Title: Alcohol, Drug and Substance Abuse Policy

Policy No: P2

INTRODUCTION
The illicit use of drugs or solvents, and the abuse of alcohol or other substances may
have adverse physical, psychological or behavioural effects on personnel. They can
damage health, affect judgement, reduce reactions and can, as a result, create unsafe
working conditions.
Increasingly however, our customers are demanding the highest standards of safety
and responsible behaviour. The Company is committed to maintaining a safe and
healthy working environment for its employees and any other persons affected by its
activities. However, where these policies are new to particular operations, they will
only be implemented following a period of consultation with Trades Unions and other
representatives.
SCOPE
The policies set out in this document will apply to all Company employees (whether
permanent, temporary or casual) working onboard Company vessels or in Company
offices worldwide. They will also apply to contractors and sub contractors working for
the Company both ashore and afloat.
DRUG POLICY
The possession, supply or use of unauthorised drugs is strictly prohibited. It is strictly
forbidden for any employee, contractor or sub contractor to board a Company vessel or
report for work at an office or other location, whilst under the influence of drugs or other
illicit substances.
It should be noted that in most countries the possession and/or use of illegal drugs is a
criminal offence. The Company will always cooperate fully with relevant police and
other authorities in the event that any person is found to be in possession of illegal
drugs or other illicit substances.
Definitions
Unauthorised Drugs

- means any drug (apart from small quantities of

commercially available cold remedies and similar
preparations) which has not been prescribed by a fully
qualified medical practitioner for use by a particular crew
member. Such unauthorised drugs include (but are not
limited to) cannabis, cocaine, crack, heroin and other
opiates, methadone, amphetamines and LSD

Illicit Substances

Means substances such as solvents or glues used for other

than their intended purposes.

Testing for Drugs

It will be company policy to test for drugs on the following occasions:
Post Incident/Accident

To establish whether drugs or other substances may have

been a contributory factor to any serious incident or accident

Reasonable Cause

When any employee is suspected of drug abuse

Random

Random testing will be employed to act as a deterrent.

In addition, testing for drugs during pre-employment medicals or during routine medical
examinations is authorised where local managers consider this necessary and where it
is permitted by local employment laws.
Testing will normally be carried out by qualified medical personnel / Screening
Company ashore a minimum of one per year. Regional Managers are to ensure that
all operations within their region have suitable arrangements put in place. However, for
vessels working offshore, arrangements should also be made for suitable testing kits to
be held onboard, to be used under the supervision of the Master.
Employees who are properly prescribed drugs for particular medical conditions which
may affect their ability to work safely, must report (in confidence) the circumstances to
their line manager. The line manager will decide whether the employee may continue to
work (perhaps in a less demanding role) or must be sent on sick leave.
ALCOHOL POLICY
SVITZER has a zero-tolerance Alcohol policy in which all forms of non-medicinal
alcohol are banned from vessels and offices.
Company employees, contractors and sub contractors will be required to be free from
the influence of alcohol at all times whilst on board company vessels or at work on
company sites/offices.
Crew members returning from shore leave will be required to be free from such levels of
alcohol that may impair their judgement and which may pose a risk to themselves and
others.
Definitions
Alcohol

Includes beer, lager, cider, wine, fortified wine (port, sherry)

spirits and liqueurs

Permitted Alcohol level

For the purposes of defining alcohol abuse and establishing

the permitted level of alcohol consumption whilst ashore, the
level of alcohol permitted by local national laws for the
driving of motor vehicles will apply.

Testing for Alcohol Abuse

It will be company policy to conduct testing for alcohol abuse on the following
occasions:
Post Incident/Accident

To establish whether alcohol was a contributory

factor in any serious incident or accident.

Reasonable Cause

When the abuse of alcohol is suspected for any reason

Random

To act as a deterrent

These tests will normally be carried out ashore using the services of a medical
practitioner or specialist health screening company a minimum of one per year. The
Regional Manager is to ensure that suitable local arrangements are put in place.
However, for vessels working offshore, suitable testing kits should also be made
available for use under the supervision of the Master / Captain. Such tests may include
breathalyser tests as well as blood and urine tests.
Entertaining
It is recognised that it will occasionally be necessary to entertain customers and others
in the Company offices, and on very rare occasions in Company vessels. On such
occasions, the consumption of alcohol will be allowed providing:
a. The occasion is properly authorised by the senior local manager
b. No alcohol is consumed by the crew of any vessel
c. The amount of alcohol consumed by guests is strictly limited and not
excessive
d. The office location or vessel concerned is returned to a dry status at the end
of the event.

Carriage of Alcohol Purchased Abroad

In the past it has been common practice for crews to purchase bottles of wine and
spirits during visits to foreign ports, for consumption at home. This privilege may
continue, providing the following conditions are strictly complied with:
a. All alcohol purchased abroad and brought onboard the vessel is to be
reported to the Master /Captain, who is to make appropriate arrangements for
its safe stowage.
b. The quantities involved are reasonable for use by one individual, and for
personal consumption at home only ie not for re-sale. National limits must be
complied with.
c. No such alcohol is to be consumed onboard
d. Any Customs duty to be paid will be entirely the responsibility of the individual
who purchased the alcohol.
e. No company monies of any kind (petty cash etc) are to be used for the
purchase of alcohol in this way.
Crew members who do not comply with the above rules will be subject to disciplinary
action, up to and including dismissal.
FREQUENCY OF RANDOM TESTING
It is considered important to get this right. Testing for both drugs and alcohol abuse
must be sufficiently frequent to act as a deterrent and to provide confidence that the
companies policies are being complied with. On the other hand, they should not be so
frequent as to appear oppressive, which would be bad for crew morale. Initially, the
intention should be to conduct random tests a minimum of once per year for both
drugs and alcohol on approximately 10% of the crews of all Company vessels in a year.
The Regional Manager is to ensure that all operations make suitable local
arrangements to achieve this target. If necessary, this target will be reviewed in the
light of experience. Random tests should not be announced in advance, and a
proportion of such tests should take place during unsocial hours for instance when
harbour tug crews arrive onboard late in the evening prior to a tug job.
DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCY
It must be recognised that drug or alcohol dependency is a treatable health disorder.
The Company encourages any employee who feels that he/she may be suffering from
such a disorder to seek medical help, either through their own doctor or through the
companys medical advisors. Any such request, advice or treatment will remain
confidential, and will be administered under the terms of the Companys sickness
absence policy. However, this consideration will not be given to any person who fails to
pass a random or other test for drug or alcohol abuse.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Any employee who fails a drug or alcohol test or who fails to cooperate with such
testing, or who abuses the rules on the carriage of alcohol, may be subject to
disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal.
On any occasion where drug or alcohol abuse is suspected, or whenever a person is
suspected of being under the influence of drugs, alcohol or other substances such that
they may present a danger to themselves or others, that person is to be immediately
suspended from duty pending an investigation. Vessel Captains and others in a
position of authority must err on the side of caution in this regard.
If considered appropriate copies of the above policy should be prominently displayed on
board.