Workplace Alcohol and Drugs Testing

Whilst workplace alcohol and drugs testing is usually a tough and contentious topic to discuss, unfortunately, situations arise where this may just be necessary. As an employer, you have a duty under various applicable legislation to ensure a safe working environment, you have a duty under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of your employees and your employees must also take reasonable care of themselves and anyone else who may be affected by their work.

Other applicable legislation includes the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and/or, The Road Traffic Act 1988, these apply to drug and alcohol misuse. Employees who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol at work (or whilst driving for work), can significantly reduce their ability to work safely and increase the likelihood of harm to themselves and others around them. Employers who inadvertently allow alcohol or drug use at work, fail to discharge their responsibility under these laws.

These laws may seem more applicable to those in a field based, driving role, however, this would equally be applicable in an office-based setting. Assured Safety have experience in assisting clients in high risk or safety critical environments such as Logistics, Public Services or Utilities to develop appropriate testing regimes.

Assured Safety offer an extensive testing facility allowing for on-site and instant testing for a range of different substances, this includes Alcohol, Amphetamines, Barbiturates, Benzodiazepines, Buprenorphine, Cannabis (THC), Cocaine, Ecstasy, Ketamine, Methadone, Methamphetamines, PCP, Synthetic Cannabis (K2 & K3 Spice) and TCA.

According to the Adult substance misuse treatment statistics 2018 to 2019 Report, “there were 268,251 adults in contact with drug and alcohol services between April 2018 and March 2019, which was very similar to the previous year at 268,390.

The number of adults entering treatment in 2018 to 2019 however, increased by 4% from the previous year from 127,307 to 132,210. This was the first increase in the number of people coming to treatment since 2013 to 2014, possibly reflecting recent increases in the prevalence of illicit drug use”. (Gov.UK, 2019).

These figures highlight just how large the problem actually is. However, how does this relate to actual drug usage, well, according to the Office for national Statistics, “since the year ending December 1995, cannabis has consistently been the most-used drug in England and Wales.

In the last year, 7.8% of adults aged 16 to 59 years, that’s around 2.6 million individuals, reported using cannabis. This is a substantially greater proportion of individuals than the next most prevalent drug, powder cocaine at 2.6%, or, around 873,000. people Cannabis was also the most common drug used by young adults, 18.7% of those aged 16 to 24 years old, around 1.2 million, had reported using the drug in the last year. (ONS, 2020).

These figures are indicative that any successful drugs testing regime should include Cannabis (THC), and Cocaine, as a minimum.

Testing is subject to your organisations health and safety policy and statement, and, contingent on the alcohol and drugs policy currently in place as donors will need to consent to provide a sample. Where your business does not currently have an active alcohol or drugs at work management policy, Assured Safety will work with your team to develop and implement a suitable policy.

Alcohol and Drugs Testing through Assured safety is usually Active Testing, Cause based, Reactive testing or Re-Testing after a period of abstinence.

Active testing forms part of a randomised screening programme, subjects would have already opted in to testing as part of their acceptance of general employment terms and conditions, this is also usually reinforced through ongoing training and making employees aware of the organisations alcohol and drugs policy and how it affects them.

Employers need to address their approach, i.e., was the drug use disclosed and is a treatment plan in place, or, if not, is this drug or alcohol use likely to cause harm to the user and others around them, in which case, disciplinary procedures may be triggered. Also, what provisions are in place for any employees who disclose drug use and seek treatment or assistance?

At Assured Safety, our technicians are fully trained and conversant in chain of custody sample collection to ensure the integrity of any samples collected and to prevent any unintended adulteration or tampering with any samples that have been collected. Testing is discrete and non-invasive with most employers opting to undertake Saliva based tests in the first instance.

All samples collected are logged, documented, tested and reported appropriately ensuring the integrity of the sample throughout the process. Saliva-based tests also address privacy concerns relating to Urine sample collections.

On-site results are made available to you in as little as 3 to 5 minutes using an approved device. In the event of a positive, or non-negative test, our technicians would proceed to undertake a Urine Cup Test with complete Chain of Custody documentation, allowing you to use the results as part of disciplinary action, court proceedings or tribunal action.

All final testing is undertaken by our partnering, UKAS Approved Laboratory and means that results are reliable and accurate. A formal result certificate is then issued within 3 to 5 working days.

Cause-based, reactive testing is necessary when you find that an employee has engaged in alcohol or drug use at work. This may have been identified through them ‘smelling of alcohol’, or, physically displaying signs of alcohol or drug use, or, the presence and availability of drug related paraphernalia at work. Assured Safety work with a large number of Public Sector Clients and Partners to deliver cause-based testing regimes. We offer an emergency call-out service and can undertake same day testing, if required. This is highly advantageous and allows the business to obtain discrete, reliable results and additional assurance, protecting you and your business.

Assured Safety provide training and development with regards to Alcohol and Drugs Awareness including spotting signs and symptoms of use of common substances.

Re-testing sample donors may be necessary following a period of abstinence, for example. This would involve one of our Approved Technicians arranging to undertake a follow-up test, potentially after a period of abstinence from drink or drugs or the sample donor seeking a treatment pathway.

This may be necessary where an employee has disclosed alcohol or drug misuse issues and have requested treatment or further assistance, in these cases, Assured Safety can undertake further testing including Hair Drug Testing or Follicle Tests to determine compliance with the treatment pathway over a longer term, 90 day period.

Contact us today for a Free Consultation and a No-Obligation Quote!