Substance Misuse Linked to 40% of Industrial Accidents
A newly released guide from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and Dräger Safety in the United Kingdom is sounding the alarm on the crisis of workplace impairment. While this study was conducted in the United Kingdom, its findings should serve as an urgent warning for employers across the United States.
RoSPA’s Best Practice Guide for Managing Drink and Drug Misuse uncovered several sobering statistics:
- 40% of industrial accidents in the UK are linked to substance misuse.
- Up to three million workers (about 3% of the workforce) have attended work under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Alcohol-related productivity losses exceed £7.3 billion (~$9.5 billion) annually.
- Workplace “hangovers” alone cost the UK economy £1.2–£1.4 billion (~ $1.7billion) per year.
- 20% of road deaths in 2023 were attributed to alcohol or drugs.
Some may dismiss these findings as a UK-specific issue, but American employers are also facing escalating challenges: about 18% of adults 18 and older are living with a substance use disorder,1 more states are legalizing marijuana while THC potency continues to rise, overdose deaths among working-age adults remain alarmingly high, and safety-sensitive industries are strained by persistent workforce shortages, including difficulty finding employees who can pass drug tests.
The RoSPA guide emphasizes that modern drug and alcohol testing tools are discreet, non-invasive, and widely accepted by employees. Technologies such as quick saliva swabs, breathalyzers, and even alcohol interlock systems offer reliable ways to detect impairment and prevent tragedies.
But testing alone is not enough. The guide calls for a balanced, comprehensive approach including:
- Clear, proactive policies
- Education and training
- Consent-based testing
- Support and rehabilitation
- A culture of safety and responsibility
As RoSPA’s Road Safety Manager Caitlin Taylor put it, driving or working under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or certain prescription medications is a “live safety threat.” Employers have a duty to protect not only their employees but also the public.
The United States is facing many of the same challenges highlighted in the UK study. We cannot wait for U.S. data to catch up before taking action. The costs: human, financial, and societal, are simply too great.
Source:
Health & Safety International. (2025, November 19). Substance misuse linked to 40 % of industrial accidents. https://www.healthandsafetyinternational.com/article/1940303/substance-misuse-linked-40-industrial-accidents
Citations:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2024). 2022-2023 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health: State-specific tables of model-based estimates (totals and percentages). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt56188/2023-nsduh-sae-state-tables_0/2023-nsduh-sae-state-tables.htm