Toolbox talk · People and work practices
Fit for duty: fatigue, drugs and alcohol
A tired or impaired worker puts the whole crew at risk, not just themselves. Long days, early starts and late nights add up, and alcohol, drugs and some medicines slow your reactions on a site full of heavy equipment, edges and power tools. Today we talk about showing up ready to work and speaking up when someone isn't.
Published 2026-10-23
Key points
- 1Get real rest before a shift. If you only slept a few hours, tell the foreman so we can keep you off high-risk tasks like running equipment or working at heights.
- 2No alcohol or drugs before or during work, including lunch breaks. Showing up hungover is not fit for duty either.
- 3Check the label on any medicine you take, even over-the-counter cold or allergy pills. If it says it can cause drowsiness or warns about machinery, tell your supervisor before you start.
- 4Know the warning signs of fatigue: yawning a lot, heavy eyes, missing steps, forgetting things, or zoning out. If you feel them, stop, take a short break, drink water and tell someone.
- 5Take your scheduled breaks and eat. Pushing through without food or water makes fatigue worse, especially on long or hot days.
- 6If a coworker seems impaired or too tired to work safely, speak up. Tell them directly or tell the foreman; it's about keeping everyone alive, not getting anyone in trouble.
- 7Never drive a company truck or run equipment when you're drowsy or impaired. Hand off the keys and ask for a different task.
Talk it over
- Which jobs on this site would be most dangerous to do while tired or impaired?
- What would make it easier for you to tell the foreman you're not fit to work today?
- How would you approach a coworker who you think has been drinking or is falling asleep on the job?
Remember
If you're not fit to work safely, say so; if a buddy isn't, speak up.
Also in the other language: Aptos para trabajar: cansancio, drogas y alcohol
Official sources
Print it with a sign-in sheet
Pro prints every talk on your letterhead with an attendance sheet, records who attended, and emails your foremen this week's talk every Monday.
General information, not legal advice. Templates and examples should be reviewed by a competent person before use. HardHat Binder is not affiliated with or endorsed by OSHA.