Browsing: Drugs and alcohol | Page 4

UK researchers have emphasised the need for protective wellbeing strategies for remote workers, after finding working from home increases the likelihood of engaging in unhealthy alcohol and tobacco consumption, and physical health and mental wellbeing deteriorating, particularity in younger people.

In a study providing importing lessons for all workplaces with a drinking culture or emotionally demanding duties, researchers have found that nearly 50 per cent of firefighters are binge or heavy drinkers, highlighting an urgent need to educate them on the link between drinking and other health and safety issues.

A workplace health and safety committee member sacked for smoking cannabis the night before a shift has been denied permission to further pursue his unfair dismissal claim, with a Fair Work Commission full bench rejecting his argument around not been impaired while at work.

Weak WHS standards and poor complaint processes for victims of bullying and harassment have emerged, again, as major concerns in parliamentary workplaces. The latest review into the issue, this time in Tasmania, has made recommendations around HR functions that should be noted by all organisations.

A tribunal has upheld a decision to deny compensation to an Australian Federal Police officer who sustained a psychological injury from being disciplined for drinking a beer at an overseas workplace, finding his position required a particularly high standard of behaviour.

The work and lifestyle behaviours of Australia's fly-in-fly-out workers have been linked to high psychological distress levels and risky health behaviours, a study has found, with the researchers suggesting mental health interventions and awareness campaigns as solutions to poor worker health.

The workplace health and safety standards required of companies tendering for Commonwealth-funded building work could be extended to other procurement areas, under the Federal Government's plan to transfer many of the Australian Building and Construction Commission's powers to WHS regulators.

A tribunal has set aside the decision to reject a depression claim from a man who was s-xually assaulted at work as a teenager, after finding the medical evidence relied on to block the claim failed to consider all the trauma the Navy veteran had experienced.

A Canadian study has shown that cannabis legalisation has had little impact on "workplace use" patterns, but found a significant proportion of workers feel there is minimal risk to using cannabis before safety-sensitive work, pointing to a need for better education on the issue.

A worker sacked for smoking cannabis the night before his shift has lost his bid for an unfair dismissal remedy, with a commission rejecting his claim that the seriousness of his breach was mitigated by pandemic-induced stress and the fact he performed a clerical role.