Why drugs and alcohol safety matters
Construction and carpentry work involve power tools, machinery, vehicles, working at height, and manual handling.
Drugs and alcohol can affect:
Concentration
Judgement
Coordination
Reaction times
Decision-making
Even small amounts can increase the risk of accidents, injuries, and mistakes.
What you do outside of work can affect your safety at work the next day.
Your responsibilities on site
It comes down to three things:
Be fit for work – Stay alert – Protect yourself and others
1. Understand the risks
Drugs and alcohol can affect people in different ways.
This includes:
Alcohol consumed the night before
Illegal drugs
Misuse of prescription medication
Some over-the-counter medicines that cause drowsiness
Common warning signs include:
Slower reactions
Poor concentration
Loss of balance
Poor judgement
Unusual behaviour or mood changes
If you are not fully alert, you may not be safe to work.
2. Safety-critical tasks require full concentration
Many tasks carried out on site require clear thinking and quick reactions.
Examples include:
Using power tools and machinery
Driving company vehicles
Operating lifting equipment
Working at height
Handling heavy materials
Working around other trades
A moment of poor judgement can result in serious injury to yourself or someone else.
3. Know when to speak up
If medication may affect your ability to work safely:
Tell your supervisor before starting work
Follow any medical advice provided
Never assume you are fit to carry out high-risk tasks
You will not be criticised for raising a genuine safety concern.
Speaking up helps prevent accidents.
4. Look out for your colleagues
Safety is everyone's responsibility.
If you believe a colleague may be impaired:
Do not ignore it
Report your concerns to a supervisor
Do not confront the individual aggressively
Focus on safety, not blame
It is better to prevent an accident than deal with the consequences afterwards.
5. Zero tolerance for working under the influence
Nobody should:
Report to work under the influence of alcohol
Use illegal drugs at work
Consume alcohol during working hours
Carry out safety-critical work while impaired
These rules protect everyone on site.
Why this matters to you
Reduces the risk of serious accidents
Protects your colleagues and members of the public
Helps maintain a safe working environment
Protects your career and reputation
Ensures everyone goes home safely at the end of the day
Contact information for further info:
Callum Reid - callum@injoinery.com