Drug and Alcohol Testing For Safe, Productive Workplace It is shocking, but it is true: contrary to the stereotype, about seventy percent of all drug and alcohol abusers hold a job. Studies show how prevalent substance abuse is in the workplace, and how costly the consequences of this are. Drunk and drugaffected employees cause forty percent of all on the job injuries, and cost employers up to hundred billion dollars a year in lost time, health care, and workers' compensation costs. That is seven thousand dollars per each drunk and drugaffected worker yearly! It's not surprising; therefore, that Drug & Alcohol Testing London & Kent in the workplace is becoming more commonplace, in some safety-conscious industries. Besides those industries which are heavily regulated by the government, such as transport, nuclear energy, or military contracting, testing all employees for drug use is a requirement for those businesses that get federal funds.
Small businesses are also recognizing the importance of a drug-free workplace: not only as a hedge against increasing costs - because of the decreased productivity, & higher workers' compensation insurance premiums - but as a mean to provide safety of their employees & customers, & avoid potential negligence lawsuits. Construction
workers, sales personnel, food preparation staff, bartenders, waiters, labourers & machine operators are among those workers who have the highest rates of forbidden drug use. Employers are widening the scope of drug and alcohol testing, beginning with pre employment testing, and then moving on to random or annual testing, post-incident, and reasonable suspicion testing. Pre employment drug testing is completed as part of the hiring method, after a job offer has been made, but before the applicant is added to the payroll. Reasonable suspicion testing is completed only if the employer has a valid reason to request it, such as when the appearance or behaviour of a worker indicates drug and alcohol abuse. Post-incident testing is completed after an incident if there are facts proposing that a worker responsible for the accident was under the influence.
There are several types of tests used to check for drugs & alcohol, but the most common ones include screening of urine. Basic testing usually screens for cannabinoids, amphetamines, cocaine, opiates & phencyclidine (PCP). Extended testing screens for ethanol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, hallucinogens & inhalants. The most often detected prohibited drug in workplace drug testing is cannabis. Employers cannot force employees to take & pass a drug check, but they can in turn refuse to hire, terminate employment or demote a worker, as well as deny unemployment, disability, & workers' compensation benefits.
About Company: First Intervention Training Ltd provides national workplace drug screening services, including DOT random drug testing program. FIT have more than 10 years experience of working with large multinationals and small organisations. We are also dedicated to the delivery of Face Fit Testing services to help companies comply with the requirements of legislation and industry regulations.
About Author: Terry Hayes is owner of the company First Intervention Training Ltd (FIT) which was established in 1999. The company operates from a fully equipped training and service centre in Essex & London, utilising all the various skills gained over many years of experience. Follow On: Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest