It’s estimated that close to 10 percent of the U.S. population over age 12 has a substance abuse problem. Among full-time employees with substance abuse problems, those aged 18 to 25 have the highest rates. However, lots of older workers have dependence problems, too, particularly alcohol dependence.
Why Be Concerned?
Employees who are working under the influence are 3 times more likely to have job accidents than other employees. And sometimes, when they have an accident, they’re not the only one hurt. They may injure one or more of their co-workers, too.
Even a little alcohol can impair:
Judgment
Coordination
Reaction time
Whether it’s getting behind the wheel of a company vehicle, operating a piece of equipment, handling hazardous chemicals, or climbing a ladder, any impairment can be dangerous, perhaps even deadly. Just image the havoc an impaired forklift operator could cause. Or imagine what could happen to a worker who has had a few drinks and is working high up on a scaffold or a powered platform.
As a safety professional, you don’t even want to imagine such things happening. You certainly don’t want to see them happen in your workplace.
The practice of Drug and Alcohol Testing in the workplace presents a number of challenges and issues for employers and workers alike. Are these screens mandatory? Can an employee refuse to be tested? Are the outcomes of these tests reliable, and can random screens be seen as discriminatory? These are just a few of the issues about Drug and Alcohol Testing.
Pros and Cons of Drug Testing Methods For Details Click Here
The process of compulsory drug testing has proved to be successful strategy, that has helped employers to identify employees, that have a drug issue and need help. It has also reduced the incidence of accidents and contributed to improved attendance and workplace productivity.
On the other side, being approached to undertake a drug or alcohol screen can be daunting, and even perceived as an infringement of employees’ basic rights. Those who do test positive, often feel they are being penalised for a practice they see has little bearing on their work performance, just like smokers in the workplace.
What is Drug and Alcohol Testing ?
Many organisations implement drug and alcohol policies and testing procedures as part of their pre-employment process. When properly implemented, a formalised screening program provides employers, with confidence that their new employees, are free of the influence of illicit substances, and therefore less likely to endanger their own safety and that of their co-workers.
Random testing is also undertaken by many employers as part of ongoing workplace health and safety programs, particularly where an accident many have occurred.
Employers have access to many tests and methods, however, urine and breath tests are the most common, hair follicle testing is becoming increasingly used, with blood testing becoming less prevalent. Testing methods differ in their effectiveness, accurancy, cost and time to deliver results.
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Urine Testing is non-invasive, economical, and identifies recent and occasional use.
Hair Follicle Testing is an alternative that overcomes some of the disadvantages associated with urine testing.
Both these methods are looked at in detail on separate pages.
Breath testing is economical, immediate, non-invasive, and identifies alcohol consumption within a 24 hour period.
Blood testing is more costly, invasive, but very accurate.
Other tests available, Saliva Drug Testing Kits at Test Country Click Here
