There are many reasons why carrying out drug testing and health screening services for pre-employment is essential. These reasons include protecting the employer from potential problems, cost savings for both the employer and employee and reasonable suspicion of abuse.
Cost-saving Preventive Measure
A pre-employment drug test and health screening service can be a cost-saving measure for some employers. It can protect your company from the hazards of substance abuse, which can lead to workers’ compensation claims, lost productivity, and workplace accidents.
The benefits of an excellent pre-employment drug test are numerous. In addition to the savings, you can also identify and mitigate risks associated with the misuse of prescription drugs.
You have to weigh the cost of a drug test with the potential benefits. For example, a urine test can be cheaper than a blood or hair test. This is because it can detect illicit substances for several days. However, a saliva drug test is less invasive.
You will also want to check out other options, such as a worksite risk analysis. This can help you improve safety measures, such as personal protective equipment training.
Consider teaming up with an occupational health screenings provider if your company is large enough. These providers have the training and equipment to perform your pre-employment testing and advise you on substance abuse programs.
Consider taking advantage of worksite risk analyses, which can help identify health risks before they become debilitating. They also might be able to suggest ways you can improve your company’s overall health and safety.
Protecting Employers From Drug Users
A substance abuser can harm others in the workplace, resulting in accidents and lawsuits. It can also affect an employee’s performance and team morale. Pre-employment drug testing and health screening services are essential to protect employers from drug users.
Having a safe and productive work environment is essential for employees and employers. However, having a drug-free workplace can be complicated. Several laws require employers to take action to protect their employees.
In addition, drug use can cause a variety of health issues. For example, a marijuana user may need to detoxify for some time before returning to work. Marijuana users can choose to give up the substance through alternative methods.
Many employers perform random drug tests for current employees and new applicants. These tests are used to detect the use of illegal drugs and to ensure that all job positions are drug-free.
Employers also need to provide treatment programs for their employees who exhibit signs of substance abuse. They need to ensure that they are not engaging in discriminatory hiring practices. If the results of these tests show that an employee has a substance abuse problem, the employer can refuse to hire that individual.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that alcohol, tobacco, and drug use cost over $740 billion annually. This includes the costs of healthcare, lost work productivity, and crime. When employees are under the influence, they are less efficient and collaborative.
Reasonable Suspicion Testing
Reasonable suspicion testing is a drug testing method that allows employers to test for drug use based on evidence of benefit. When performed correctly, affordable suspicion testing can significantly impact the safety of employees.
To effectively implement reasonable suspicion testing, employers should define the policy. They should also train their supervisors in the proper use of the program.
Using a specific and comprehensive drug and alcohol policy can increase productivity, reduce absenteeism, and lower accidents. A well-defined policy can also ensure consistency in the reasonable suspicion process.
Employees who display signs of impairment should be informed of the policy and the need to take a drug test. The employer should also arrange transportation for the employee to the testing center.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) has issued guidelines for reasonable suspicion testing. These guidelines require that observations be contemporaneous, articulable, and based on reliable sources.
A standard impairment observation worksheet includes checklists for each of these categories. The worksheet also contains free-form fields for commentary.
For instance, a bloodshot eye may indicate drug use, while slurred speech indicates alcohol use. Alternatively, an aggressive attitude or change in appearance is an indication of impairment.
