Employee Drug Tests
Tips & Advice to help you make your decision on Employee Drug Tests
Have you ever witnessed a company accident at your job site? Were drugs considered a factor in the incident? These days it is almost a necessity to have policies in place that cover when an issue of a co-worker being under the influence of drugs is at hand. When hiring for a job that requires working around equipment and other types of machinery, it is a good idea to test the potential candidate for any signs of drug presence. It is not an infringement on an individual's right to require employee drug tests. In fact, it is sound company practice to have standards in place to protect others and the company's reputation.
Various state and federal statutes provide for the requirement that companies screen hires, including testing for the presence of drugs such as marijuana and heroin. Considering certain drugs will remain in the human body for a lengthy period of time, employee drug tests protect the potential for lawsuits if something should happen in the way of on the job accidents. Drug test facilities need to be reliable and provide for accurate results.
Many businesses maintain contracts with employee drug test facilities. Drug test facilities need to be reliable and provide for accurate results. Business.com makes finding the right facility for your company easy and convenient.
Employee Drug Testing
How to do it right to comply with laws and keep your business safeBy Sheila Callahan, Freelance Journalist Drug abuse costs business big money because of high employee turnover, damaged equipment, reduced productivity and theft. Drug testing can aid in screening prospective employees as well as managing your current workforce. Reliable testing is key. Implementing a proven program can make your business more efficient and a safer place to work.
It comes down to three things:
- Decide on the best type of program for your business.
- Determine who will administer it.
- Know the limitations of drug testing.
Drug test results are only as good as the tests administered
It's important to conduct tests that yield reliable results. Use a laboratory with a track record for accuracy.
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WolfeData.com provides kits and a listing of 7,000 collection sites nationwide.
Offsite testing establishes a healthy boundary
It helps to put some distance between what employees see as an uncomfortable test and the workplace.
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Disa.com, a leading provider of full-service employee screening services, administers drug and alcohol testing policies for U.S. Department of Transportation among others.
Institute policies and procedures
Develop a company policy that outlines drug-testing procedures
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HRPolicyAnswers.com can help you set up an employee drug-testing policy. Drugsaware.com provides software to help manage your drug-testing process.
Get compliant
Federal regulations, contract or insurance requirements count as some of the reasons why employers conduct drug tests.
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Expomed.com outlines some of the reasons.
Consider costs
Generally the employer pays, although occasionally the employee pays and receives reimbursement when the test results prove negative. Some employers have dropped drug-testing programs due to high overall costs.
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Drugwarfacts.org cites recent trends and costs in employee drug testing.
Weed out drug users before hiring
Pre-employment drug testing will eliminate candidates unfit due to substance abuse.
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Preemploymentdrugtests.com has developed technology to analyze hair to test for drug abuse, a test considered much less invasive than others.
Know what to look for
There are generally five categories of substances for which people are commonly tested .
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Drugdetection.net gives you more information on these substances. Uritoxmedicaltesting.com provides an easy-to-read table that shows the types of commonly abused drugs, the timetable for their detection and the urine tests used to pinpoint them.
- A drug-testing program can deter your employees from coming to work unfit for duty.
- Having a policy in place discourages drug abusers from applying to your organization in the first place.
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