We all know how risky it is to drive while intoxicated. The danger is greatly increased if you are driving heavy lifting machines. The effects of alcohol are numerous. They may be more or less obvious, but they all affect work performance.

One of the first consequences of drinking alcohol, even in relatively small doses, is difficulty in concentrating and fatigue. We tend to be less alert and more prone to sleep disturbances, reduction of field of vision, optical disturbances and reduced ability to adapt to night vision.

Alcohol also affects spatio-temporal relationships. The individual begins to experience a slowing down of reaction times and has difficulty in perceiving stimuli. Alcohol influences and complicates the coordination of movements, which are perceived with a considerable delay. This also leads to a reduced ability to assess distances and the surrounding space.

With larger amounts of alcohol, the previous symptoms are aggravated and an altered state of consciousness ensues, through the stimulation of euphoric sensations. Alcohol induces a sense of well-being and safety  that leads to overestimating one’s own abilities and taking risks that in other situations would never be taken. Often, the effects of alcohol tend to be underestimated because they are only partly perceptible and differ depending on many factors. These include the interaction between many drugs and alcohol, such as tranquillisers or painkillers, which amplifies the negative effects.

At Magni, when it comes to machine safety, we are at the forefront of anticipating and resolving any possible risk factor for the operator. However, safety at work also directly involves the responsibility of the operator, who is required to behave properly. Even the safest machine can become dangerous if driven by an intoxicated operator. Therefore, it is essential to raise awareness of these issues in order to operate in total safety.