The November Resources Review article “Burnout in the Resources Sector: The Hidden Driver Behind Drug and Alcohol Use” raises an important question … while companies invest heavily in catching breaches, few ask the harder strategic question… what’s driving the behaviour in the first place?
Prevention starts with understanding the pressures that may lead to substance use – and providing support, awareness, training, and systems that protect mental health and workplace safety.
If a worker relies on drugs and/or alcohol to switch off, it’s usually because stress has been running high for too long. For example, fly-in, fly-out work adds pressure:
Together, these factors can drain resilience and increase risk-taking behaviour.
Under the Work Health and Safety Act, employers must manage psychosocial hazards like isolation and job stress. The goal isn’t just catching breaches – it’s about support, prevention, and addressing root causes.
At Alcolizer Technology, we see a drug and alcohol on-site workplace testing program as part of a bigger safety ecosystem. Testing identifies risk, but prevention starts with understanding why risk exists. That’s why we partner with organisations to deliver policy, training, and technology solutions that protect people and performance – from the frontline to leadership.
Chronic stress, mental health challenges, and fatigue degrade emotional and neurological resilience and weaken coping capacity, increasing temptation to use drugs and/or alcohol. Workplace psychosocial stressors – high demands, shift work, isolation – are consistently linked to unhealthy behaviours including substance use.1
Alcolizer Technology can support you with not only the safety of your employees but also the resources for their wellness and wellbeing including education and awareness which is a key aspect of prevention.
Want to learn more about Building a Safer, Healthier Workforce?
Explore tailored testing programs, training, and support for your team – get in touch.
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