Drug & Alcohol Testing Information
Developing your own in house drug testing program can save approximately 50% off your current lab fees!
Workplace drug testing is an essential component of a prevention program because it:
- Serves as a deterrent to continued use of an illicit substance
- Provides a means to detect and thereby, identify employee or job applicants who are using illicit substances
- Assists employees in recognizing and admitting their abuse problems so that they may obtain necessary treatment
What is a Drug Free Workplace?
It is an employment setting where all employees adhere to a program of policies and activities designed to provide a safe workplace, discourage alcohol and drug abuse and encourage treatment, recovery and the return to work of those employees with such abuse problems.
5 Steps to Implementing a Drug Free Workplace Program
- Prepare a written substance abuse policy.
- Train your supervisors
- Educate your employees
- Consider providing an Employee Assistance Program
- Implement a drug-testing program
What are the characteristics of an effective, comprehensive Drug Free Workplace Program?
- Active, visible leadership and support of the program by the employer
- Clear, written Drug-Free workplace policies and procedures that are applied uniformly
- Employee and union involvement in program development of the program management, supervisors, union representatives and employees who are knowledgeable about their roles, rights, and responsibilities under the Drug-Free workplace policy
- Access to treatment and follow-up for employees who are having abuse problems
- Methods of identifying alcohol and drug abusers, including drug testing, for the purpose of providing the opportunity for treatment, recovery and the return to work
Why should an employer establish a comprehensive Drug Free workplace program?
- Compliance with law or other regulations
- Qualification for insurance discounts, rebates and other incentives
- Prevention of associated problems, e.g., absenteeism, accidents, injuries, productivity, loss Response to an incident or pattern of substance abuse
- Expression of support for the majority of employees who do not abuse alcohol or drugs
- Investment in worker health, safety, and family stability? Marketing of Drug-Free workers and services
Types of Drug Testing
- Pre-Employment Drug Testing
- Post-Accident Drug Testing
- Random Drug Testing
- Reasonable Suspicion Drug Testing