Following Dorset Police’s summer drink and drug driving campaign, Purple HR urge employers to remember their accountability over staff this summer.
Whilst Dorset Police have cracked down on drink and drug driving over the last month, Purple HR have been speaking with local employers to remind them of their own responsibility when it comes to their employees drink and drug habits.
Employers have a general duty, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, to guarantee the health, safety, and welfare of their employees as far as is reasonably practicable. As such, employers can be prosecuted if they knowingly allow an employee under the influence of excess alcohol to continue working and this places the employee or others at risk. Purple HR advise that employers be particularly vigilant the ‘morning after’ as they are accountable for any employee driving on behalf of the company who is found over the limit. Similarly, if any knowingly intoxicated staff operate machinery or perform manual labour and cause an accident, employers can be held responsible.
The Bournemouth-based HR business suggests that while alcohol screening is an option, this is often a sensitive issue. Instead they recommend that companies have clear policies in place regarding alcohol and work with staff to ensure they all recognise the consequences of working under the influence and comply with these policies.
Director of Purple HR, Mandy Fitzmaurice, said:
“Most of us enjoy a drink and alcohol is used by many people to unwind or have fun. However, the key is to drink in moderation and realise the many implications that over indulgence can cause. Employers have a responsibility to ensure that their employees are fit for work and will not cause themselves or any others harm.”
For further advice, Purple HR are available to help employers manage their workforce all through the year with a fully outsourced HR department.
For more information about Purple HR, visit: www.purplehr.co.uk.
