Breathalyser Articles

Breathalysers make their way into the workplace to provide a safer environment

Breathalysers make their way into the workplace to provide a safer environment

You can’t always be sure if your employees are affected by alcohol and attempting to monitor alcohol consumption on the worksite runs the risk of angering the Unions. Now this problem can be avoided with the use of fast, accurate and non invasive wall-mounted breathalysers.
Since alcohol can cloud a person’s judgment, there is a more accurate way to take the guesswork out of figuring out your blood alcohol content. A wall-mounted breathalyser gives you an accurate BAC test result, establishes beyond argument whether workers are effected by alcohol or not and if necessary, can prevent employees from driving or operating machinery. Employers can never be sure when a worker has had too much to drink; however an onsite breathalyser helps them make an impartial decision. When workers actually see their blood alcohol concentration (BAC), they are less likely to operate heavy machinery or get into a car and drive.

Wall-mounted breathalysers such as Andatech Alocsense Soberpoint provide employees with the ability to monitor their own BAC, dramatically lowering the invasion of privacy and therefore satisfying the Unions. They allow fast, accurate readings of an employees BAC at the push of a button. In some instances there has been opposition from civil right activists who raised issues of stifling personal freedom and individual rights. Wall-mounted breathalyser machines help bridge these issues by allowing the employee to operate the unit themselves.

Most fixed breathalysers are equipped with fuel cell technology, which allows for highly accurate BAC test results. They are designed to give the user easy to follow visual cues for proper operation, as well as warnings based on the results. The user simply removes a straw (standard drinking straw) from the dispenser, inserts it into the machine and gives a breath sample. The alcohol sensor calculates alcohol content and displays it within 10 seconds.

The key component to any breathalyser is accuracy. So invest in the best and only consider a wall-mounted breathalyser that is Australian Standard approved. There are very few on the market today that can claim such accuracy in a breath test. Breathalysers that are Australian Standard AS3547 approved have all passed rigorous quality assurance tests. The Australian Standard AS3547 only certifies products that meet strict requirements.

When you consider that a breathalyser can prevent workplace accidents from occurring, it’s a sensible investment. Safety in the workplace is on everyone’s minds. Achieving that safety is worth the investment, especially when you consider it can save yours and other people’s lives. Be safe and be sure, cement your workplaces future.

Ignition Interlock Device increases safety on the roads and in the workplace

Ignition Interlock Device increases safety on the roads and in the workplace

In recent times a lot of scrutiny has been placed upon the trucking industry in regards to the safety of other drivers and themselves. When an employee is pressured to meet a deadline, they can forget what is most important and therefore disregard their own or others safety. Unfortunately sometimes this means not ensuring they are completely sober before they get behind the wheel.
The ATA (Australian Trucking Association) has a Zero tolerance of driving whilst under the influence of alcohol and/or illicit drugs. It supports current road law limits of zero for drivers whilst driving a heavy vehicle in respect to drugs or alcohol. It also supports both random and evidence based targeted roadside alcohol and drug testing of drivers. It is evident that in order to tackle this issue head on, ongoing testing and monitoring of employees needs to be implemented.

Monitoring employees on a day to day, hour to hour basis is obviously a difficult task, especially when some businesses work from the road. An increasingly popular way to combat this problem is through the implementation of a car interlock system, also known as an Ignition Interlock Device. The Ignition Interlock Device is a handheld breathalyser mounted to the dashboard of a car and hooked up to the cars ignition. Before driving, the driver must breathe into the device so that it can gauge a BAC (blood alcohol content) reading. If the driver is within legal limits, the device allows the engine to turn over and start the car. However, if the driver does not pass the test, the car will not start. Once the car starts and it is on the road, the driver must periodically perform another breath test. If the BAC is an illegal level, the headlights will start flashing and the horn honking until the ignition is turned off. This ensures that the driver does not fool the device by having a sober friend blow into the machine before he or she drives away, as well as preventing the driver from drinking while driving. As most workplaces have a zero tolerance of alcohol, the Ignition Interlock Device provides the enforcer of the unit the capability to preset the acceptable level of alcohol.

Questions have been raised over whether involving breathalysing in the workplace is fair or whether it destroys an individual’s rights. However, who is to say that ensuring a workers safety and well-being is not providing a better environment on the roads and the workplace? There is a fine line between using privacy issues as a scapegoat and just plainly not wanting to be caught out.

So if you were to look for a breathalyser that you could deem reliable, what components would you look for? The key component to any breathalyser is accuracy. So invest in the best and only consider an Ignition Interlock Device that is Australian Standard approved. Breathalysers on the market today rarely guarantee such accuracy in a breath test. The Australian Standard AS3547 is only certified after rigorous quality assurance tests are carried out, so only look for Ignition Interlock Devices which have this standard. It will ensure the breathalyser has met strict requirements.

To improve safety on our roads and your workplace, a lot of things need to be considered. By introducing an alcohol tester into the workforce it eliminates one more problem and provides peace of mind. It’s a sensible investment to ensure a safe future environment for your employees.

What is Fuel Cell Breathalyser

What is a Fuel Cell Breathalyser?

A breathalyser that utilises a fuel cell is using one of the most advanced methods of determining a persons BAC (blood alcohol concentration). A fuel cell measures alcohol content by creating a chemical reaction through platinum metal that oxidises the alcohol in the sample and produces an electrical current. Fuel Cell breathalysers are more specific for ethyl alcohol and reduces false readings from substances such as ketones that are similar in chemical structure to alcohol. Therefore, they are accurate and very stable.

Fuel cell sensors are expensive and commonly used in industrial or evidential grade breathalysers.

See : AlcoSense Prodigy Breathalyser, AlcoSense Prodigy Breathalyser, AlcoSense Precision Breathalyser, AlcoSense Precision 2 Breathalyser, AlcoSense Stealth Breathalyser

What is a Semi Conductor Breathalyser?

A semi conductor breathalyser uses an economical method to oxidise the alcohol electronically through tin-oxide substance. Semi conductors breathalysers are accurate and very sensitive to any chemical substances. Therefore it is recommended to wait 20 minutes after the last consumption of alcohol or any food before using the unit.

Semi conductor sensors are commonly used in alcohol screening devices, personal breathalysers and for low-volume professional testing. These breathalysers have been proven to perform very well and give accurate readings when maintained or calibrated every 6 months.

See : Andatech AL6000 Pro Breathalyser, AlcoSense Zenith Breathalyser, AlcoSense Elite II Breathalyser

Factors Affecting Breathalyser Accuracy

Breathalysers only estimate the BAC, not physically measure it, so several factors can cause the breathalyser to give either an artificially higher or lower reading. The most common are:

Body temperature and blood composition as outlined above.
Some breathalysers can't differentiate between ethyl alcohol and other compounds of a simple chemical nature. Methyl compounds such as acetone and ketones can be present in the breath of diabetics and those taking dietary supplements, causing the breathalyser to over-estimate the BAC. Similarly vinegar can cause confusion with some of the older or dumber breathalysers. EnvIronmental substances in the vicinity of the breathalyser including compounds found in lacquer, paint remover, celluloid, gasoline, and cleaning fluids can also effect the reading in older breathalysers. See difference between fuel-cell and semi-conductor breathalyser article
Breathalysers assume that the alcohol concentration in the breath will be the same as in the blood, and that the breath is sourced from deep in the lungs, but the breath alcohol concentration can be increased by vomit or blood in the mouth, acid reflux, or simply having had a drink recently with alcohol residue from that drink still being in the mouth at the time of testing. Mouthwash or breath freshener often contain alcohol, so don't use these in an attempt to disguise the smell of alcohol when being pulled over.
Electrical interference from cell phones and police radios.
By law, police breathalysers are required to be calibrated for a particular ambient operating temperature, and nearly all are. The problem comes in areas that experience cold winters - while the breathalyser may be calibrated for the correct outside temperature, if its taken out of the nice warm patrol car and used immediately it will not have had enough time to cool down to its calibrated operating temperature and will give an artificially high reading.
Absorption of alcohol into the blood may lag actually drinking it by as much as 1-2 hours so even though you may have alcohol in your breath, if you've only consumed it recently it may not be in your bloodstream in the concentration that testing your breath indicates.

Source : rupissed.com

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Ranging from work place testing, drug and alcohol testing, Australian standard, saliva, urine, passive and quantitive testing. Any reports about issues arrising from the testing or lack there of, if you have an article to submit, please call 1300 800 200.

Road Tole - 2008, December

The year to date road toll, as at midnight 9th December 2008, stands at 289, down 6% on the same period last year (308).

Please note that all figures are provided by Victoria Police and are subject to change.

For more detailed information please visit the TAC Safety website.

Work Safe Month ends with a solid message

SafeToWork.com.au
Wednesday 05 November 2008

DRUGS and alcohol at work are in the crosshairs as the final week of Safe Work Month sees two seminars in Adelaide on the issue.
The seminars will be addressed by Jack Owens, Education Officer of the Construction and Other Industries Drugs and Alcohol Program.
According to Owens, construction is one of the most dangerous industries in Australia statistically, with high levels of occupational accidents.
However, 27% of construction workers also drank at high or moderate risk levels. Other industries have an 18% average.
Owens says discretion is critical when dealing with a worker who is deemed to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If the substances render a worker unsafe, they are asked to leave the workplace for safety reasons, with the reasons to be dealt with privately later

Why work and alcohol don't mix

By Belinda Merhab
September 18, 2008
Herald Sun

EMPLOYERS are being warned to take precautions at work-related social events where alcohol is involved, to avoid litigation.

Bullying, sexual harassment and aggression were potential problems when alcohol was consumed in a workplace setting, Sarah Ralph, a workplace relations partner at Deacons law firm, said.

She said employers sometimes forgot the same laws which apply in an office also applied at social work functions, whether it be in a corporate box at a football match or under a marquee at the Spring Carnival.

"I think that wherever there is alcohol, there is always a much greater risk of things like discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying," Ms Ralph said today.

"You see more complaints and litigation when alcohol is involved. In our practice ... they definitely do come up.

"We would see a number of instructions about incidents where alcohol has been involved each year."

Ms Ralph said cases involving an employee making a claim against another staff member or the employer were common around the coming Christmas "silly season".

Last year, a woman brought a sexual harassment claim against her employer to the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board, after he referred to her as "babe" and "honey" during a social event at a golf club.

"Because that workplace was quite conservative, words like 'babe' and 'honey' were considered to have a sexual connotation," Ms Ralph said.

She said employers also needed to be aware of occupational health and safety issues at staff social events to insure no one was accidentally injured.

But she said work events could still be fun and the most simple precaution was to tell guests to enjoy themselves in a responsible manner.

"Making sure people are aware of the expected behaviour is really important," Ms Ralph said.

"If they are serving alcohol, make sure there's plenty of food going around and someone who is responsible, so they can put a halt on things."

"Being aware of your legal risks doesn't mean you need to be a wowser, it just means you need to create a safe place."