Boost Employee Safety and Health

Ed Grady
Director of Business Development Quest Diagnostics  Employer Solutions

Here's a sobering thought for employers: Three out of every four adult drug abusers are employed. 

Substance abuse slows productivity, increases the number of accidents, hurts employee morale, and blows holes through the company's bottom line. 

The majority of full-time employees believe that their employers don't do enough to prevent substance abuse at work, according to surveys. The problem is that many employers don't know where to start.

Drug testing is legal in every state and is even mandated by the federal government in certain industries such as transportation. Some states regulate how drug testing is administered, but no state prohibits it altogether. An employee's refusal to be tested can typically be considered a violation of company policy and subjects the individual to disciplinary action, including termination.

 Here are six easy steps for starting a drug-testing program:

1. Identify your objectives. Why you test will determine when, who, and how you test. Some of the most common reasons include increasing the safety and health of your workers.
2. Choose a drug-testing provider. An experienced, reputable drug-testing firm can answer your questions and streamline the process of setting up a program.
3. Determine how to conduct drug testing. Employers have several options available, from traditional lab-based urine testing to on-site, instant result oral fluid testing. A program can be designed to meet any set of circumstances.
4. Decide when to conduct drug testing. There are many factors that can trigger a test, including preemployment screens to postaccident, reasonable suspicion, and random testing of current employees.
5. Write a drug-testing policy. A comprehensive policy includes an explanation of prohibited behaviors, the consequences of policy violations, and when and how drug testing will occur. Applicable state and federal laws must also be covered.
6. Train supervisors and employees. Supervisors should be trained in how to spot the signs and symptoms of substance abuse, and employees should understand the effects of policy violations.

Quest Diagnostics Employer Solutions (http://www.employersolutions.com/) offers a publication titled Drug-Free Workplace: Six Easy Steps to a Successful Program. The booklet, available through the U.S. Chamber, is written by drug-testing expert Bill Current. Order your free copy today by visiting http://www.sixstepsbooklet.com/ or the Employee Screening Toolkit.