To view or download this policy as a PDF click Employee and Employment Related Policies Documents

Purpose

The Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) aims to provide a healthy workplace environment which protects the health and wellbeing of all employees, clients, contractors and visitors visiting our facilities and accessing our services.

CDRC will provide a smoke, drug and alcohol free workplace in all council facilities and fleet (vehicles, plant and machinery).

CDRC will facilitate risk mitigation strategies to eliminate Drugs and Alcohol being consumed in the workplace by implementation of a WHS Drug and Alcohol Procedure which outlines that random, cause and incident testing will take place regularly.

Scope

This policy applies to employees, contractors, volunteers, clients and visitors (including Councillors and Local Authority Members) to Council premises and any other locations where activities are undertaken by Council representatives or on behalf of Council.

Employees, contractors and volunteers will be subject to the WHS Drug and Alcohol Procedure. Visitors and clients will not be subject to the WHS Drug and Alcohol Procedure.

Objectives

The aims of this policy are to:

• Safeguard CDRC employees against the health impacts of tobacco smoke, including environmental tobacco smoke (ETS).
• Protect those who use our services, vehicles and visit our facilities.
• Promote smoke free environments as a positive social norm for CDRC.
• Encourage and support employees to quit smoking through cessation services and programs.

Definition and Terms

Smoking: Includes smoking tobacco or any other substance by any means, including vaping.

Alcohol: All substances that contain alcohol – including foods and medicines.

Drug: A substance other than food intended to affect the structure or function of the body.

Over the counter drugs: Drugs which can be purchased legally without a prescription.

Prescription drugs: Drugs prescribed by a Medical Practitioner and issued by a pharmacist or clinic.

Prohibited substances: Drugs that are illegal under state or national law.

Random: having no specific pattern, purpose or objective.

Workers: includes, employees, contractors, and volunteers.

Legislation and Reference

Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Act 2011
Work Health and Safety (National Uniform Legislation) Regulations 2011
Tobacco Control Act 2002
Tobacco Control Regulations 2002
NT Worksafe Code of Practice - How to manage work health and safety risks
Relevant Australian Standards
Central Desert Regional Council Enterprise Agreement
Work Health and Safety Commitment Policy P69
WHS Drug and Alcohol Procedure PR003

Policy Statement

1. Responsibility

The following table outlines responsibilities relating to development, implementation, communication and education on this policy and associated procedures:

2. Education and Awareness

CDRC will promote awareness of health and safety implications of smoking, drugs and alcohol. CDRC will support staff through various free-of-charge smoking cessation programs.

Employees who want to quit smoking can access support to quit through:

• NT Quitline on 13 78 48 - Quitline (13 78 48) is a confidential, evidence-based telephone counselling service. The NT Quitline operates Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm ACST. 
• iCanQuit website - iCanQuit lets you take control of your journey to non-smoker by joining a community for inspiration and support, tracking how many cigarettes you smoke and number of smoke-free days, calculate how much you could save if you quit.
• My Quit Buddy app - My QuitBuddy is an app that helps you get, and stay, smoke-free. It provides helpful tips and distractions to overcome cravings, tracking systems to chart your progress and the facts to help you understand the impact smoking has on your health.
• Booking an appointment with their local GP

Employees who identify as having a drug and/or alcohol problem will have access to worker support mechanisms (EAP) as outlined in section 6.7 of the WHS Drug and Alcohol Procedure.

3. Smoking

Council has a duty to protect workers against the health impacts of smoking, including exposure of smoking to others. Council also has a duty to protect those who use our services and visit our facilities, services and programs.

The objectives of Council in providing a smoke free work place in Council facilities and vehicles are to:

• contribute to the health of the community;
• improve public amenity and maintenance of Council property;
• raise community awareness of the issues associated with smoking;
• promote the health and safety of Council employees by minimising the risks associated with smoking and exposure to passive smoking in the workplace;
• provide community leadership in taking measures to protect the health and social well-being of the community; and
• minimise cigarette butt pollution in Council managed parks and other urban space areas.

a. PROHIBITED AREAS

Central Desert Regional Council (CDRC) will provide a smoke free workplace within all Council owned and managed facilities, vehicles and accommodation and especially:

• in all alfresco dining areas located on public land;
• within ten (10) metres of Council owned, leased or managed buildings including balconies or covered areas of those buildings;
• on all Council controlled parks and reserves;
• within Council car parks;
• on any leases, licences or other areas that apply to Council owned and managed lands and properties; and
• in all Council vehicles, plant and equipment.

b. SMOKING DURING WORK HOURS

Workers may only smoke during official breaks. This is consistent with employment contracts and conditions, which do not include smoking breaks.

4. Alcohol and Other Drugs

CDRC has a responsibility to prevent and eliminate the usage of alcohol and other drugs in the workplace. To assist in prevention of the consumption of alcohol and other drugs in the workplace CDRC requires a .000g/210L blood alcohol concentration level and drug free workplace.

a. DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING

Workers may be required to undergo drug and alcohol testing including but not limited to;

• As part of an employment medical (including pre-employment medical);
• As part of a random testing program;
• In a case of reasonable suspicion, known as cause testing; and/or
• Post incident.

Council will test for the following prohibited substances;

• Alcohol
• THC (marijuana)
• Cocaine
• Amphetamine (speed)
• Methamphetamine (ice, ecstasy)
• Opiates (heroin, morphine, codeine)
• Oxycodone (OxyContin)
• Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Valium)
• Other prohibited substances or synthetic drugs

Drug and Alcohol testing will be undertaken in accordance with the WHS Drug and Alcohol Procedure.

5. Breach of Policy

When a worker or visitor presents for duty in an unfit state, CDRC reserves the right to remove the person from the worksite (noting such action must be approved by the CEO in accordance with the Council’s Delegations Register).

Each worker or visitor is responsible for any civil penalty that results from their being under the influence of drugs or alcohol or smoking in a prohibited area.

Employees found in breach of this policy could be subject to disciplinary actions, which may include termination of employment.

Breaches of this policy include but are not limited to:

• Smoking in any prohibited area or during work hours
• Recording of a positive result from a drug or alcohol test (following non-negative result being confirmed as positive)
• Refusing to provide a sample for a drug or alcohol test
• Being found to having deliberately masked a substance
• Falsifying of medication information or details
• Tampering with a sample for drug or alcohol testing
• Refusing to comply with any of the requirement of this policy

Review History