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This campaign, organized by three ministries (Health, Employment and Social Security), forms part of EU-OSHA’s 2014-2015 European campaign on work-related psychosocial risks. Stress, anxiety and harassment are factors which can induce or aggravate situations of alcohol and drug consumption or medicine taking at work.
In Luxembourg, it is estimated that one out of ten workers drink every day during their working hours and that 8.4% of workers consume illegal substances. The Luxembourg National Council of Alcohology (CNLA) asserts that 25% of all occupational injuries are probably due to alcohol. Now, the employer is responsible for the health and safety of his employees at work, just as the employees themselves are responsible for their health and safety and that of their colleagues.
A guide has been produced in order to assist company managers, senior executives, human resource managers, Works Council members and employee representatives in their OSH approach. Establishing a clear internal policy regarding the use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace is a first step, provided that this policy is applied jointly by management and workers. Then, procedures should be established to allow early detection of drug addiction problems and, if a worker has to be removed from his work station, to be able to manage their return to the workplace. The occupational health services are key correspondents in this approach.
In addition to the guide, awareness raising brochures have been published.