Substance Misuse Services: Workplace Safety and Compliance

Clarity’s substance misuse services help employers prevent, identify and manage drug and alcohol risks at work – protecting safety, supporting employees and keeping your policies and procedures defensible

Why manage substance misuse at work?

Substance misuse can affect concentration, reaction times, decision‑making and behaviour, increasing the risk of accidents, near misses and poor performance. Employers have a general duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees, and employees also have a duty to take reasonable care. In safety‑critical work (for example driving, operating machinery, working at height or handling electrical equipment), unmanaged drug or alcohol misuse can have particularly serious consequences.

How testing and case management work

Clear triggers and protocols

Testing triggers (for example random selection, post‑incident, reasonable cause) are defined in advance and set out clearly in your policy and employee communications.

Professional sample collection and analysis

Trained staff follow recognised procedures and chain‑of‑custody standards to reduce the risk of challenge, with onward laboratory confirmation where appropriate.

Focused feedback to employers

You receive clear, timely outcomes framed for management decision‑making, not detailed clinical reports, keeping confidentiality and data protection requirements in view.

Supportive, not just punitive, response

Where misuse is identified, Clarity can advise on fitness for work, temporary role changes and signposting to support, helping you balance safety, legal obligations and your organisation’s values

What Clarity’s substance misuse services include

Clarity provides a joined‑up set of services so your drug and alcohol policy is practical, understood and enforceable.

  • Policy review and development Support to develop or update your drug and alcohol policy so it is clear, legally sound and aligned with your risk profile and culture.

  • Workplace testing programmes Design and delivery of testing protocols (for example, pre‑placement, random, for‑cause/post‑incident or periodic testing) tailored to your roles and regulatory requirements.

  • On‑site and mobile testing Drug and alcohol testing using on‑site, clinic or mobile medical units, with chain‑of‑custody processes and clear turnaround times for results.

  • Substance misuse awareness training Toolbox talks and manager training to raise awareness of risks, explain your policy and build confidence in recognising and responding to concerns.

  • Occupational health advice and case management Clinical input where substance misuse is suspected or confirmed, including fitness for work opinions, recommendations on restrictions and guidance on support or onward referral.

This combination helps you deter misuse, respond appropriately when issues arise and demonstrate that you take impairment risks seriously.

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Management and workforce training

Policies and testing only work if people understand them. Clarity offers training designed specifically for managers and employees.

  • Substance misuse toolbox talks Short sessions for employees explaining the risks of drugs, alcohol and other substances, your workplace rules and the support available.

  • Manager training on drug and alcohol issues Practical courses that help managers recognise potential signs of misuse, understand your policy, handle conversations sensitively and know when and how to escalate.

  • Integration with wider wellbeing and mental health Training can be linked to your wellbeing initiatives and mental health support, acknowledging that substance misuse can be both a cause and a consequence of wider health issues.

This builds a culture where impairment is taken seriously, but people also understand that early disclosure and seeking help will be treated fairly.

Our values in substance misuse services​

Clarity’s substance misuse support reflects the same values that underpin all services: partnership, inclusiveness, experience and genuine accountability.

  • Respect and confidentiality Employees are treated with dignity and their information handled discreetly, in line with clinical and legal standards.

  • Real partnership with employers Clarity works closely with HR, H&S and line managers to design policies and testing regimes that fit your operations, not just a generic template.

  • Experience and practicality Advice is grounded in real‑world occupational health experience, giving you clear options that can be implemented in busy, multi‑site, shift‑based environments.

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Review your drug and alcohol approach

If your workforce is exposed to noise, vibration, chemicals, dust or other hazards, Clarity can help you design and deliver a health surveillance programme that protects people, supports compliance and fits the way your business really operates.

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