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Section 1 – The rules Section 2 – Alcohol Section 3 – Illegal drugs Section 4 – Prescription and non-prescription drugs

Come to work in an unfit state as a result of consuming alcohol or taking any drugs Possess or supply any illegal drug or other drug of abuse in the workplace or while at work Consume alcohol or illegal drugs or other drug of abuse in the workplace or while at work Discontinue an agreed course of treatment for a drugs or alcohol related problem without good reason

Agree to take a drugs and alcohol test if requested Tell your line manager about any drug or alcohol related problem you have or think you may be developing Tell your line manager about any prescription or over the counter medication you are taking which could affect your ability to work safely

You can expect to be tested at: Pre-employment and pre-appointment Routine medical (periodic) For cause - post incident / behaviour Unannounced random screening As part of a drug and/or alcohol rehabilitation programme and post treatment monitoring

You will test positive if: There is more than 29mg (milligrams) of alcohol in 100ml (millilitres) of blood There is more than 13mcg (micrograms) of alcohol in 100ml of breath There is more than 39mg of alcohol in 100ml of urine You refuse to undergo a test

You will be positive for drugs if: You refuse to undergo a test There is presence of an illegal drug There is presence of a drug for which there is no medical reason

Alcohol

The drink-drive limit is 80mg alcohol per 100ml blood Network Rail’s limit is 29mg alcohol per 100ml blood* * This usually equates to drinking less than 1.5 units of alcohol

You may be surprised. A pint of normal beer (like John Smith’s, Fosters or Guinness) contains around 2.27 units A medium sized glass of wine contains around 2.28 units So even if you only have a couple of pints, you are consuming more than 4.5 units. That is probably more than you thought. You may also be surprised at how slowly you eliminate alcohol from your body.

Keep an eye on the number of units you are drinking Keep an eye on the number of units you are drinking. It’s easy to go over your unit limit when drinking at home, as measures are often far bigger than pub measures. There are a number of online alcohol unit calculators such as http://www.nhs.uk/units Check your drinking and see how it measures up. Some drinks display how many units they contain on the label.

Depression and anxiety Heart or respiratory Hangovers Brain damage Depression and anxiety Heart or respiratory failure - caused by excessive drinking High blood pressure Depressed immune system Cancer Stomach ulcers Liver disease Weight gain Sexual problems Drugs and alcohol can affect co-ordination, reaction speed, judging distance, short term memory and decision making and can hence impact on your performance at work.

We regularly test for drugs at Network Rail. Test positive and you could face losing your job. Here are just a few of the drugs we test for:

Impacts concentration co-ordination and decision making Causes anxiety and makes you paranoid Affects long and short term memory Causes depression Can make asthma worse Can cause lung diseases such as bronchitis and cancer Can increase your heart rate and affect your blood pressure Reduces your sperm count If you’re pregnant, smoking cannabis can harm the baby Drugs and alcohol can affect co-ordination, reaction speed, judging distance, short term memory and decision making and can hence impact on your performance at work.

Causes mood swings, anxiety, paranoia and psychosis Causes strokes and seizures Causes nose bleeds and nose erosion Causes chest pain and muscle spasms Can cause heart problems, including irregular heartbeat and heart failure You can lose interest in sex Drugs and alcohol can affect co-ordination, reaction speed, judging distance, short term memory and decision making and can hence impact on your performance at work.

Make sure you tell your line manager if you are taking any of the following: Pain killers Sleeping pills Tranquillisers Anaesthetic/sedation following minor operation/dental work Anti-depressants Cold and flu remedies (e.g. Lemsip Max, Benylin or Beecham Flu Plus) Hay fever remedies and other anti-histamines

Don’t be afraid to speak to your line manager or HR manager in confidence at any time. Support is also available through Care First on Tel No: 0800 174319