The argument for drug and alcohol testing
Permit me to ask you this: Would you buy a sub-standard item? Alternatively, if you had to hire someone to work in your office would you hire a person who has a habitual drug and alcohol problem? Obviously, no sane person would buy a defective product or hire a less-than-100%-productive employee.
The leaders of industry have been arguing this point for a long time. They forcefully argue that drugs and alcohol testing is tantamount to an invasion of the employee’s privacy. That they only seek personal details specifically related to employees ability to deliver. They want us to see drug and alcohol testing as a kind of quality control for testing an employee’s ability to deliver on productivity1.
Over the years, there have been too many industrial accidents especially in the heavy industry segment2. A vast majority of these accidents were clearly related to drug and alcohol abuse. In the United States, the transportation industry has already been brought under the preview of mandatory drug and alcohol testing3. Federal agencies in the U.S. as well as Department of Defense too, conduct drug and alcohol testing for all employees.
Leaders of heavy industry argue that if some employees can accept drug and alcohol testing then so can others. The fact is, drug and alcohol testing minimises fatalities, casualties, loss of productivity and accidents4. Accidents in the heavy industry segment are not only costly but they usually cost lives. Employees using heavy equipment need concentration, good eyesight and quick reflexes – all of which are severely impaired if the employee takes drugs or alcohol or both.
Most youngsters tend to take drugs, alcohol, or both during weekends. Fun times at the local bar or dance club often lead to drug and alcohol fuelled binges where amphetamines, methamphetamine and ecstasy are the revellers choice. In recent years, the situation has reached frightening proportions with use of synthetic drugs exceeding the consumption of traditional drugs such as heroin or cocaine.
In other scenarios, many of our youth love the calming effect that drugs have on them and may carry a pill or two to work. This can happen especially if the workplace is tense or work related pressure too much to handle – a common enough situation in heavy industry contexts and areas.
The effects of alcohol the morning after5:
- Heavy drinking the previous night or evening can lead to alcohol withdrawal symptoms the next morning
- Large volumes of beer will lead to frequent need to urinate which unless replenished with water will lead to dehydration
- Sleep produced by alcohol is of poor quality and will lead to fatigue the next day.
Most opponents of legislation to prevent drugs and alcohol in heavy industry argue that what the employee does the previous evening or night during his or her spare time is no concern of the employer.
Studies however do indicate that effects of alcohol and drug binges during the previous evening do linger into the following day and can sufficiently impair the employee’s ability to work efficiently.
For information on quality onsite screening programmes, contact industry leader Mediscreen on 1300 797040
Footnotes and references:
1. Drug and alcohol testing at place of work: http://www.hrhero.com/topics/drug_testing.html
2. Accidents in the heavy industries in Australia: http://ro.ecu.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1008&context=theses
3. Mandatory drug and alcohol testing in the U.S: http://www.dot.gov/ost/dapc/
4. Why mandatory drug and alcohol testing is required: http://www.drugtesting.org.au/html/AIDAT-submission.php
5. Effects of drugs and alcohol the morning after: http://www.unh.edu/health-services/ohep/alcohol_faq.html
