Maintaining a safe working environment has not only become a matter of priority to many employers because it is good practice and required by the law but in most cases it is a life and death issue. Many organizations have put some form internal checks in their practice even though this can be quite tricky to implement due to a number of logistical issues. There are many things you need to know clearly about the positives of a drug and alcohol testing program and how to deal with any anticipated negative outcomes that could arise.
Some of the positive outcomes of drug safety include:
Enhanced safety: Testing for drugs in the workplace will create a safe environment for your employees, visitors and customers. All employees and customers who spend time in your premises will definitely feel safer and have piece of mind with the simple knowledge that workers are sober enough to handle machines and equipment.
Reduction of accidents: There is sufficient evidence to show that the use of drugs and alcohol actually increases the incidence of accidents at the place of work. People who come to work under the influence of alcohol and drugs are especially risky and they also put other worker at risk. This is especially true where the use of machines or travelling is part of work. Employers who have a drug and alcohol policy and those who conduct regular testing play a significant role in ensuring minimal risk to accidents.
Good practice: The business of drug and alcohol testing is an important policy the every employer needs to put in place. As an employer, you want to avoid any litigation as a result of accidents that could have been avoided should such a policy have been in place. And an employer, you are obliged to ensure that none of your employees drives company vehicles or operates your machines and equipment while under the influence.
Supports staff with dependency problems: If your company has a good policy you will be in a better position to support any staff member who will be dealing with issues of drug misuse or abuse. Testing programs should be more than just testing for levels but go on to providing guidance and support to those who are addicted.
Challenges you will have to deal with include:
Privacy: You may want to ask all employees in your organization to undergo a drug and alcohol test and let them submit results as one of the requirements before they get hired. However, you may get some employees who feel that undergoing such a test is an invasion of their private lives and could therefore become resistant. You need to give a proper explanation why they need to undergo such a test, especially where they don't see a very clear reason why they really need to undergo the test.
Costs: There is no doubt that any test such as this will come with some cost implication; every single test comes with its own costs. The truth of the matter is that at the end of the day, while some of these costs can seem to be high, there is no way you can compare the money you are going to spend on them to the amount of trouble you are likely to forestall. In most cases, if you are a large organization you could actually ask for discounts especially from the service provider because of the volume of business you will be providing.
Issues of trust: You want to handle the results of all tests with lots of confidence in order to avoid any negative perceptions that could come out from managers to staff members and vice-versa.
It's therefore important that every company learns everything about the positive and negative impacts of workplace alcohol testing and saliva drug testing before they implement the action.
The article has been written by Avisha and is currently writing for Integrity Sampling, Australia's leading saliva drug testing and alcohol testing company that provides Australia wide services to businesses and organizations.
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