THE Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA) has written to the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) to call on the organisation to help tackle the ‘major problem’ of drug and alcohol abuse among plant operators.

For many years, the Scottish Plant Owners Association (SPOA) has worked to increase public awareness of the risks associated with drug and alcohol use on construction sites. They urged business leaders to recognise the issue and take action in 2020. The National Plant Operators Registration Scheme (NPORS) and the Construction Plant Competence Scheme (CPCS) have the authority to implement a programme to revoke competence cards for operators who fail drug or alcohol tests, according to a recent announcement from the SPOA.

SPOA President Callum Mackintosh expressed concern that there is currently no deterrent to prevent plant operators from working while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.Callum Mackintosh, president of the SPOA, raised are concerned over the lack of a present disincentive to stop plant operators from operating machinery while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The group thinks a system similar to the one employed by the rail industry, in which failing drug or alcohol tests results in the suspension or revocation of a competence card, could help address this problem. The effects of driving under the influence should be used as a model for the construction sector.

The dangers of drinking and doing drugs on construction sites are alarming. The Considerate Constructors Scheme conducted a survey, and the results showed that 59% of respondents were worried about the impact of drugs and alcohol on the construction industry, 35% had witnessed colleagues using drugs or alcohol, and 25% said that being fatigued as a result of using drugs or alcohol had an impact on them at work. The SPOA thinks that if this problem is not addressed, there will eventually be a serious accident on a construction site.

In addition to the risk to health and safety, the SPOA has expressed worry over the industry's generally inadequate record keeping. A plant operator could possibly quickly find work elsewhere if they are fired by their company for failing a drug or alcohol test. The need for a programme to revoke competence certificates for operators who fail drug or alcohol testing is further highlighted by this lack of responsibility and consequences.

The 2013 Pye Tait report led to the creation of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC), which was also given the authority to look into the most effective means of establishing a standard industry approach to the renewal process, the limited life of all cards, and any necessary revocation processes. The SPOA is of the opinion that the CLC has the authority to take action and that the whole industry looks to the council to exercise leadership in this matter.

The issue of drug and alcohol usage on construction sites must be addressed by the construction sector. Health and safety dangers are simply too significant to be ignored. The industry could move in the right direction towards protecting the safety of all workers on construction sites by implementing a plan to revoke competence cards for operators who fail drug or alcohol tests.

Original article: Project Plant - Drug and Alcohol use.