What is alcohol Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is an intoxicating ingredient found in beer, wine, and liquor. Alcohol is produced by the fermentation of yeast, sugars. Fading night vision is common among older drivers learn what you should do to decrease risks. Truck driver errors contribute to the majority of trucking accidents. Here are the most common ones. The Standardized Field Sobriety Test SFST is a battery of 3 tests performed during a traffic stop in order to determine if a driver is impaired by alcohol or drugs. Alcoholism In The Workplace A Handbook for Supervisors. Alcoholism in the Workplace A Handbook for Supervisors. Introduction. The National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence defines alcoholism this way Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease with genetic, psychological, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. The disease is often progressive and fatal. It is characterized by impaired control over drinking, preoccupation with the drug alcohol, use of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and distortion in thinking, most notably denial. Alcohol is the single most used and abused drug in America. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA, nearly 1. Eight Signs Of An Impaired Driver' title='Eight Signs Of An Impaired Driver' />Americans 1 in every 1. Several million more adults engage in risky drinking patterns that could lead to alcohol problems. The costs to society in terms of lost productivity, health care costs, traffic accidents, and personal tragedies are staggering. Numerous studies and reports have been issued on the workplace costs of alcoholism and alcohol abuse, and they report costs that range from 3. Alcohol is a major factor in injuries, both at home, at work, and on the road. Nearly half of all traffic fatalities involve alcohol. Please see the Appendix The Disease of Alcoholism for a further discussion of alcoholism. In the workplace, the costs of alcoholism and alcohol abuse manifest themselves in many different ways. Absenteeism is estimated to be 4 to 8 times greater among alcoholics and alcohol abusers. Eight Signs Of An Impaired Driver' title='Eight Signs Of An Impaired Driver' />Other family members of alcoholics also have greater rates of absenteeism. Accidents and on the job injuries are far more prevalent among alcoholics and alcohol abusers. The Federal workplace is no different than any other in respect to alcoholism and alcohol abuse. Though no studies have been done on the prevalence of alcoholism and alcohol abuse among Federal employees, it is safe to assume that a similar proportion of Federal employees are alcoholics or alcohol abusers as in the national workforce. The associated increased health care costs and lost productivity are passed along directly to the taxpayer, and to each and every one of us. This booklet was developed in cooperation with the Department of Health and Human Services DHHS and is designed to foster a better awareness in supervisors, managers, and human resource personnel of the issues surrounding alcoholism and alcohol abuse, especially as it relates to the Federal workplace. Livepix Deluxe 2.0. The booklet is not intended to cover, in detail, all the various aspects of alcoholism and alcohol abuse but to give you enough information to understand and recognize the problems and know where to go to get assistance. See the Appendix for more detailed information regarding alcoholism. Alcoholism in the Workplace. As far as the Government as an employer is concerned, an employees decision to drink is that individuals personal business. Eight Signs Of An Impaired Driver' title='Eight Signs Of An Impaired Driver' />However, when the use or abuse of alcohol interferes with the employees ability to perform his or her duties, the employer does have legitimate concerns, including the proper performance of duties, health and safety issues, and employee conduct at the workplace. Supervisors Role. As a supervisor, you have an important role in dealing with alcohol problems in the workplace, along with other agency officials. You have the day to day responsibility to monitor the work and on the job conduct of your employees. You are not responsible for diagnosing alcoholism in employees. Basic supervisory responsibilities include assigning, monitoring, reviewing, and appraising work and performance setting work schedules, approving or disapproving leave requests taking necessary corrective and disciplinary actions when performance or conduct problems surface andreferring employees to your agencys Employee Assistance Program EAP. At some point, you will likely encounter employees with problems related to alcohol in dealing with performance, conduct, and leave problems. In some cases, you may not know that there is an alcohol problem. In other cases, you may know, either because the employee admits to being an alcoholic, or the problem is self evident. For example, an employee may become intoxicated while on duty or be arrested for drunk driving. Your role is not to diagnose the alcohol problem but to exercise responsibility in dealing with the performance or conduct problem, hold the employee accountable, refer the employee to the EAP, and take any appropriate disciplinary action. Your role in dealing with alcoholism in the workplace is crucial. The most effective way to get an alcoholic to deal with the problem is to make the alcoholic aware that his or her job is on the line and that he or she must get help and improve performance and conduct, or face serious consequences, including the possibility of losing his or her job. Signs to Look for. Even though you must not try to diagnose the problem, there are many signs that may indicate a problem with alcohol, and should trigger a referral to the EAP. Stop Full Screen'>Stop Full Screen. Leave and Attendance. Unexplained or unauthorized absences from work. Frequent tardiness. Excessive use of sick leave. Patterns of absence such as the day after payday or frequent Monday or Friday absences. Frequent unplanned absences due to emergencies e. The employee may also be absent from his or her duty station without explanation or permission for significant periods of time. Performance Problems. Missed deadlines. Careless or sloppy work or incomplete assignments. Production quotas not met. Many excuses for incomplete assignments or missed deadlines. Faulty analysis. In jobs requiring long term projects or detailed analysis, an employee may be able to hide a performance problem for quite some time. Relationships at Work. Relationships with co workers may become strained. The employee may be belligerent, argumentative, or short tempered, especially in the mornings or after weekends or holidays. The employee may become a lonerThe employee may also have noticeable financial problems evidenced by borrowing money from other employees or receiving phone calls at work from creditors or collection companies. Behavior at Work. The appearance of being inebriated or under the influence of alcohol might include The smell of alcohol. Staggering, or an unsteady gait. Bloodshot eyes. Smell of alcohol on the breath. Mood and behavior changes such as excessive laughter and inappropriate loud talk. Excessive use of mouthwash or breath mints. Avoidance of supervisory contact, especially after lunch. Tremors. Sleeping on duty. Not any one of these signs means that an employee is an alcoholic. However, when there are performance and conduct problems coupled with any number of these signs, it is time to make a referral to the EAP for an assessment so that the employee can get help if it is needed. Back to Top. Next Steps. Employee Assistance Program. Employee Assistance Programs deal with all kinds of problems and provide short term counseling, assessment, and referral of employees with alcohol and drug abuse problems, emotional and mental health problems, marital and family problems, financial problems, dependent care concerns, and other personal problems that can affect the employees work. This service is confidential. These programs are usually staffed by professional counselors and may be operated in house with agency personnel, under a contract with other agencies or EAP providers, or a combination of the two.