Employee Health and Wellness
ARG is committed to protecting the safety and health of its employees and takes the health and wellness of individuals seriously. Our policies and procedures for Fitness for Work reflect this, and are instrumental in the organisation achieving Zero Harm.
Each aspect of Fitness for Work, including Drug and Alcohol testing, Medicals, Fatigue and Health and Wellness is considered in maintaining the health and safety of ARG employees.
Health Assessment
All new employees undergo a health assessment to determine their health and fitness for work; as guided by the National Standard for Health Assessment of Rail Safety Workers and required by the National Transport Commission. The type of health assessment an employee will undergo is dependant on the nature of the tasks and therefore the category of work; Safety Critical Work and Non-Safety Critical Work. An Occupational Physician certifies employees fit for duty based on the results of these health assessments.
Alcohol and other Drugs
ARG is committed to protecting the safety and health of our employees, contractors, visitors and the community by preventing incidents arising from the misuse of alcohol or other drugs. In doing so, the organisation implements an alcohol and illicit drug free operating environment. This includes; implementation of effective control strategies to address the risk of misuse including procedural controls and testing regimes. Employees and any other persons performing work on the premises or property are required to undertake drug testing in circumstances including:
- As part of pre-employment and routine health assessment testing;
- As a result of selection for random workplace drugs testing;
- As a result of a workplace incident or accident; and
- Where the employer suspects that an employee or other person in the workplace is unfit to perform work as a result of drugs
ARG provides support for employees with alcohol and drug related problems via an Employee Assistance Program. This involves registered psychologists providing employees with confidential counselling support for a period of time or a number of sessions.
Fatigue
ARG operations are conducted in a 24 hour day, seven day per week environment; consequently employees are required to work at various times of the day or night. Research into this type of work has led to the Industry's recognition of fatigue and the impact it has on the workforce.
In order to minimise the risks of fatigue, it is imperative for both ARG and employees to take their shared responsibility in respect to fatigue seriously.
Fatigue management tools have been implemented by ARG, along with the provision of training and education for all levels of employees. In striving to reach Zero Harm, ARG have committed to further development in the use of a risk management approach when dealing with fatigue.
Injury Management
In the event of an employee sustaining an injury whilst at work; ARG will provide injured employees with appropriate support aimed at returning the individual to work as safely and as quickly as possible. The return to work process will comply with the relevant state Workers Compensation legislation and involve working closely with the injured employee and medical practitioner.
ARG is also committed to providing assistance, where possible, to employees absent from the workplace due to or following a non-work related illness or injury.
Wellness
ARG recognises the large impact employer based wellness programs can have on employee health and wellbeing. ARG will implement a Corporate Wellness program aimed at increasing the health awareness of employees through education and training, whilst enhancing the skills required for individual’s to establish the behavioural changes needed to sustain a healthy and balanced lifestyle.