Drug Test 5

Employers have many reasons for requiring pre-employment drug testing. One of the most obvious reasons is that of safety. Those handling dangerous equipment or those who drive commercial vehicles have a greater chance of accidents or inflicting injury upon themselves or others if they are under the influence. Companies have a moral and legal obligation to ensure that their employees adhere to Federal work-safety guidelines, and pre-employment drug screenings can be an effective tool.

Insurance and health-related absences provide two more reasons for implementing pre-employment drug testing. More than 175 million Americans are enrolled in workplace group health insurance; with an average of a 30% increase in premiums in the last three years, pre-employment drug testing may be one

way to cut down on costs. Studies have linked short- and long-term health problems with drug abuse. Drug abusers are more likely to develop respiratory problems and are generally more susceptible to illness. Employers often view drug abusers as irresponsible since many absences can be attributed to the after-effects of drug usage. Employee absences cost employers millions of dollars every year, and many human resource experts suggest that pre-employment drug testing can reduce these costs.

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Employer drug testing has become an important safety issue in the workplace not only for employees, but for human resources and safety professionals as well. It is estimated that over 98% of all the Fortune 500 companies conduct drug testing. The purpose of employer drug testing is to lessen the impact from drug abuse in the workplace. This includes tardiness, absenteeism, turnover, attitude problems, theft, deceased productivity, crime and violence. The US Department of Labor has estimated that drug use in the workplace costs employers anywhere from $75 to $100 billion dollars annually in lost time, accidents, health care and workers compensation costs. Sixty-five percent of all accidents on the job are related to drug or alcohol abuse, and

substance abusers utilize sixteen times as many health care benefits and are six times more likely to file workers compensation claims then non-drug abusers.

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The oldest and most commonly used method of drug testing is the urine drug test. Urine drug testing is usually the most inexpensive and quickest method of screening for drug use. Some benefits of urine drug testing are that the tests are minimally invasive and safe. Results are often returned within 24-48 hours and many employers appreciate the quick turnaround time.

With dozens of testing labs in every city, convenience is often a factor in choosing urine tests. Testing centers are usually near to the particular company and the visits are often short. The prospective employee just needs to sign in and sign a few releases and then urinate in a cup. In most cases, the employee is able

to partially close the restroom door in order to maintain some privacy. Since many urine tests can detect masking agents, the need to urinate in full company is virtually eliminated. The entire process usually only lasts 20 minutes and employers can have the results within hours.

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Perhaps the most controversial of all drug screenings is the random drug test. Employers have the legal authority to request a random drug test, whether they have a reasonable suspicion or not. Many companies have implemented a policy of completely random drug testing. This practice can be likened to that of a lottery. If your name is selected then it is your turn for random drug testing; the employee may have little or no advance warning in these cases.

Employers often exercise their rights to administer random drug testing as a way to determine whether or not an employee is a drug user; drug use in the workplace is often blamed for absenteeism, health problems and on-the-job accidents. Although

many companies already require pre-employment drug screenings, many claim that random drug testing is more effective at finding the drug users in their workforce. With a pre-employment drug screening, the employee often has at least a few hours of advance warning and therefore can attempt to take measures to cheat on the test. Many products are available to help users pass drug screenings; from synthetic urine to agents that mask the appearance of a particular drug, various methods exist for drug abusers to beat the tests.

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Employers entrust their workers with a vast array of responsibilities in their businesses. Many employers feel it is necessary for prospective employees to submit to a pre-employment drug screening. This is especially true in industries that require the use of heavy machinery such as forklift drivers, assembly workers and even drivers.

In the United States, we are fortunate to have strict guidelines for workplace safety. Employers are bound by law to provide a safe working environment for their employees, to minimize the risks of accidents or injuries. This is one of the most common reasons for drug testing in the workplace. Employers understand that drug abuse may alter reasoning and logical abilities, thereby causing unnecessary and preventable workplace accidents.

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