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Urine Drug Test |
The Civil Aviation Safety
Authority (CASA) is a leader in establishing “…higher standards
of safety…” and in actively engaging and interacting with the
“…wide aviation community…” The organisation has three goals
that include establishing “comprehensive, consistent and effective
regulation to enhance aviation safety,” good governance, and
effective relationships with the aviation community. CASA also hires
a number of safety-critical personnel and developed a strategy that
focuses on ensuring the workforce understands its obligations and
accountability.1 Social responsibility is a comprehensive
concept that addresses organizational responsibility to all of its
stakeholders. Many activities are associated with social
responsibility, including charitable contributions, reducing
environmental impacts, and maintaining a substance free workplace.
Developing drug and
alcohol policies and procedures and implementing a random alcohol and
drug testing process are two of many strategies that contribute to
exercising social responsibility. The employer has a responsibility
to ensure the health and safety of workers, and to ensure that the
workers are as productive as possible and producing quality products
and services. However, corporate social responsibility is about a lot
more than just how people act while at work. It is a principle that
should be embedded in the business culture, brand, reputation, and
even human rights.
Respecting Human Rights
in Many Ways
The Australian Human
Rights Commission outlines the everyday best practices in a business
that respects the human rights of workers and the communities in
which the business operates. The Commission’s Fact Sheet 3 explains
the best practices for Human Rights as a component of the larger
social responsibility principle in the extractive industry.2
Human Rights have several areas of concern where risks are created
when the rights are not protected. One of those areas is under labour
practices. The Commission writes, “Extractive companies, like all
other employers, have a responsibility to make sure that employees
enjoy fundamental labour rights like a safe workplace, a living wage,
non-discriminatory work practices, and collective bargaining.”2
The workplace drug and alcohol policy and procedures address two of
the four areas mentioned – safe workplace and non-discriminatory
work practices.
Australian employers know
they have a duty of care to maintain a safe environment. It is a
corporate responsibility and a social responsibility, and an
important step in the process is keeping drugs and alcohol out of the
workplace. However, a zero tolerance policy is usually not thought of
as a human rights responsibility, though it should be.
In addition, the random
drug and alcohol testing program supports the non-discriminatory work
practices responsibility. The program is designed to randomly test
employees without regard for their gender, race, or age. The testing
of safety-sensitive workers outside the random testing is also
non-discriminatory because the testing is based on job
responsibilities and not on any personal characteristics. The
procedures protect workplace safety which means they protect the
safety of co-workers, yet another Human Rights issue.
Matter of Dignity,
Respect, Security and Health
The Australian Human
Rights Commission has developed additional fact sheets for the
finance, retail and manufacturing sectors. The Commission defines
Human Rights as “…promoting and protecting the values of
respect, dignity and equality for every person…” Included on the
list of things businesses can most impact are the right to life and
security of the person and the right to health. The drug and alcohol
policy goes right to the heart of these Human Rights factors. It is a
business best practice meant to keep workers secure and to help them
stay healthy. CASA is just one example of an exemplary Australian
organisation that understands the connection between Human Rights,
social responsibility, and a substance free workplace. There are many
in Australia, and every business needs to join the effort to protect
the health and safety of their workers.
Businesses
have a social responsibility and managing a quality alcohol and drug testing program is one way they meet
that responsibility. CMM (cmm.com.au)
can play an instrumental role in helping employers administer a
quality program by providing high-tech supplies and equipment that
make drug and alcohol test safe and accurate.
This article has been taken from : http://www.cmm.com.au/articles/drug-alcohol-policy-is-corporate-social-responsibility-in-action/