Every November 15th, World Alcohol-Free Day is celebrated. This date was established by the World Health Organization with the aim of raising social awareness about the need to reduce alcohol consumption. In today’s society, the prevalence of alcohol and other drugs remains very high. This is also true among the working population, which has repercussions in the workplace. For this reason, in this article, we will address alcohol consumption as a health risk factor in the work environment, specifically in the construction sector.
Alcohol and occupational health and safety
Excessive alcohol consumption causes workplace accidents. It also leads to illnesses, decreased productivity, and absenteeism. Therefore, it is a factor to be considered when planning preventive actions within companies.
Alcohol is a drug that is relatively accepted by society but causes serious health problems. Nevertheless, it has always been considered a problem in workplaces.
In this regard, there are certain factors that can encourage alcohol consumption in the workplace. For example, there are certain pre-established social patterns that “incite” the intake of alcoholic beverages. This is quite common in the construction sector. Likewise, many jobs in the construction sector require specific physical stamina. These requirements can act as a stimulant for the consumption of these types of drinks. To all this, we must add the growing range of alcoholic beverages available on the market. It is important to note that a work environment with high psychosocial risk also encourages alcohol consumption.
Risks caused in a workplace
It should be noted that alcohol in the workplace generates health risks for the person consuming it as well as for their colleagues as a whole.
Alcoholism generates organic alterations that lead to temporary disabilities, as well as physically and verbally aggressive behavior. These hinder relationships in the workplace. Furthermore, alcohol causes a decrease in performance, which can lead to conflicts with the rest of the staff. The decrease in attention and other consequences derived from excessive consumption can cause serious accidents during the workday. This also applies to commutes between home and the workplace (commuting accidents). Studies show that people who regularly consume alcoholic beverages have three times more workplace accidents than others.
The negative consequences for the company are also noteworthy. These can stem from lower performance and absenteeism. It also influences the increase in conflicts and the deterioration of the social climate within the organization.
Preventive measures to avoid alcohol consumption
There is a significant sociocultural factor associated with alcohol consumption. For this reason, the problem must be addressed through information and awareness campaigns—in short, through a culture of prevention.
Within the company’s scope of action, non-consumption of alcohol should be encouraged. Likewise, the sale of alcoholic beverages in the workplace should be eliminated (canteens, vending machines, etc.). This helps control alcohol consumption in the work environment. Affected individuals can also be offered alcohol cessation programs.
On the other hand, health surveillance serves to detect health damage and monitor its evolution in the affected person. Medical examinations will be linked to the risks inherent to the job position held by that person. Specific medical examinations for the detection of alcohol consumption can be carried out. However, there are a series of limitations and nuances in this regard that should be taken into account. Compliance with current legislation must be guaranteed. There are also indirect detection methods based on observation or tests and surveys.
Finally, there remains the option of applying disciplinary measures to the alcohol consumer at work. In this sense, it must be kept in mind that it is the employer’s obligation to guarantee the health and safety of workers (Article 14 of the LPRL).
