New drug and alcohol policy on construction sites

New amendments to the Building Code 2013 require head contractors on 150 federally funded construction projects to maintain a code-compliant drug and alcohol policy that stipulates how drugs and alcohol are to be monitored in the workplace.

The changes have been implemented with an aim to improve construction site work health and safety.

The new fitness for work amendments ensure that the management of drugs and alcohol in the workplace is kept at the forefront and there is a zero tolerance policy for certain types of drugs and alcohol.

Suresh Manickam, the CEO of the National Electrical and Communications Association, said “Safety is critical to building and construction activities to ensure that contractors and their employees are not put at unnecessary risk.

“The health and safety of electrical contractors, electricians and members of the general public should never be compromised.”

Fair Work Building and Construction is responsible for monitoring compliance of the new legislation, including a three-stage role for the auditing of drug and alcohol testing requirements.

A facts sheet about the new amendments to the Building Code for Drug and Alcohol testing can be found here.