Drug and alcohol abuse has severe consequences in the workplace. To create a healthy workplace, many companies use 24 7 onsite drug and alcohol testing. These providers send teams to various locations to conduct the screening. They often use saliva, urine, and breath testing to provide immediate results. They can test for a variety of substances using these tests and produce accurate and reliable reports.

Companies must ensure the safety of everyone in the workplace. One of the methods they use to safeguard their employees is to conduct substance use screening. They may enforce testing for many reasons, usually indicated in their drug and alcohol policy. Many use 24-hour testing services for their convenience and reliability. Additionally, they are notably helpful after incidents. This article will present an overview of 24 7 testing, the types of tests available, and the reasons for testing.

Overview of 24 7 Onsite Drug and Alcohol Testing

24 7 onsite drug and alcohol testing is a service that provides round-the-clock screening for substances. This screening service is available for businesses and organisations to help them maintain workplace health and safety. In particular, it helps businesses that operate outside the traditional business hours. This screening is crucial for high-risk industries that have strict regulations on substance use.

Construction workers, factory workers, truck drivers, and mining site employees are some people who often undergo alcohol and drug testing methods. This is because these industries have many safety-sensitive positions that may endanger people in the workplace and the general public. Onsite testing can provide immediate results while ensuring the reports remain reliable and accurate.

Furthermore, this removes the hassle of going to drug and alcohol testing facilities. Onsite service providers send a team of experienced collectors to the location. This can minimise downtime and maximise productivity. Overall, there are many benefits to using a 24 7 testing service to screen employees for substance misuse.

Benefits

These are some benefits of using 24 7 alcohol and drug testing:

• Testing deters substance misuse, which can improve overall productivity.
• It can help decrease rates of tardiness and absenteeism due to the influence of drugs and alcohol.
• Screenings help companies comply with the applicable laws and regulations.
• Substance misuse can cause irritation and strained workplace relationships. Hence, testing can prevent social tension and improve morale.
• Onsite testing reinforces the commitment of the company to protecting the health and safety of all workers.
• Round-the-clock services provide peace of mind to employers because they are assured access to different types of screening whenever needed.

Types of Tests Available in a 24 7 Onsite Drug and Alcohol Testing

Different types of testing methods are available in a 24 7 onsite drug and alcohol testing facility. It is crucial to understand the differences to select the correct test. Onsite urine testing is the standard drug and alcohol screening method for businesses. This test detects substances consumed within 24 hours, making it ideal for tracing short-term intake. In addition, there are more advanced forms of alcohol urine screening, like ethyl glucuronide (EtG), that extend this period to 80 hours.

Another method of screening for drugs and alcohol is saliva testing. Saliva tests have an easy and non-invasive collection procedure. This is why it is often used for onsite testing. The saliva collection procedure typically entails a healthcare professional using a swab stick to gather samples from inside the cheek or under the tongue. It has a detection period of 12 hours.

Lastly, breath alcohol testing uses breathalysers to measure Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels. These devices can trace alcohol up to 24 hours after intake. In addition, it uses a quick and non-invasive procedure and shows the result within minutes.

What Can be Detected?

Screening tests can detect a wide range of substances. Generally, the substances detected depend on the panels used. They may trace the intake of alcohol, prescription medication, and illegal drugs. Overall, the most commonly tested substances are ethanol, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, opioids, and phencyclidine (PCP).

Ethanol is an active ingredient in alcoholic beverages. Meanwhile, marijuana is a psychoactive drug that many use for recreational and medical purposes. Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant popular for its euphoric effects. Amphetamines are also stimulants, but there are legal forms prescribed for those with narcolepsy. Opioids are pain medications many use for severe symptoms.

Reasons to Conduct a 24 7 Onsite Drug and Alcohol Testing Program

Companies may include several reasons for testing in their 24 7 onsite drug and alcohol testing program. Pre-employment testing is common for safety-sensitive positions. This is often a requirement in high-risk industries to ensure that responsible employees without substance abuse issues get the position. They inform applicants of this requirement and details for testing in the job description.

Random testing is an effective deterrent for substance misuse. For this, employees are randomly chosen to participate in an unannounced test. Another occurrence is reasonable suspicion testing. This is conducted if there is a reported intoxicated worker. This can be due to visible signs of intoxication, such as slurred speech, uncoordinated movements, and erratic behaviour.

Lastly, post-incident testing may take place after an accident or a near-miss. This helps the company determine the cause of the accident and ascertain if substance misuse is a contributing factor. The data from this can help them establish safeguards to prevent the same accident from reoccurring. Hence, many companies seek onsite drug and alcohol testing services.

Choosing an Experienced Team of Professionals

Companies must choose reliable service providers that follow strict protocols and meet the applicable standards. This is crucial for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the results. By selecting an experienced team, companies can be confident they have the necessary knowledge and expertise to conduct the testing. Hence, they can trust the reports provided.

Additionally, experienced professionals can provide guidance and support throughout the process. Proper collection is crucial to prevent contamination or mishandling. They can also easily interpret the results and conduct the entire process efficiently and effectively. Lastly, experienced collectors can ensure the safety of the individual.

Conclusion

24 7 onsite drug and alcohol testing is a crucial service that helps many industries ensure workplace health and safety. It provides the convenience of quick and efficient results, even outside of regular business hours. By employing a service provider that sends experienced staff to the location, companies can remain efficient while reinforcing their commitment to preventing substance abuse in the workplace. These services typically use urine, saliva, and breath alcohol screening.

These tests can trace the consumption of various substances that can cause impairment. This includes ethanol, cannabis, cocaine, PCP, opioids, and amphetamines. Misuse of these substances leads to an increased rate of absences, tardiness, and accidents. Hence, the need to use testing. Usually, these tests are used for pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, or post-accident testing. Companies must ensure they select providers that comply with the relevant standards and produce accurate results.