Hamilton By Design – Fitness for Work Policy
1. Purpose
Hamilton By Design is committed to providing a safe, healthy, and productive working environment for employees, contractors, clients, and visitors.
The purpose of this Fitness for Work Policy is to ensure that all persons performing work on behalf of Hamilton By Design are physically and mentally capable of safely carrying out their duties, without risk to themselves or others.
Fitness for work is critical to maintaining high standards of safety, engineering judgement, and professional performance—particularly when working on industrial sites, construction environments, and shutdown-critical projects.
2. Scope
This policy applies to:
- Employees
- Directors and officers
- Contractors and consultants
- Subcontractors
- Any person performing work on behalf of Hamilton By Design
This policy applies to office-based work, remote work, and site-based activities, including travel to and from work sites where required as part of duties.
3. Definition of Fitness for Work
A person is considered fit for work when they are in a physical and mental condition that enables them to perform assigned tasks competently and safely.
Factors that may affect fitness for work include, but are not limited to:
- Fatigue
- Alcohol or drug use
- Medical conditions or injuries
- Stress or mental health concerns
- Medication that may impair performance
- Illness
- Excessive working hours or insufficient rest
4. Responsibilities
4.1 Hamilton By Design
Hamilton By Design will:
- Take reasonable steps to ensure workers are fit for work
- Manage work hours, travel, and workload to reduce fatigue risk
- Comply with client site fitness-for-work and drug & alcohol requirements
- Provide a supportive environment where fitness-for-work concerns can be raised without fear of reprisal
- Take appropriate action where fitness for work may be compromised
4.2 Workers
All workers are responsible for:
- Presenting fit for work at all times
- Managing personal health and fatigue
- Not attending work while impaired by alcohol, drugs, fatigue, or illness
- Complying with client and site-specific fitness-for-work requirements
- Promptly reporting any condition that may affect their ability to work safely
5. Fatigue Management
Hamilton By Design recognises fatigue as a significant safety risk.
To manage fatigue:
- Work hours and travel will be planned to allow adequate rest
- Extended hours and high-risk activities will be assessed and managed
- Workers must advise management if they believe fatigue may affect their safety or performance
- Workers must not perform safety-critical tasks when fatigued
6. Alcohol and Drugs
Workers must not attend work while under the influence of alcohol or drugs that may impair judgement, coordination, or reaction time.
- Zero tolerance applies where required by client or site rules
- Workers must comply with client drug and alcohol testing requirements
- Prescription and over-the-counter medications that may affect performance must be managed responsibly
Any concerns regarding impairment will be addressed immediately and may result in removal from work duties.
7. Medical Conditions and Medication
Workers must ensure that any medical condition, injury, or medication does not compromise their ability to work safely.
Where required:
- Workers should inform management of any condition that may affect safety
- Reasonable adjustments may be implemented where practicable
- Medical clearance may be required for specific site or task requirements
All medical information will be treated confidentially.
8. Mental Health and Wellbeing
Hamilton By Design recognises that mental health is an important component of fitness for work.
- Workers are encouraged to speak up if experiencing stress, anxiety, or other mental health concerns
- Supportive and practical solutions will be considered where possible
- No worker will be disadvantaged for raising genuine fitness-for-work concerns
9. Non-Compliance
Failure to comply with this policy may result in:
- Removal from work duties or site
- Further assessment of fitness for work
- Disciplinary action, where applicable
- Termination of engagement in serious cases
10. Review and Continuous Improvement
This policy will be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains current with legislative requirements, client expectations, and industry best practice.
11. Commitment
Hamilton By Design is committed to ensuring that all work is carried out by people who are fit for work, capable of exercising sound engineering judgement, and able to perform their duties safely and professionally.
Approved by:
Hamilton By Design Management
Effective Date: 06/12/2006