FEATURE


BUILDING SAFETY INTO CONSTRUCTION


There’s no doubt that drugs and alcohol can negatively affect our


alertness, spatial awareness and reaction times, and may even


cause permanent physical and psychological harm. The use of these substances in safety-critical industries – such as construction – can have serious health repercussions for those working onsite, ranging from minor slips on uneven ground to debilitating or potentially fatal accidents when working with heavy machinery, with power tools or at height. Perhaps not so obviously, the consumption and after-effects of drugs and alcohol also detrimentally impact a building site’s efficiency, by leading to downtime and absenteeism, and can result in increased insurance premiums and damage to company reputation. This all ultimately contributes to reduced profits and lower employee morale, and limits the success and growth of a business.


Barratt Developments plc is the UK’s leading housebuilder and currently oversees more than 350 active sites. It employs approximately 7,000 people directly, and has a transient workforce of over 18,000 sub-contractors throughout the country, with staff working in a variety of roles both on and off the construction site. Barratt has had a comprehensive drug and alcohol policy in place for many years, and is proud of its culture. In 2016, the business implemented a group-wide routine testing programme to enforce its existing policy and more effectively monitor and address substance misuse in the workplace.


PARTNERING WITH AN EXPERT The Barratt team recognised that implementing a drug


and alcohol testing programme to meet the company’s particular needs, while overcoming the logistical challenges associated with a large national company, would require partnering with a highly knowledgeable and expert test provider. After extensive market research, Barratt chose to partner with Abbott, due to its extensive accreditation, strong industry reputation and in-depth scientific expertise. Abbott provided valuable guidance regarding how to introduce a tailored drug and alcohol screening programme based on Barratt’s existing policy and unique infrastructure, and the companies worked closely together to design a scheme that would satisfy national legislation and ensure the highest level of staff safety.


Abbott provides a complete collected service for Barratt, with onsite collections and breath-testing coordinated by


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Claire Simmonds, Head of Health and Safety and Environment at Barratt Developments Group, explains how its drug and alcohol testing programme, in partnership with Abbott, is ensuring the highest levels of staff safety across its nationwide sites.


a dedicated Programme Manager. Sites and individuals for testing are selected randomly, and both oral fluid collections and breath tests are directly observed onsite by one of Abbott’s highly experienced Collection Officers. Breathalysers provide results on the spot, whereas oral fluid specimens are taken straight to an accredited Abbott laboratory, where they are analysed for a panel of commonly used drugs chosen by Barratt, including cocaine, amphetamines, opiates and cannabis. Following a short turnaround time at the laboratory, results are reported through a secure online portal, ensuring that employee confidentiality is respected.


PRIORITISING EMPLOYEE WELLBEING Any non-negative results are sent to a Medical Review


Officer (MRO) for independent examination, and the MRO is then able to discuss any medications with the individual in confidence. This medical review process protects individuals from wrongful accusations when legitimate medications cause a non-negative result. Barratt actively supports employees that test positive through Employee Assistant Programmes (EAP) and re-testing, ensuring they are provided the help they need to change their lifestyle habits and get back into work as soon as possible. This is beneficial for the worker – who is given a chance to improve their health and retain their job and income – and the company itself, which sees enhanced productivity through reduced staff absences and site accidents, and an overall higher quality of work.


SAFEGUARDING THE FUTURE Working with only a single test provider has also been


a great help to Barratt in simplifying communications and centralising data collection and analysis. The structure of the programme, and the easy-to-interpret data Abbott provides, has helped to streamline assessment of policy compliance, and enables rapid intervention when concerns surrounding substance abuse are raised, as well as providing a clear audit trail and reassuring workers that their privacy is respected at all times.


Barratt and Abbott have demonstrated their pioneering attitude to workplace safety through this successful collaboration, and their proactive approach to monitoring substance misuse will go a long way in supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of a huge segment of the UK’s construction industry for many years to come.


www.toxicology.abbott www.tomorrowshs.com


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