Inside this issue...

-    7 ways to spot substance abuse in an employee

Dear reader,

We’re just about to enter the silly season, with the usual round of parties and end-of-year functions. While I am not discouraging you from rewarding your employees for a hard year’s work, you shouldn’t relax the safety measures you have in place. For this reason, I’m going to focus the next few bulletins on ensuring that you have the correct procedures and policies in place to keep substance abuse out!

So, the first thing I’m going to do is help you spot when someone is abusing drink or drugs. This will help you separate the chronic users, from those who may have just had one too many at your company party!

7 ways to spot substance abuse in an employee

1. Your employee often displays the after-effects of over-indulgence e.g. hangover, withdrawal
2. He’s absent frequently, or his productivity drops significantly
3. His co-workers show signs of psychological or stress-related factors due to his substance abuse
4. He seems preoccupied (he could be focused on trying to obtain and use substances at work)
5. He conducts illegal activities at work (like selling illicit drugs to other employees)
6. He steals items or money from you and your employees to use to exchange for cash or drugs
7. He abuses cough syrup preparations and over-the-counter drugs  your first aid kit

Keep your eyes peeled for forthcoming bulletins, when I’ll remind you of your employees’ rights.

On another note, congratulations and best wishes to our managing editor, Nadia Pisanti, who’s getting married this Saturday.

In the name of safety,

Christel Fouché
Editor-In-Chief: Health and Safety Advisor