There are serious health effects associated with the misuse of drugs including heart disease, HIV and Hepatitis C, psychological illnesses and a greater risk of accidents, to mention just a few. Understanding of the effects of drugs is an important element in the process of accepting that “social” drug users pose a health and safety risk to any organisation.
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 lists the drugs that are subject to control and classifies them in three categories according to their relative harmfulness when abused, as follows.
| Class A | including cocaine, heroin, LSD, mescalin, methadone, morphine, opium and injectable forms of Class B drugs. | |
| Class B | including oral preparations of amphetamines, barbiturates, codeine and methaqualone (mandrex), cannabis and cannabis resin. | |
| Class C | including most benzodiazepines (sleeping pills, tranquillisers, eg valium) and the harmful amphetamines. | |
Cannabis comes in two forms: herbal and resin. It is usually mixed with tobacco and smoked in the form of a hand rolled cigarette. Cannabis in both forms is a Class B drug.
| Sought Effect | Short-term Effects | Potential Long-term Harm |
| Relaxed, happy, heightened sense of awareness | Dizziness, sickness, dry mouth, lips, tongue, feeling hungry, loss of co-ordination, panic and paranoia | Lung disease and lung cancer, bronchitis, asthma, high blood pressure, infertility, depression and some evidence points to schizophrenia |
Amphetamines are a group of synthetic drugs that are stimulants. They are often known as speed, billy or wizz. Often in powder form, it can be snorted through the nose, some are available in tablet form but it can also be injected. A strong, highly addictive form of amphetamine known as crystal meth can be smoked.
Most amphetamines are Class B drugs but crystal meth and amphetamines prepared in injection form are Class A drugs.
| Sought Effect | Short-term Effects | Potential Long-term Harm |
| Sudden energy boost, talkative and excited — the high may last 4–8 hours | Once the high has worn off, a crash occurs, leaving the person feeling very tired (but unable to sleep) anxious and irritable. They may suffer from short-term dizziness and hallucinations | Burst blood vessels can lead to paralysis and may be fatal, insomnia, depression. As the body becomes tolerant of the drug, larger amounts are needed, leading to addiction |
Cocaine is a stimulant, often known as charlie, snow, toot or coke. Often available in a powder form which can be snorted through the nose or rubbed on the gums. The form of cocaine called crack can be smoked. Both cocaine and crack are Class A drugs.
| Sought Effect | Short-term Effects | Potential Long-term Harm |
| Intense feelings of energy, well-being and self-confidence The high may last only up to 30 minutes. A crack high is more intense but may last only 10 minutes | Similar crash effect to amphetamine, raised blood pressure, tiredness and depression | Heart failure, depression, insomnia, extreme paranoia, extreme weight loss and malnutrition, impotence (in men) and damage to the nasal passages If taken when pregnant may cause harm to the baby — low birth weight, birth defects and the baby may be born addicted to cocaine |
Ecstasy is a synthetic stimulant, often known as E or pills. Its chemical name is Methyledioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Ecstasy is usually available in tablet form but a powdered form of MDMA is sometimes used. In England and Wales there have been an average of 27 deaths per year from people taking ecstasy. Ecstasy is a Class A drug.
| Sought Effect | Short-term Effects | Potential Long-term Harm |
| Rush of energy, alertness, excited, happy, increased sense of affection towards people around them (ie exposing themselves to personal risk), often popular with clubbers as sound (especially music) and colours seem more intense | Dehydration is a major risk — if fluid levels drop dramatically dehydration can cause unconsciousness, coma or even death Similar crash effect to cocaine and amphetamines Dry mouth, nausea, raised blood pressure, heart pounding, depression, body can stiffen causing clenched jaws and grinding teeth | The use of ecstasy became widespread in the late 1980s Long-term effects have yet to be determined by the medical profession. The short-term effects can be fatal |
Heroin is a powerful sedative and painkiller. Heroin and codeine are derived from the opium poppy and are known as opiates. Heroin is a Class A drug and highly addictive, both physically and psychologically.
| Sought Effect | Short-term Effects | Potential Long-term Harm |
| Intense feeling of relaxation and wellbeing | The purity of heroin differs dramatically in each batch. Often the products with which it is bulked up are also harmful and can cause allergic or toxic reactions Overdose is common when a stronger dose than the body can cope with is used and this can result in heart failure, unconsciousness and coma | Overdose effects can result in death through heart failure. Coma or unconsciousness can occur and there is a risk of choking on vomit when unconscious Respiratory failure (loss of normal lung function) can be fatal Injecting heroin has additional risks: sharing needles has the risk of Hepatitis C or HIV and damage to veins can lead to serious infections and abscesses |
The two most commonly used hallucinogens are Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and magic mushrooms.
Magic mushrooms are often called shrooms or mushies and be can eaten or boiled in liquid and then drunk.
LSD is synthetic liquid that is is usually dropped onto small squares of blotting paper which is then swallowed, often known as acid.
| Sought Effect | Short-term Effects | Potential Long-term Harm |
| Hallucinogens are taken to experience a long-lasting series of hallucinations, known as a trip Time can appear to speed up or slow down. A mushroom trip can last 4–10 hours. An LSD trip lasts around 12 hours | Bad trips with frightening or disturbing hallucinations can occur leaving people feeling very disturbed Users may place themselves in physical danger and act irrationally or impulsively | Could make an existing mental health condition more severe |
Tranquilisers are a prescription medication designed to treat anxiety, depression and insomnia. Many tranquilisers are addictive if used regularly. They are available as tablets, as gel capsules, in injection form or as suppositories and are often known as mazzies, benzos or jellies.
| Sought Effect | Short-term Effects | Potential Long-term Harm |
| Calming, sedating effect. They are misused to lessen the effects of a crash, after taking stimulants or to lessen the effects of drug withdrawal symptoms | Physically addictive — withdrawal symptoms may include: severe headache, nausea, anxiety and confusion | Physical addiction may lead to attempts to heighten the effect of the drug by crushing and injecting the powder form which contains chalk and may cause the veins to collapse. This can lead to serious infections or gangrene Gel caps that are melted down to inject can then re-solidify inside blood vessels, which can cause death |
Solvents are available both at home and in the workplace. There are over 200 solvents liberally available and they include paints, cleaning fluids and glue. Every year in the UK there is an average of 50 deaths from solvent misuse.
| Sought Effect | Short-term Effects | Potential Long-term Harm |
| Similar to alcohol: happy, laughing and uninhibited | Heart attack, vomiting and black outs | Heart failure, Liver, kidney and brain damage |
Please contact us if you require any assistance with this topic.
Stress is an unfortunate but often unavoidable side effect of our busy lives. Having on-hand methods for managing stress is a good way to combat its physical, mental, and emotional impact. How stressful are big life events at work such as starting a new job, being fired, commuting delays, taking a break from work or being promoted?
This question has been answered by means of survey on stress in modern Britain by the Physiological Society, said to be Europe’s largest network of physiologists.
In partnership with the polling firm You Gov, it surveyed 2000 British adults and asked them to rate how stressful they find (or imagine they would find) various different life events.
The following is a rundown of the top 18 ranked stressful events, (the number that follows is the average score out of 10 points assigned to each work or life event as an indication of how stressful the situation is).
Interestingly, for every event, the reported stress experienced by men was lower than that by women. The average difference was 0.56 points.
The biggest difference was in the stress caused by the threat of terrorism, which was 1.25 points higher for women. The smallest difference was for the arrival of a first child — a life-changing event for either sex.
As I am planning my own wedding it is interesting to see that this category falls at number 10. As the day gets nearer (a week to go) I personally feel that the last couple of months has been the most stressful of my life and I have experienced a few from the 18 stressful events!
If you require guidance with stress in the workplace, please contact us.
Helpful apps – Head space
Blog – Strength to strength blog
There will be some situations where dogs are not appropriate. For example, in a kitchen, or a manufacturing site where there is a risk of contamination. However, in many cases there will be no legal reason why a dog cannot be in the workplace. That said, check whether or not there are any restrictions outlined in the organisation’s insurance policies and rental agreements. For example, having an animal in the car might invalidate some car insurance policies, and some rented work spaces might specifically state that dogs (with the exception of assistance dogs) are not permitted.
Any dogs on the premises will need to be considered as part of the employer’s duties under health and safety legislation. A risk assessment will need to be carried out and it is important that any hazards are identified, as well as any options for harm and risk mitigation. Dogs will also need to be incorporated into the fire safety risk assessment, for example to ensure that they are not blocking emergency exits, and to detail what to do in the event of a fire. Contact us if you wish this option to be added to a risk assessment.
There will be some logistical considerations if dogs are to be allowed in the office. For example, will the office need cleaning more regularly? Is the office ventilated sufficiently? There might be some no-go areas for dogs (office kitchens, for example) or alternatively, specific areas that are reserved for dogs and pet-loving employees. Other considerations might be ensuring that bins have lids, and that desks are equipped with a means to secure a dog lead.
A clear policy will help alleviate concerns over dogs in the office. Issues to consider include the following.
Finally, before allowing dogs to work, check that it is supported by other members of staff. As well as gauging general support levels for any change in policy, it is important to understand if any staff have a reason for not wanting a dog nearby. It is also imperative to have a clear policy for dealing with staff concerns and complaints.
Having dogs in the office does not need to be a cause for concern if proper steps are followed and there is a clear policy in place. Although it might take time to set up, in the long-term it is likely to lead to happier pet-owners and an overall improvement to the workplace and staff morale.
All we need to do now is get a dog!
Contact us should you require a risk assessment or to discuss the blog in more detail.
Slips, trips and falls remain the highest cause of workplace injuries reported to the HSE.It’s for this reason that good housekeeping should be at the top of your health and safety agenda.
Carrying out certain work activities, such as cleaning or maintenance, pose a greater risk of temporary slips, trips and falling hazards.
However, even with robust training and experience—anyone can slip up. So use physical controls and suitable and sufficient safety systems of working to mitigate risk.
You should always consider vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and the visually impaired when attempting to mitigate risks.
Young workers, new starters or persons with a limited understanding of English are more at risk of accidents due to a lack of understanding of controls / signage and / or instruction.
Environmental factors can often significantly affect the likelihood of a slip, trip or fall.
Factors such as (but not limited to):
All employers have a legal duty to assess the risks to their employees and others who may be affected by their operations, such as visitors, contractors and members of the public.
This will help to find out what needs to be done and where to control any risks.
This should be a five step approach:
NOTE: Risk assessments should be reviewed at least once annually.
A good management approach and robust systems will help identify any deficient areas, help you decide any action points, note when actions have been completed, and check that the steps taken are actually effective.
A good system should include:
Remember – A clean and tidy workplace is a safer working environment for those affected by its activities.
Contact us for further support.
Sedentary lifestyles are commonplace among office workers, but to make matters worse, a large portion of employees don’t feel encouraged to lead an active lifestyle.Top Tips on Managing the Health & Safety of Sedentary Workers
Sedentary working increases the risk of developing certain health problems and can have a long-term impact on employees’ psychological wellbeing.
As an employer, you are responsibility for the wellbeing of your employees. Here’s a few guidelines on how you can effectively manage the health & safety of your sedentary workers:
Contact us should you require assistance
