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12/04/2010 by admin.
Undertaking drug testing for the first time can be a daunting task, but the basic proceedure is very simple.
An initial urine sample is collected and brought to room temperature (usually 20 minutes) The sample is then tested using a standard panel combination drug test. The cut off levels for drug test panels is internationally agreed and traditionally work to SAMHSA and NIDA levels for urine analysis.
Professionally produced and batch certified drug testing urine kits are between 97 and 99% accurate when compared in studies to laboratory drug screening using GC/MS methods. This level of accuracy is considered by all bodies as high enough to be acceptable for all negative onsite drug test results.
In simple terms, if the instant drug test result is all normal, and the sample collection and procedure are all acceptable no further action need be taken.
Confirming all positive results is essential in a workplace situation. No further action should be taken before laboratory GC/MS confirmation of a positive result is obtained.
Where employment drug testing is part of a occupational risk assessment for a high risk occupation, the employee should not be allowed to perform this task pending the confirmation result, but no disciplinary or penalty action must be taken by the employer before absolute confirmation is obtained.
Standard drug test panel combinations for the UK and EU employment drug testing tend to be THC, COC, AMP, MET, MOP
THC = Cannabis 50ng
COC = Cocaine 300ng
AMP= Amphetamine 1000ng
MOP = Opiates 300ng
MET = Methamphetamine 1000ng
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Posted in Drug testing in the workplace, Drug Testing faq's, Drug screening, Drug screen, Urine drug test, Drug Test, Drug Test FAQ, Drug testing in football, Employment Drug Testing, Drug Detection Times, Workplace drug testing, Drug testing at work, Drug testing in construction industry, Drug Testing | No Comments »
10/02/2010 by admin.
The growth of employment or workplace drug screening continues, despite the slowdown in recruitment of 2009. A larger workforce seeking employment and more applicants per vacancy has given prospective employers greater power to choose and more reason to distinguish between candidates. Pre-employment health screening including a drug test is now more widely used than ever, with employers looking to reduce their healthcare vunerability and costs.
The main growth in drug screening has been amongst employment agencies, many of whom report an increase willingness in clients to request both a drug and alcohol screening element of routine pre-employment testing. Employment agencies are ideally placed to perform these drug tests, as they are seen as independent of the recruiting company and have the experience and facilities to undertake drug screening as part of the routine health care screening program. There size also enables cost effective purchasing of bulk on-site drug testing products direct from manufactuers. The most widely used testing screen for on-site instant drug testing by agencies is the E-Z 6 panel drug test cup (EZ 6 panel drug test available here) which reports urine results for Cannabis, Cocaine, Amphetamine, Methamphetamine, Benzodiazepines and Opiates (Heroin) This covers most of the common recreational dependent drug groups of interest to employers, and offers a convenient collection and handling system, with no urine spillage for around £5.00 per complete drug test kit.
Workplace drug testing is forcast to grow in 2010 as the UK employment conditions improve and employers further extend the use of drug screening to improve the quality and productivity of their workforce.
A manager from a medium size logistics company recently advised us, “previously drug tests have only been performed when a problem has surfaced and we suspected individuals, after testing for drugs we realised the motivational benefits of performing low level random drug screening, and how this worked to prevent problems arising. Our guys are not going to risk loosing their jobs, now they know we drug test.”
Posted in pre-employment Drug Testing, Drug screening, Drug testing in the workplace, Drug testing at work, Employment Drug Testing, Workplace drug testing, Drug Testing | No Comments »
08/12/2009 by admin.
Drug testing at work is now routine for thousands of safety critical workers. Employment contracts have evolved to enable employers to routinely screen for drugs pre-employment candidates, after workplace accidents and incidents, and on a random basis.
Drug testing at work has become more commonplace as rates of social drug and alcohol use have increased. Increasing social drug use is recognised to impact negatively on workplace productivity and safety. Increasing awareness of employers duty of care withing the workplace with the need to ensure a safe working environment at all times justifies indentifying employers attending the workplace under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
Where the safety argument works for train drivers and fork lift truck operative, the productivity argument increasingly works for all other employees and increasingly managers at all levels.
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04/06/2009 by admin.
Staff could feel alienated by drug tests.
Managers could end up ‘alienating’ staff and even breaching their human rights by insisting on drug tests within the workplace.
That is according to the drugs charity Release, which has reported a four-fold increase in the number of calls it receives relating to testing on employees.
That is according to the drugs charity Release, which has reported a four-fold increase in the number of calls it receives relating to testing on employees.
Notably, it has revealed that many of those organisations taking such measures are those working in sectors where testing for drugs has rarely been an issue, such as the finance and clerical sectors, with the charity explaining that this upturn could be down to the fact that many managers are looking to get rid of workers without having to make redundancy payouts.
Indeed, many of the employees getting in touch with the charity reported that their employers had announced planned voluntary redundancies just prior to giving staff workplace medicals, which often included drugs tests.
Advising employers on the importance of good management practice in this area, executive director of Release Sebastian Saville said: “This is a worrying practice that may well breach employees’ human rights and their rights to privacy.
“Employers risk alienating staff by forcing them into intrusive tests and should be supporting any staff member who might be experiencing drug problems, not using it as an excuse to make cheap redundancies.”
Testing for illicit substances is already commonplace in organisations where workers are required to operate machinery or undertake driving tasks.
Information taken from learndirect website
Click here to read at Learndirect
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05/05/2009 by admin.
Just read this article in Construction News
Rok’s employees and supply chain will face drug and alcohol tests from this autumn.
The group – which turned over more than £1 billion last year and has 60 offices across the UK – told Construction News it plans to roll out a new drug and alcohol policy which will see all of its workers face an initial round of testing, followed by sustained random checks.
Rok, which in March announced it had a secured future pipeline of work some £2.7 billion, said it wanted to weed out drug and alcohol abusers in a bid to boost site safety across the company.
Head of health and safety Shaun Davis said while the policy had not yet been finalised, it was expected to include pre-employment, random and post-incident testing. Tests could also be carried out if suspicions were raised over any specific individuals.
Click here to read the full article online at Construction News
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Posted in Drug testing in construction industry, Drug testing at work, Workplace drug testing, Drug Testing News, Drug Testing | No Comments »