Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing

Pre-employment drug and alcohol testing

Drug testing can play an important part in your organisation’s recruitment process. We will work with you to ensure tests are performed under controlled conditions.

Normally, urine or saliva testing is the preferred sample choice for employers. But there are alternatives for more senior positions or sensitive roles, for example in Government. Hair drug testing is an ideal solution for analysing longer term drug or alcohol misuse.

Periodic drug and alcohol testing

Periodic drug testing for employees tends to be for more for safety critical industries. For example, a condition of a contract award might be to undergo periodic drug testing to meet the safety requirements of the project. Other examples include offshore workers or contractors working overseas. We perform many periodic tests for individuals working in the UK from overseas organisations.

Immediate Response drug testing. including for-cause, post incident and post accident drug testing

The immediate response service is in place for many of our commercial clients, including Network Rail. Usually, this is in place alongside an effective random drug testing programme. The service means we will attend site in an agreed time, usually within 2 to 3 hours. The call-out is usually made following an incident or accident at work. Also, this can include a response to suspicion or allegation, also known as for-cause or with-cause.

We will support and guide you through the implementation of the immediate response service. This includes ensuring that personnel have access to the required procedures and documentation.

Random drug and alcohol testing

Random drug and alcohol testing in an excellent deterrent for drug or alcohol use in the workplace. Also, if implemented in a fair way, it can become part of your everyday safety culture.

There are many testing options available. As a result, we can provide a solution that meets the needs of employers, employees and trade unions. Also, our company directors and senior managers have a wealth of experience in this sector. This means we can provide you with examples of best practice.

Random drug testing options

• Point of care testing (POCT). The provision of instant screen results, providing a sign of possible misuse. The sample types used for this type of test are urine and saliva. A laboratory confirmation drug test should be undertaken to confirm non-negative results.
• Urine laboratory drug testing. The science is well established for urine drug testing. As a result, this is a popular drug test for the safety critical industry, for example Network Rail.
• Saliva laboratory drug testing. The science behind this test has improved in recent years. As a result, it is now UKAS 17025 accredited. It has advantages over urine laboratory drug testing. These include less invasive sample collection while secure toilet facilities are not required. In addition, it is deemed a fairer test in the workplace due to the smaller detection window associated with saliva samples.
• Breath Alcohol testing. We only use Home Office approved breathalysers when performing breath alcohol testing. We can also use the breath alcohol test in conjunction with any of the above drug tests at no extra cost.
  

Follow-up drug and alcohol testing

Follow-up drug testing can be used when supporting an employee who has drug and/or alcohol issues. For example, as part of a rehabilitation programme to introduce the individual back into the workplace.