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Drug Testing Issues
"Should we test only those in Health, Safety and Security critical posts?"
This is a discussion that every organisation should have before implementing
a test programme, and the result - ideally a consensus between employer
and staff - will differ from company to company. We have clients who adopt
a position "Yes we test only for health and safety critical posts" and
some who adopt the position 'No, our test programme applies to everyone'
- their viewpoints are outlined below; you decide what best fits your
organisation's purpose, objectives and culture. (NB. Most clients who
carry out pre-employment testing apply the test to all candidates no matter
what post they are applying for).Find out more about implementing
a drugs and alcohol policy.
"Yes we test only for health and safety critical posts"
These posts include a pretty wide ranging group: from drivers of buses
and trains through to forklift truck operators, delivery van drivers and
motorbike couriers; also armed police officers, child protection workers,
security agency staff, and machinery workers. "Our objectives in implementing
a test programme is to protect the public and our own staff from safety
risks - we think we should test only certain staff such as our bus drivers
because that's where the greatest risks are".
Risk Manager, transport company. "We test anyone who works behind the safety barrier - drivers,
crew, maintenance workers for example". London Underground drugs and alcohol
unit.
"No, our test programme applies to everyone"
"We began discussing the implementation of a test programme with our staff
citing health and safety as the main criteria for introducing it. A suggestion
was made that only employees who work in those areas would be subject
to testing, however our staff forum objected to this proposal
saying:
- Health and safety is everyone's concern, and just singling out one group of staff seems unfair: the company's drugs and alcohol policy applies to all our staff and so should the test programme from Managing Director down.
- If you define a health and safety critical post, where do you draw the line? The bus driver or their manager who has to take critical decisions affecting health and safety? It's much simpler and much fairer to make the process apply to all. A crane operator can be tested but the Director driving his company car to work every morning shouldn't be exempt simply because he sits behind a desk.
- Health and safety are the key reasons, but a manager who works in an office may be making key commercial decisions for the economic well-being of the company - making mistakes whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol could cost the company in revenue and potentially job security."
The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
has conducted extensive research on the impact of drugs in the workplace:
- Seventy-four percent of illicit drug users are employed.
- Drugs account for as much as 80% of losses due to theft in the Workplace.
- One out of four substance abusers in treatment admitted stealing from their employer.
- Of those who called a cocaine helpline, 75% reported using drugs on the job, 64% admitted drugs adversely affected their job performance, 44% sold drugs to other employees, and 18% had stolen from co-workers to support their drug habit.
Source:
Workplace
Substance Abuse
19th October 2005.
