Breath Test - Alcohol

I think the most likely fail would come from having a heavy session the evening before and having alcohol still in the system

 

Exactly the same consequences as driving on the road whilst over the limit in terms of fines, etc (although you wouldn't lose your driving licence.)

 

If whatever reason be it your own fault or completely by accident you find yourself in situation where you're ability to work safely is compromised, the only course of action is to declare yourself unfit for duty. It doesn't matter who this may inconvenience and if someone superior to you attempts to pressure you into working then that individual needs to go and have a long think about what it is they are doing. Railways are very dangerous and potentially lethal places to work, your own safety and that of those around you is more important than anything else.

There could be a many reasons why you might have to do this, perhaps you have been prescribed something that has had an adverse affect or maybe like you say your drink is spiked. But if you had a few to many the night before it is a difficult thing to own up to and remove yourself from duty. Think of it this way though. At the railway i volunteer on if you have been found to be working under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you most likely be banned from performing a safety critical duty such as driver, fireman or guard permanently. You will also be banned from volunteering in any sort of capacity for a set period of time.

However if you get drunk the night before and then say you are unfit to work the next day then at most you will be suspended for a couple of days as slap on the wrist. Of course you will incur the wrath of the roster clerk, and the loss of face etc that goes with it. But that is infinitely more preferable to being banned for life.

Tim

 

The RAIB report into Llandovery Level Crossing Incident identified Fatigue as a contributor factor and makes several comments on it

https://assets.digital.cabinet-offi...d915d4c0d000157/R112014_140515_Llandovery.pdf

 

The 30mg figure comes from the fact that there is no such thing as 0mg in the average human. Eating certain foods can naturally give rise to alcohol being present in your blood as a result. What the scientific community have concluded however is that if you have a blood alcohol figure grater than 30mg, it cannot be the result of eating certain foods (e.g. loads of apples or grapes) and must be the result of consuming alcohol itself.

 

If you believe your drink may have been spiked then you MUST NOT undertake safety critical work, or cease doing so as soon as you suspect you might exceed the mandated limits. You as a responsible person should be (1) alert to the possibilities for this to happen and (2) realise when something is not right.

If you "accidentally" drink" before undertaking safety critical duties and you believe you will be over the legal limit for that particular company / industry then the onus is on YOU to own up to YOUR 'accident' and not undertake safety critical work.

Basically there are no excuses in law - it doesn't matter how it occurred, if you report for safety critical duties and exceed the legal limits / your employers limits then its bye - bye to your job / volunteer role.

 

Full details of the reverent acts if Parliament are here:- http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1992/42/part/II/chapter/I

As Steve highlighted earlier the actual limit laid down in statute at the time was 80mg (the same as the drink drive limit) but with the proviso that this may be altered by the SOS if they wish to do so. As far as I can tell this has not happened.

However the ORR regard "zero tolerance" (30mg) as best practice - so do the HRA , therefore while "infrastructure managers" as they are termed these days can decide to allow up to 80mg, any organisation doing so would be seen by those in authority as going against best practice in the industry. As such were they to suffer an incident where alcohol (or their policy towards it) could be said to have been a 'casual factor' (or whatever the RAIB term such things) then its fair to say that there could be repercussions....

 

You can buy single use breathalysers for £2 from Halfords - if you're not sure, you may want to test yourself.

 

Interesting thread. I take view now - and for many years - I don't go out the night before a Guards or Signallers turn, so there's no chance of drink spiked - or 'accidentally' drinking beer vice orange juice - that's no accident incidentally. So, night before a turn, it's tea and a biscuits only, plus polish boots, read any ops instructions and early to bed, so refreshed to take duty.

When I was Ops Manager on the big railway in the mid 1990s and we had a real push on briefing people post Transport and Work Act 1992 and my signalmen took view they adjust their lifestyle, so they don't/didn't run any risks - there were a few grumbles but people soon accepted the stance they have a dry night/day leading into the next day working in a signal box.

As has been said, it's the responsibility of the individual to declare if they are unfit, and not take duty (real issue as to medication), but it's a poor reflection on the individual if they declare themselves unfit through putting away 5 pints the night before if they can't self govern themselves - as I say, safest bet is have a dry night the night before - then saviour a well earnt pint of bitter (or whatever) post turn. Paul

 

Indeed. Having had various operating roles in my railway career, I got used to not drinking unless the next day was a rest day. I therefore found no difficulty with similar requirements for volunteering.