The Drug and Detection Agency (TDDA) today revealed its first Health and Safety Policy Survey. The findings indicate that New Zealand and Australian businesses are serious about health and safety at a leadership level, but many lack confidence that their systems, policies and programmes are keeping pace with regulatory complexity and expanding risk. Strong intent is not matched by operational certainty, creating avoidable legal, safety and productivity exposure.
“Today’s regulatory environment is complicated,” says Glenn Dobson, CEO, TDDA. “Prescription drugs, medicinal cannabis, new roadside testing rules, all of this is creating uncertainty that requires the correct balance of drug, alcohol and health policies, and a deliberate and compliant implementation.”
The survey was conducted by TDDA and responses were received from more than 1,000 businesses from across New Zealand and Australia. Respondents are primarily from safety-sensitive industries, including construction, manufacturing, transport, warehousing, and agriculture.
Approximately 77% of respondents identified as owners, directors HR professionals, or senior executives, indicating that safety is being governed at decision-making level rather than left to frontline management. This is reinforced by prioritisation data, more than 90% of respondents rated workplace health and safety as a high level priority.
“The signal from Kiwi business leaders is unambiguous, health and safety is viewed as fundamental to operations, reputation and workforce sustainability,” says Dobson.
That commitment, however, is not consistently supported by compliance confidence. Businesses reported difficulty understanding, achieving or maintaining compliance as requirements continue to evolve. Around 22% of respondents indicated their drug and alcohol policy had not been reviewed in the past 12 months, or they were unsure when it was last reviewed.
“If you’re unsure your policies are up to standard, there’s a strong likelihood that they no longer reflect current standards, guidance, legislation, or case law. That exposes organisations to unnecessary legal and due-diligence risk. It’s critical to review and update drug and alcohol policies on an annual basis, as well as educate supervisors, managers, and employees too.” says Dobson.
The data also show that substance-related risk is broadening. When asked which substances are of greatest concern in their workplace, 78% of respondents identified methamphetamine, 76% identified cannabis (THC), and 68% identified alcohol. Significant proportions also cited opiates /opioids (45%) and cocaine (42%), alongside a growing concern about emerging risks such as synthetic cannabinoids and prescription medication misuse.
“It wasn’t long ago businesses were mostly worried about cannabis and methamphetamine, but the global drug trade and cartel activity have brought more risk to New Zealand’s shores. Employers are left to manage and adapt to a modern, wider and more complex drug environment that includes prescription medications, fentanyl, synthetic cannabinoids and a significant growth in cocaine. It all requires more comprehensive testing and education,” says Dobson.
Testing programmes remain dominated by urinalysis (84%), it remains the industry norm showing its suitability for many organisational and operational contexts. Oral fluid testing (46%) is growing in use.
“Both urnalysis and oral fluid testing have their strengths and limitations. We always work with clients to understand their circumstances and what they are trying to achieve through testing, ” says Dobson.
Occupational health and safety systems are not keeping pace with drug and alcohol programmes. Only 58% of respondents reported conducting regular medical or occupational health checks, indicating a shortfall in businesses proactively supporting workforce health.
“We often hear about productivity losses from injury and illness, yet almost half of businesses are not taking proactive steps to address them. Occupational health checks allow employers to actively monitor and manage worker health, from respiratory and hearing checks to musculoskeletal wellbeing. Smart businesses do the right thing early, protect their people, and they are rewarded with a healthier, more productive workforce,” says Dobson.
Training remains another pressure point with one in five businesses (20%) reporting they are not providing staff training or education on health and safety or drug and alcohol policies. Without clear, ongoing communication and training, even well-constructed policies and testing regimes are unlikely to deliver consistent behavioural outcomes. Beyond compliance, a strong commitment to training also plays an important role in building a positive internal culture.
“TDDA’s findings suggest that while New Zealand businesses are committed to health and safety, many would benefit from more integrated, professionally designed programmes that combine policy, testing, occupational health checks and education. In an increasingly complex regulatory environment, partnering with a qualified, accredited and specialist provider is becoming less a choice and more a practical necessity for organisations seeking to protect their people, their productivity and their legal position,” says Dobson.
Methodology: The survey was based on responses from over 1,000 businesses drawn from TDDA’s New Zealand and Australia database. All respondents had previously engaged with, or expressed interest in, TDDA’s drug, alcohol and workplace health and safety services. The survey sample is not random and does not represent all businesses in New Zealand and Australia but provides insight into the views and challenges of employers actively managing substance-related workplace risk. The survey was fielded between 1 September to 30 September 2025 and offers a snapshot of employer attitudes toward health and safety priorities, substance use policies, compliance, and testing programmes.
