På omslaget: Human performance

This project, conducted for RSSB by Marum Healthcare through desk research, questionnaires and interviews, surveyed the policies of a range of industries involved in safety-critical work in respect of alcohol and drug use. It covered preventive strategies, monitoring methods and approaches to treatment. The nuclear, oil and gas, chemicals, airline and construction industries were chosen as comparators. The research identified the strengths and weaknesses of their policies and compared them with railway industry practice. It found that most of these industries prohibited/criminalised alcohol and drug consumption at work but recognised dependency as a medical condition requiring treatment. In the best cases the drug and alcohol policies were linked with other company policies and procedures to reinforce actions taken. The main deficiencies in the railways' approach were in clarity about who was responsible for the policy and in policy review procedures. Using the survey results, 'best practice' approaches were proposed for prevention, monitoring and rehabilitation programmes.