Alcohol and Work Home > Frequently asked questions > Impacts of alcohol at work
Impacts of alcohol at work?
- How big a problem is alcohol and work?
- Does alcohol cause a lot of work-related injuries?
- Does alcohol cause many work-related deaths?
- Can work factors contribute to harmful alcohol use?
- Do certain industries have a higher alcohol problem?
- Is it only people who have alcohol dependency that cause problems at work?
- Can chemicals at work cause impairment and/or react with alcohol?
Q - How big a problem is alcohol and work?
Few Australian studies have been conducted on the impact of alcohol in the workplace. However, some studies do consistently identify a small, negative relationship between alcohol and drug use and work-related outcomes. [i]
The 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey of Australians aged 14 years and over reported that 4.4 per cent of people said they went to work while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
Research suggests that working "under the influence" does not seem to be widespread. People appear to stay home from work if they are under the influence. The best documented outcome of alcohol and drug use at work was increased absenteeism, and there is a correlation between "drinking habits" and absence due to long-term sickness and early retirement. [ii]
Other studies indicate negative impacts of alcohol and drug use on work including inconsistent performance, procrastination, poorer quality and reduced quantity of work, neglect of detail and more mistakes. [iii] However, it should be noted that these outcomes could also be the result of other factors at work, including long hours, tight deadlines, and/or a poor working environment.
Q – Does alcohol cause a lot of work-related injuries?
It is often assumed that alcohol causes a lot of work-related injuries.
While there is good evidence linking alcohol with transport accidents, the evidence linking alcohol with work injuries is mixed. [iv] One estimate has associated alcohol with 7 per cent of "industrial machine accidents". [v]
Q – Does alcohol cause many work-related deaths?
It is often assumed that alcohol is a significant factor in many work-related deaths. However, from the available evidence, it appears that alcohol and/or other drugs may be a factor in around five per cent of work-related fatalities.
Click here for more information about alcohol and work-related deaths.
Q – Can work factors contribute to harmful alcohol use?
Factors at home and at work can contribute to the extent to which people use alcohol or other drugs.
Contributing factors at work
For most adults, work is a significant part of their lives and what happens at work can influence how people feel and behave outside work. Factors at work that can cause anxiety or stress (stressors) may lead to the use of alcohol or other drugs, either at work or outside work.
Factors at work that may contribute to alcohol use include:
- shift work and long hours of work
- high risk of personal injury or illness
- dirty, noisy, work environment
- poorly designed, difficult to use equipment
- poor job design, including boring or extremely demanding work
- unrealistic deadlines and performance targets, or inadequate resources
- lack of opportunity to participate in decision making
- inadequate training and supervisory support
- bullying, harassment or victimisation at work
- access to alcohol and/or a culture tolerating or encouraging alcohol use during or after work hours
- fear of job loss
- conflict with peers or supervisors
- discrimination or prejudice
- peer pressure
- a combination of factors.
Studies into harmful use of alcohol indicate that this may be less likely if:
- the workplace is safe and healthy
- work is well organised and adequately supervised
- work is challenging and rewarding
- there is proper support to help with work problems or pressures
- there is restricted access to alcohol at work.
People who work in the alcohol industry, for example in breweries, wineries, pubs, clubs and restaurants are surrounded by an alcohol "culture" and may have greater access to alcohol.
Contributing factors outside work
Family, social or personal factors that may lead to the harmful use of alcohol or other drugs may include:
- marital or personal relationship problems
- grief and bereavement
- trauma or stress
- health issues or concerns
- financial problems
- gambling problems
- unemployment and boredom
- genetic factors [vi]
- a combination of factors.
Q - Do certain industries have a higher alcohol problem?
A review of studies about the prevalence of alcohol use in the workforce found that:
- about 15 per cent of males and females in the workforce drink above the low-risk level (ranging from 10 per cent to 24 per cent in different industries) and
- around 7 per cent drink at harmful levels (ranging from 5 per cent to 9 per cent in different industries). [vii]
The consumption of alcohol may be more prevalent in some industries than others, with environmental and cultural factors and workplace stressors as potentially contributing factors. [viii]
The harmful use of alcohol has typically been associated with blue-collar industries such as mining, building and transport. However, changes in the nature of work have seen professional and white-collar workplaces reflect many of the traits associated with the abuse of alcohol and illicit drugs. High stress levels, job insecurity, long hours and isolation or combinations of these factors should be seen as catalysts for alcohol or other drug use. [ix]
According to WorkSafe Victoria the highest rate of drinking is among administrative and executive staff. Other heavy drinking occupations include mine workers, salespersons, clerical staff, professionals, transport workers, trades people and labourers.
Q - Is it only people who have alcohol dependency that cause problems at work?
Contrary to what many people think, it's not only the "problem drinker" who may cause alcohol-related problems at work. Impacts on work performance and relationships can arise from:
- the consumption of alcohol by anyone at work, during meal breaks or at work-sponsored events
- one-off or occasional bouts of heavy, or "binge", drinking outside work
- long-term moderate to heavy drinking by people outside work.
This means that when we talk about alcohol and work, we mean the whole working population.
Q - Can chemicals at work cause impairment and/or react with alcohol?
Chemicals, such as solvents and pesticides can affect performance in a way similar to alcohol and can increase the effects of alcohol.
Organophosphate pesticides
These chemicals can produce effects similar to tranquillisers, including drowsiness, slowed reaction time, headache, giddiness, confusion, ataxia, slurred speech and convulsions. They can also produce "flu-like" symptoms and impairment of vision. When mixed with alcohol the effects are increased.
Organochlorine pesticides
In high doses these chemicals have a stimulant effect, producing poor coordination and excitability. Over exposure can cause violent convulsions, coma and death.
Solvents
Solvents are used to dilute solid chemicals and for cleaning. They include hexane, toluene, methylene chloride and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK). Solvents can act as depressants. The effects are very similar to those of alcohol, and include slowed reaction time, poor coordination, dizziness, headache, nausea, tiredness and in higher doses, confusion and reduction of muscle strength (peripheral neuropathy). The effects can be compounded if an individual is exposed to a mixture of solvents and may be increased if mixed with alcohol.
Hazardous substances legislation
It is important to develop measures for the safe handling, storage and use of hazardous substances. The Victorian Occupational Health and Safety (Hazardous Substances) Regulations 1999 place duties on employers to protect people at work against risks to their health associated with the use of hazardous substances.
For more information on the regulations, or about the correct management of hazardous substances contact WorkSafe Victoria Advisory Service on tel. 1800 136 089 (toll free).
[i] Stockwell T, Gruenewald P J, Toumbourou J W & Loxley W 2005 Preventing Harmful Substance use: The evidence base for policy and practice, Chichester England: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
[vi] WorkSafe Victoria 2004 Guidelines for Developing a Workplace Alcohol Policy
[vii] Pidd K 21 February 2005 Workplace alcohol policy, workplace social influence, and building trades apprentices' alcohol consumption, a paper presented to the "Thinking Drinking" Conference, Melbourne: Australian Drug Foundation
[viii] Phillips M op. cit., p.22
[ix] Holland P 21 February 2005 The new white-collar workplace and alcohol: a dangerous cocktail, paper presented to "Thinking Drinking" Conference Melbourne: Australian Drug Foundation
