohol from entering site.

ILLEGAL DRUGS AND
While drugs and alcohol testing are PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION
It’s no surprise that illegal substances
legislated in certain sectors such as such as cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy,
aviation, rail and shipping, there is no and ketamine are all off limits. But
it’s the other ‘everyday’ drugs which
legal obligation for the gas industry to many think of as innocuous that
adopt any specific testing policies could be a ticking time-bomb for
those not in the know.

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