A drug-free working environment is a safe space for everyone and as employers, we would not want to compromise the safety of the majority of our employees. Conducting workplace drug screening or even surprise drug tests at work can be beneficial to the whole organization.
Workplace drug screening is designed to detect the presence of alcohol, illicit drugs, or certain prescription drugs. It is a prevention and deterrent method to achieve a drug-free workplace.
Conducting drug tests means availing with certified labs and following other guidelines for drug testing. These questions are usually to be answered:
- Who receives the testing?
- When are the drug tests given?
- Who conducts the testing?
- What substances are tested for?
- Who pays for the drug testing?
- What steps are taken to ensure the accuracy of the drug tests?
- What are the legal rights of employees who receive a positive test result?
Types of Drug Tests
There are certain types of drug tests an employer can opt out to use during a surprise drug test at work. It varies depending on what types of drugs are being tested for and what types of specimens are being collected. Test specimens can be urine, hair, saliva )oral fluid) or sweat samples. Here are the different types of drug tests:
1. Pre-employment Tests
It usually takes place prior to employment and there are certain advantages of pre-employment tests. All job candidates will receive drug testing prior to being hired.
2. Annual Physical Tests
Annual physical testing includes testing employees for alcohol and other drug use as part of an annual physical examination. It is beneficial to inform employees that drug testing will be part of the exam. It is also important to provide prior notification to the employees because it is their constitutional right.
3. For-cause and Reasonable Suspicion Test
If some of your employees show discernible signs of being unfit for duty or have documented patterns of unsafe work behavior, you can schedule or decide to test them. This is for the protection of your employees, the safety and wellbeing of the employee and other coworkers.
4. Post-accident Tests
When an employee in the workplace has been involved in a recent accident or unsafe practice, it can be beneficial to run a test on the employee. It can help determine whether alcohol or other drug use was a contributing factor to the incident.
5. Post-treatment Test
A post-treatment test is when an employer conducts a test for employees after completing a rehabilitation program to encourage them to remain drug-free.
Final Thoughts
As employers, we are fully responsible to our employees. Conducting a workplace drug screening for them can be beneficial for both the organization and the stakeholders. We are not just promoting safety for everybody but also a healthy environment where no one is afraid of certain factors like drug abuse. This will result in a more productive and profitable business.
At Simpliverified, we protect your business by providing reliable and trusted drug screening for employees. Schedule an appointment for your employee screening now.
