Machinery, dangerous

These drug may cause drowsiness or blurred vision. Do not drive or operate dangerous machinery or participate in any activity that requires full mental alertness until you know how this medication affects you. 

In addition to guarding dangerous machinery (Reg. 11) measures are required to prevent or adequately control hazards from work equipment due to ... 

Potentially hazardous tasks May produce drowsiness, disorientation, and confusion. Warn patients against engaging in activities that reguire mental alertness, such as driving a motor vehicle or operating dangerous machinery. 

While its detailed mechanism of action is unknown, it is an effective blood schizonticide that is, it acts against the form of the parasite responsible for chnical symptoms. Orally administered mefloquine is well absorbed and has an absorption half-hfe of about 2 hours the elimination half-hfe is 2 to 3 weeks. Among its side effects are vertigo, visual alterations, vomiting, and such CNS disturbances as psychosis, hallucinations, confusion, anxiety, and depression. It should not be used concurrently with compounds known to alter cardiac conduction or prophylactically in patients operating dangerous machinery. It should not used to treat severe malaria, as there is no intravenous formulation. 

Drowsiness or dizziness may occur use caution when driving or operating dangerous machinery... 

Benzodiazepines have very few side effects. As you would expect, because benzodiazepines work by enhancing the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, the most common complaint from people who use benzodiazepines is that they feel drowsy, sedated, slowed down, or experience slurred speech. It is important to emphasize that people taking benzodiazepines should not drive or operate dangerous machinery until they have determined how the drug will affect them. 

Do not drive or operate dangerous machinery when taking muscle relaxants sedative effect can cause drowsiness. 

The documentation is limited. The manufacturers of flupentixoP and haloperidol warn that, in common with other antipsychotic drugs, the effects of alcohol maybe enhanced. Warn patients that if they drink alcohol while taking chlorpromazine, and to a lesser extent flupenthixol, sulpiride or thioridazine (probably other related drugs as well), they may become very drowsy, and should not drive or handle other potentially dangerous machinery. Some risk is possible with any antipsychotic that causes drowsiness, including those used as antiemetics, such as prochlorperazine. 

Alcohol and the barbiturates are CNS depressants, which together can have additive and possibly even synei stic effects. Activities requiring alertness and good co-ordination, such as driving a car or handling other potentially dangerous machinery, can be made more difficult and more hazardous. Alcohol may also continue to interact the next day if the barbiturate has hangover effects. 

Benzodiazepine and related hypno-sedatives increase the CNS depressant effects of alcohol to some extent. The risks of car driving and handling other potentially dangerous machinery are increased. The risk is heightened because the patient may be unaware of being affected. Some benzodiazepines used at night for sedation are still present in appreciable amounts the next day and therefore may continue to interact. Alcohol may also increase the plasma levels of brotizolam, clobazam, diazepam, and possibly triazolam, whereas alprazolam may increase blood-alcohol levels. Alcohol has been reported to increase aggression or amnesia and/or reduce the anxiolytic effects of some benzodiazepines. 

The UK manufacturer notes that there is no information on higher therapeutic doses of buspirone combined with alcohol, and they suggest that it would be prudent to avoid alcohol while taking buspirone. They also caution patients of the potential hazards of driving or handling other potentially dangerous machinery until they are certain that buspirone does not adversely affect them. ... 

Caffeine does appear to improve some of the detrimental effects of alcohol in some psychomotor tests, which is probably why there is a longstanding and time-hallowed belief in the value of strong black coffee to sober up those who have drunk too much. In addition, it is just possible that the time taken to drink the coffee gives the liver just a little more time to metabolise some of the alcohol. However, it seems that it is not effective in all aspects of alcohol impairment, particularly subjective effects. In addition, caffeine does not reduce blood-alcohol levels. Coffee and other sources of caffeine do not make it safe to drive or handle dangerous machinery, and it may even make drivers more accident-prone. 

The concurrent use of small or moderate amounts of alcohol and therapeutic doses of drugs that are CNS depressants can increase drowsiness and reduce alertness. These drugs include antidepressants, antiemetics, antiepileptics, antihistamines, antipsychotics, anxiolytics, barbiturates, hypnotics, opioid analgesics, skeletal muscle relaxants, and others. This increases the risk of accident when driving or handling other potentially dangerous machinery, and may make the performance of everyday tasks more difficult and hazardous. 

The intoxicant effects of alcohol can be considerably increased by the presence of normal daily doses of meprobamate. Driving or handling other potentially dangerous machinery is made much more hazardous. 

The CNS depressant effects of alcohol and its detrimental effects on the skills relating to driving or handling other potentially dangerous machinery are increased by the concurrent use of methaqualone with or without diphenhydramine. 

Mianserin and maprotiiine can cause drowsiness and impair the abiiity to drive or handie other dangerous machinery, particuiar-ly during the first few days of treatment. This impairment may be increased by aicohoi. Piriindole does not appear to interact with alcohol. 

Trazodone can make driving or handling other dangerous machinery more hazardous, particularly during the first few days of treatment, and further impairment may occur with alcohol. 

Drowsiness is a frequently reported adverse effect of mianserin, particularly during the first few days of treatment. Patients should be warned that driving or handling dangerous machinery will be made more hazardous if they drink. It would also be prudent to warn patients taking maprotiiine of the possible increased risk if they drink. Piriindole appears not to interact. 

Another study similarly found that the impairment of psychomotor performance by trazodone was increased by alcohol. This appears to be due to a simple additive depression of the CNS. This is an established interaction, and of practical importance. Patients should be warned that their ability to drive, handle dangerous machinery or to do other tasks needing... 

Train people in use of equipment and certify operators of larger equipment, especially in safe use of lawnmowers, chain saws, tractors, and other dangerous machinery. 

Unfortunately, many tasks, such as operating dangerous machinery, or driving to and from work, require full-time concentration. This lack of attention can increase the possibility of error or job-related injury. 

Higher risk e.g. most construction, slaughterhouses, chemical manufacture, extensive work with dangerous machinery or sharp instruments Fewer than five 5-50 More than 50 At least one appointed person At least one first aider One additional first aider for every 50 employed... 

Of course, long drawn out consultation may slow down any legislation. In 1955 the decision in the famous case of John Summers Sons Ltd v. Frosf virtually meant that an abrasive wheel was used illegally unless every part of that dangerous machinery was fenced. Regulations were required to allow its legal use. There were drafts and consultations, but it was 1971 before the Abrasive Wheels Regulations came into operation. 

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