August

"Insightful information on the state of international drug and alcohol testing with answers to many of the questions that have been on your mind such as ""Is the volume of international collections increasing this year? And which countries are conducting the most testing? Coleen Volksdork and Markus Timosaari also share their advice for companies that want to start drug testing internationally. This article is a must read to stay current on what is happening globally regarding drug and alcohol testing. "

What obligations do employers hold to employees in terms of protecting them from other intoxicated workers? Persons Conducting Business or Undertaking (PCBUs) have an onerous duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and others in their workplace under WHS laws. This includes the provision of a safe work environment, information, instruction, training and supervision in relation to WHS that extends to being under the influence of drugs or alcohol at work. In this context, what are 'reasonably practicable steps' to protect the health and safety of workers? A drug and alcohol policy should generally be introduced to regulate, if not eliminate, the use of drugs and alcohol in the workplace. It is important to assess the risks associated with drug and alcohol use in the workplace, document a policy that seeks to eliminate those risks, require compliance with the policy and procedure as a term of the employment agreement and consistently enforce non-compliance.

"Energy, ingenuity and international outlook make Hong Kong a fertile territory for success, says Peter Mathieson, president of the University of Hong Kong. Hong Kong has low taxation, high employment, a permissive regulatory framework and uncensored communications. It also has a creative ""can-do"" spirit, an enviable track record of adaptability and resilience and excellent supplies of talented, educated, often bilingual or trilingual youngsters. Hong Kong has a university system that annually produces vast numbers of graduates brimming with ideas, enthusiasm and energy. There are examples in Asian culture that Hong Kong can collaborate with and learn from. We simply need to provide the environment for them to flourish. Of course, this will require expansion of current infrastructure and more funding, public and private, but Hong Kong has the insight to realise that it will need to adapt in order to compete."