Personal or Health Hazards

Description of hazard. The harmful use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace adds to the cost of injuries, absenteeism, lost production, worker compensation, and rehabilitation. It is estimated that the direct cost to industry of sickness and death from drug and alcohol abuse to industry is 3.7 billion per year. 

Harmful use of drugs and alcohol can create a range of problems in the workplace. Employees with drug and alcohol problems can cause injury to themselves and others, jeopardize their job, and damage their physical and mental health. 

In the workplace, the impact of alcohol and drug abuse affects four major areas accidents, productivity, medical expenses, and employee morale. 

Accidents. Safety is a vital concern for organizations. Operating machinery under the influence of alcohol or drugs increases the likelihood of accidents and injuries. The American Council for Drug Education reports that substance abusers are about three and a half times more likely to be involved in accidents on the job and five times more likely to hurt themselves at work. They are also five times more likely to file for workers compensation. Substance abusers are also responsible for 40 percent of all industrial fatalities. OSHA reports that 10 to 20 percent of US workers who die at work test positive for drugs and alcohol. 

Productivity. Employee drug and alcohol use results in lost efficiency and quality, because substance-abusing employees are 33 percent less productive when they are at work than those who are sober, according to the American Council for Drug Education. These employees also increase human resource costs related to additional recruitment and training because substance abusers are 10 times more likely to miss work. Replacing an employee can cost anywhere from 25 to 200 percent of that employee s annual compensation. 

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