An employer can use several preventive services to make the workplace safer, such as training on personal protective equipment (PPE) and risk assessments of the workplace. Pre-employment drug test is another way to save money and keep people safe. Drug use costs employers $740 billion yearly in direct medical costs, lost productivity, absenteeism, higher healthcare costs, and more. Investing in drug testing before hiring can help cut costs.
What is a pre-employment drug test?
The purpose of a drug test before hiring someone is to determine if the person uses illegal drugs or abuses prescription drugs. In addition to pre-employment screening, drug tests may also be administered to employees returning to work following an injury or absence. This is referred to as a pre-placement drug test. Employers frequently require job candidates to undergo drug testing as a condition of their employment, with the offer of employment dependent upon the results of the test. This practice helps to ensure that employees are fit for duty and able to perform their job responsibilities without being impaired by illegal drugs. Most of the time, these drug tests look for the use of the following illegal drugs, but they can also look for other medications if necessary:
- Methamphetamines (meth, speed, crank, ecstasy)
- THC (cannabinoids, marijuana, hash)
- Cocaine (coke, crack)
- Opiates (heroin, opium, codeine, morphine)
- Phencyclidine (PCP angel dust)
Why is it important for a job to have a drug test?
Drug tests before hiring help companies reduce risks since hiring someone who uses drugs is risky and expensive. One bad employee can destroy a business through absenteeism, compensation claims, and possibly legal trouble.
You worked hard to build up your business, but one drug-related incident at work could cost you everything. You had a written policy that all employees must take a Pre-employment drug test before hiring can help you avoid an incident like this.
The people who work for a company are its most valuable asset, and their health and safety are very important. When employees abuse alcohol or drugs, they put themselves and their coworkers in danger. With a comprehensive policy, you can take steps to stop the bad effects of drugs, controlled substances, and alcohol abuse in your workplace.
Why should employers require drug tests before hiring?
If a company values safety in the workplace above all else, Pre-employment drug test before hiring can help reduce the risks of drug use. By writing on a job application that a job offer may depend on the results of a drug test, an employer can discourage people who use drugs from even applying. Pre-employment drug testing is very important for jobs that put people in dangerous situations. It can help reduce expensive workers’ compensation claims related to drug or alcohol use.
According to NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse), the following:
- Injury claims at work may increase by as much as five times if people use drugs.
- Up to half of all claims for workers’ compensation are related to drug use at work.
- There may be 3.5 times as many accidents when drugs are involved.
- Substance abuse can make it 2.5 times more likely that an employee will miss eight or more work days each year. It may also cause productivity to be 33% lower than if the person didn’t use drugs.
How legal it is to test employees for drugs:
The laws about Pre-employment drug test change over time and can differ from one state to the next. If an employer has questions about whether or not their testing programme follows all state laws, they should talk to a lawyer. There are some general guidelines for best practices, such as:
- The applicant must know that a drug test is a part of vetting new employees.
- Those who want the same job must take the same drug test.
- Drug tests must be done in a lab that the state has approved.
A service for occupational health is drug testing before a job:
Most urgent care doctors and nurses can do pre-employment drug test, but many need to learn more about all kinds of drug tests in the workplace. They are also not the best people to help an employer develop a drug testing policy. Drug testing at work is one of the services that occupational health providers offer.
Concentra medical centers employ trained occupational health clinicians who are well-versed in conducting pre-employment drug tests in accordance with state and federal regulations. The clinicians at Concentra also possess the expertise to assist employers in establishing and executing substance abuse programs, including providing guidance on staffing, facility and equipment needs to simplify the process of drug testing in the workplace. With their knowledge and experience, Concentra is equipped to help employers ensure a drug-free workplace environment.
Conclusion:
For Pre-employment drug test, it’s best to work with an occupational health provider, whether your company has more than 50,000 employees worldwide or less than 50 employees in your town.
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