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Alcohol & Drugs Policy

• Air Freight Handling Services is committed to a safe, healthy, and productive workplace for all employees. Air Freight Handling Services recognises that alcohol, drug, or other substance abuse by employees will impair their ability to perform properly and will have serious adverse affects on the safety, efficiency and productivity of other employees and the organisation as a whole.• The misuse of legitimate drugs, or the use, possession, distribution or sale of

illicit or non-prescribed controlled drugs on organisation business or premises, is strictly prohibited and will result in appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal. Possession, use, distribution or sale of alcoholic beverages on organisation premises is not allowed.

Alcohol & Drugs Policy

• Effects of alcohol on the body• Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. The most obvious and immediate effects

of alcohol are on the brain, beginning with feelings of relaxation, wellbeing and loss of inhibitions. However, as the intake of alcohol increases, these effects are counterbalanced by less pleasant effects, such as drowsiness, loss of balance, nausea and vomiting. Higher alcohol intakes can lead to life-threatening events such as unconsciousness and, eventually, inhibition of normal breathing. This may be fatal, particularly as the person may vomit and can suffocate if the vomit is inhaled.

• Consumption of alcohol has both immediate and cumulative effects. Alcohol-related harm in individuals arises not only from the quantity of alcohol consumed but also from a complex interaction between their sex, body size and composition, age, experience of drinking, genetics, nutrition, individual metabolism, and social factors.

Effects of Alcohol

• Small Amounts of Alcohol may make you: - relaxed - less inhibited• Large amounts of alcohol can result in: - clumsiness - slow reflexes - eyes not focusing clearly - slurred speech - difficulty in making decisions

Effects of Alcohol

• Drinking heavily over a short period of time can result in:

- nausea - vomiting and dizziness - accidents - alcohol poisoning

Effects of Alcohol

• Cumulative effects• Alcohol consumption has been associated with a range of diseases that may cause death and

adverse effects that reduce quality of life. Among these are:• Cardiovascular disease — high blood pressure, arrhythmias, shortness of breath, some types of

cardiac failure, haemorrhagic stroke and other circulatory problems.• Cancers — alcohol is carcinogenic to humans, being causally related to cancers of the oral cavity,

pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colorectum and female breast.• Diabetes — the relationship between alcohol consumption, insulin sensitivity, and type 2 diabetes

mellitus is not clear. However, alcohol affects the management of diabetes in a number of ways.• Nutrition-related conditions — alcohol consumption is linked to malnutrition, Wernicke-Korsakoff

syndrome, folate deficiency, Vitamin A depletion and pellagra.• Overweight and obesity — alcohol adds kilojoules to the normal diet and may increase energy

intake and fat storage further by increasing appetite and displacing fat and carbohydrate oxidation.

Effects of Alcohol

• Risks to unborn babies — alcohol enters the bloodstream of the fetus when the mother drinks and can cause a range of birth defects and growth and developmental problems, comprising Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), which may persist into adulthood. Alcohol also enters the breast milk.

• Liver diseases — alcohol consumption is the most common cause of cirrhosis of the liver, and drinking alcohol over many years can cause cirrhosis in the absence of other causes.

• Mental health conditions — there is growing evidence that alcohol increases the risk of highly prevalent mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety in some people, and may affect the efficacy of antidepressant medication.

• Tolerance — the immediate effects of alcohol on the brain are often less apparent in people who drink regularly, as they acquire a degree of tolerance. Despite this tolerance, the long-term effects remain damaging, particularly as the drinkers who have greater tolerance for alcohol are likely to be those who experience higher blood alcohol levels more frequently.

• Dependence — alcohol is an addictive drug and regular use can result in alcohol dependence.• Long-term cognitive impairment — drinkers who consume alcohol at harmful levels exhibit negative structural and

metabolic brain changes, and have an increased risk of dementia.• Self-harm — harmful drinking is a major risk factor for suicide and suicidal behaviour in both males and females

across the lifespan.

Effects of Alcohol

• The effects of alcohol consumption go beyond diseases, accidents and injuries to a range of adverse social consequences, both for the drinker and for others in the community. These consequences include harm to family members (including children) and to friends and workmates, as well as to bystanders and strangers.• It has been estimated that alcohol cost the Australian community about $15.3

billion in 2004–05, when factors such as crime and violence, treatment costs, loss of productivity and premature death were taken into account. These figures are recognised to be conservative.*

Effects of Alcohol

• The types of drugs available for use has increased significantly in recent years, unfortunately so has the risk of harm to the user and those closest to them.• Drugs such as Marijuana, Cocaine, Heroin, Ecstasy, Ice, Speed and GHB all have

differing side effects and those using them can be unpredictable in their behaviours.• All illicit drugs are prohibited from use at any AFHS workplace.

Drugs

Prescription Drugs

• The normal use of over-the-counter medications and the legal use of prescription drugs are generally not prohibited by this Procedure provided they were lawfully obtained and are not consumed at a frequency or quantity greater than the dosage prescribed or otherwise recommended on the medication's label.

• The misuse or excessive use (i.e. use which exceeds the recommended dosage information) of over-the-counter medication or prescription drugs is prohibited.

• To adequately ensure the provision of a workplace that is free of hazards, including those that may be caused by drugs and alcohol, the Company may conduct searches of Employees and Contractors, vehicles, personal property or any other items on Company Sites for Unlawful or Unauthorized Substances or other hazards. In addition the Company will conduct drug and alcohol testing, consistent with this Procedure.

Testing

• CASA can conduct random drug and alcohol testing on Safety Sensitive Aviation Activities (SSAA). This random testing will be driven by reasonable risk assessment so as to maximise the effectiveness of any testing undertaken.• The random testing regime to be undertaken by CASA serves an addition audit

function to monitor the overall outcomes of the program.• CASA random testing will take place by:• oral fluid testing for testable drugs; and/or• breath analysis for alcohol.• All of the CASA testing is undertaken by Approved Testers employed by CASA. All

testers will be issued an identity card by CASA that they must display and show to any donor who so requests.

CASA Testing

Summary• Drugs and alcohol can have long lasting effects

on the body.

• These effects are often still present during work hours, placing both the user and his or her co-workers at risk.

• Prescription drugs can also have an adverse effect.

• Combining different types of drugs and alcohol can also have an adverse effect.

• The only sure fire way to get alcohol out of your system is to allow sufficient time between consumption and work.

Personnel must abide by the company Drug and Alcohol Policy at all times

(please refer handout).

• Being unfit at work because of use of drugs or alcohol is strictly prohibited and is grounds for dismissal. While this policy refers specifically to alcohol and drugs, it is intended to apply to all forms of substance abuse.

• Contractors and common carriers are also covered by this policy. Those who violate the policy will be removed from organisation premises and may be denied future entry.

Summary