As the number of Americans reportedly using illegal drugs has remained steady for the past five years, according to Department of Labor statistics, the dangers associated with drug use in the workplace continues to be an area of major concern. In Australia, drug use is always a concern in certain sectors of employment. Some industries – particularly heavy industries with high risk duties involving heavy machinery and other issues – are at greater risk from alcohol and drug use onsite. Those industries where there is a higher risk of on the job accidents are particularly in need of drug and alcohol screening programmes.
Testing can deter on-the-job drug use
Many industries such as construction, mining and transport that present a more dangerous environment have initiated drug alcohol testing as a stipulation for employment and also have this issue woven into their workplace safety legislation. In the United States and in Australia, some large scale concerns and even smaller companies utilise random drug test policies as a deterrent against the use of alcohol and drugs, especially on the job. They also have educated supervisors who are trained to understand the complexities of onsite alcohol and drug use symptoms and who may then take specific steps in event an employee is found to be impaired while working.
Drug and alcohol affected workers vastly increase danger level
When an employee is affected by the use of drugs or alcohol their judgment as well as their reflexes and cognitive thinking skills may be affected, offering more opportunities for workplace accidents to occur. Logically this can result in risk to self, risk to other employees and even risk to the surrounding general public. In addition, job performance can also be severely compromised resulting in shoddy workmanship, poor performance and a less than diligent approach to workplace tasks. In certain industries this can also have a negative effect on end users, and can also affect the quality of the items being produced. Injuries to unsuspecting users of shoddily-made items could result in financial disaster for the business, loss of reputation and loss of lucrative contracts.
Policies can protect against drug use
The choice to use drugs or alcohol is an individual one, but in Australia and also in the United States (depending on the state) an organisation may have a distinct and legislated duty of care to their other employees and customers to provide a safe working environment and quality products. Companies and organisations that institute policies for drug alcohol testing use the procedure as a significant deterrent against onsite usage. Others are required by law to activate a programme as part of the drug and alcohol testing component of their OH&S policies.
Zero Tolerance
Regardless of the work performed, when involved in heavy industries there is no such thing as being slightly impaired. While each person’s ability to react under the influence may be different, a drug alcohol test cannot measure how a person will react when faced with an emergency or an incident in which an accident will prove imminent. Many companies in these industries have a zero-tolerance level for drug or alcohol use on the job as a means of protecting all of their employees and customers. The zero tolerance approach is a must for industries such as mining in Australia, and with good reason.
High risk industries require stringent drug and alcohol testing procedures.
If you require an onsite screening programme speak with Mediscreen on 1300797040
References:
http://www.dol.gov/asp/programs/drugs/workingpartners/stats/wi.asp
