TDDA on alert for fentanyl

from Property & Build: August - September 2022

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The opioid fentanyl has exploded overseas – here are five things businesses should do to keep on top of drugs in the workplace

The Drug Detection Agency (TDDA) is warning of the dangers that fentanyl brings in a safety sensitive workplace like trucking or forestry.

The prevalence of fentanyl and other opiates are affecting New Zealand’s workplaces. Drugs, now potentially laced with fentanyl, are affecting people’s safety and livelihoods.

TDDA’s top five things for businesses to know about fentanyl:

1. TDDA has seen limited and low testing for the drug in the past, but given its explosion in places like the USA and

Australia, the company has been anticipating the rise of fentanyl for some time. 2. Opioids, such as fentanyl, are incredibly addictive and widely available. Employees struggling with an opioid addiction pose several risks to a workplace, and may exhibit behavioural changes, rapid mood swings, confusion,

paranoia, shallow breathing, anxiety, and depression. 3. Fentanyl can be legally prescribed or illegally taken.

But, someone on fentanyl shouldn’t be working in a safety sensitive area, driving, or operating heavy machinery. 4. Ensure your workplace substance use policy is up to date and covers prescription medications as well as fentanyl. And ensure your drug testing partner screens

for fentanyl with modern drug testing technology. Not all testing devices screen for fentanyl. 5. A person may produce a positive drug test and have a legitimate prescription for that drug. In these cases, it is recommended that a Medical Review

Officer (MRO) is consulted to confirm the drug test result is consistent with the dosage as prescribed by a doctor.

Industry leader in soft fall protection on construction sites

Massey University rigorously tested all elements of the Safety Nets NZ system

With the enactment of the Health and Safety at Work Act (2015) it became apparent that there was a need to assure customers that they comply the requirements of the Act in safety measures for fall arrest.

“We needed to have our system independently analysed, engineered and ultimately certified. This meant that not only did the individual components of the safety net fall arrest system have to be tested, the performance of the safety fall arrest system as a whole also needed to be studied,” says General Manager Craig Daly.

A team at the School of Engineering and Technology at Massey University tested a variety of drop heights and weights, different bracket centres, various net sizes and points where the load strikes the net.

“It even tested nets of different ages and repaired nets, with the results being collated and analysed to effectively confirm that our safety fall arrest system works,” says Daly.

“This enables PCBU’s to discharge their responsibilities in regard to the requirements of the in the use of a system that is without risk to the health and safety of it’s workforce.”

When the nets have been installed and inspected by a Safety Nets NZ team and a handover certificate completed by our certified rigger, the client can then commence works above the safe area of the net.

“All of our safety documentation has been produced in such a format as to ensure that it complements the overall site safety policy and manual that the Principal Contractor is required to establish on all projects,” says Daly.

Click here to read inspection guidelines

Safety industry pioneer Safety Nets NZ has developed national standards in association with WorkSafe NZ, ensuring risk from falls is minimised for your construction workforce.