Safety is a significant concern for all employers. Whether safety measures involve extensive personal protective equipment, regular training, or rigorous internal controls to protect against fraud, business owners understand that investments in safety always pay off in the long run. One such investment is drug testing. Employers that invest in regular drug testing enjoy lower direct medical costs, higher productivity, and lower rates of absenteeism than employers who opt to skip the tests.
Let’s take a closer look at employment drug testing to understand why.
The Basics
Employment drug screening is used to determine if current or prospective employees use illicit substances or abuse prescription medications. Employers can use drug tests as part of their hiring process, conduct ongoing drug tests for current employees, or both as part of workplace safety initiatives. Pre-employment drug tests are fairly common, and many offers of employment are contingent upon the candidate’s ability to pass.
Employment drug tests typically screen for the following substances:
- Methamphetamines
- THC
- Cocaine
- Opiates
- Phencyclidine
More extensive screening panels may be used when the situation warrants.
By far, the most common method for conducting a drug test is to use a urine sample. In fact, many federally mandated drug tests require a urine test. Most substances are detectable in urine for five to ten days. It’s easy to collect the sample and the test is relatively inexpensive to run.
Other methods of testing are available as well. Blood tests are the most accurate, but the detection window is short. These tests are also painful for the candidate and expensive, which makes the marginal increase in accuracy not worth it in most circumstances. Saliva has the shortest detection window, while hair tests have the longest detection window. In the end, it’s not hard to see why urine remains the standard as it’s reasonably accurate, non-invasive, and inexpensive compared to the alternatives.
The Benefits
When safety is important, drug testing is critical. A firm, clearly communicated drug testing policy serves to deter applicants who regularly use substances from applying with your organization. Regular drug testing has also been found to reduce worker’s compensation claims that are filed because of alcohol or drug use. Drug testing also does the following:
- Reduces workplace accidents
- Lowers absentee rates
- Improves productivity
- Lowers insurance premiums
Organizations today simply can’t afford to not conduct drug tests.
The Bottom Line
Whether your organization is a small mom-and-pop shop or a large global firm, it’s time to team up with an occupational health provider to meet your drug testing needs. Learn more about creating and maintaining a workplace drug screening program today.
