Pre Employment Drug Testing

Your business is something you worked hard to bring to where it is. But it all could come crashing down if you hire the wrong people –such as drug users.

Ensure you hire the right applicants for your business. A thorough recruitment process includes going over an applicant’s resume, interviewing them, and a pre-employment drug test.

According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 1 in 8 Australians used an illegal substance in the last 12 months.

As a business owner, it is in your best interest to keep your workforce drug-free. This is especially true if you are in a high-risk industry such as manufacturing, machinery, construction, and aviation.

A pre employment drug testing programme will protect your business, your reputation, your high-performing employees, your clients, and civilians.

Why Subject Applicants To A Pre Employment Drug Test?

With an applicant who has an impressive resume and is great at job interviews, there is no telling if that person dabbles in drugs.

If you do end up hiring a drug user, make no mistake. A drug using employee creates a negative workplace environment, puts you and your employees at risk, and puts your business in a position of disadvantage.

Drug-using employees are prone to concentration and memory problems and have difficulty with complex tasks.

The accompanying high-risk behaviour of a drug user means he or she could steal from the company or your other employees just to supplement their habit.

Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of having a drug using employee is that they are prone to accidents, which is something you cannot risk especially if other people’s lives are involved. In fact, most victims in drug-related workplace accidents are non-drug users.

Irritable behaviour of an employee under the influence of alcohol or drugs will have a negative impact on your customers and staff. A logical consequence we often see is higher staff turnover. Typically the best employees are the first to leave.

Reduce Risk of Lawsuits and Accidents

A drug-abusing employee, with a diminished capacity for concentration and good judgement, can cause accidents at work which may lead to injuries or fatalities.

Someone high on drugs or coming down on drugs and operating heavy machinery is putting not only their own life but also other people’s lives at risk. In the event of that happening, you’re looking at negligence lawsuits as well as Workers’ Compensation costs.

You can avoid this scenario by not hiring a drug user.

Avoid Absenteeism and Reduced Productivity

According to the Australian Drug Foundation, alcohol and drug use costs Australian businesses $5.2 billion a year in lost productivity and absenteeism.

It is common sense that drug users are prone to more health issues. Therefore, you can expect more sick leave taken and unproductive time at work.

You cannot expect to find this out during the interview. So the best way to protect your business is through pre-screening your potential hires for drugs.

What Can We Test In A Pre-Employment Drug Test?

Pre employment drug tests screen for both legal (prescription) and illegal drugs, such as:

• Marijuana
• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Ecstasy
• Amphetamines
• Synthetic drugs/designer drugs
• Prescription drugs
• Barbiturates

How Do We Test For Drug Use?

We test for drug use using the following methods:

Saliva Test

Through a swab or saliva test, we can detect recent use of drugs such as cocaine, benzodiazepines, and amphetamine.

Urine Test

Through a urine test, we can detect previous use of amphetamine, barbiturates, cannabis, heroin and more. This test accounts for an estimated 90 % of drug testing in Australia.

Keeping Businesses Safe Through Pre-Employment Drug Testing

Over the years, we have grown to become an essential inclusion in the safety plans for businesses who wish to establish and maintain a safe working environment.

At Drug-Safe Australia, we offer pre-employment drug testing as well as other employee drug testing services. We operate under strict Australian Standards and offer only accredited solutions to your drug policy needs.

Our highly-trained field and lab staff are capable of testing for all types of illegal and legal drugs. We can test on-site or at a Drug-Safe Australia location for a quick turnaround of results. If necessary, we can also send samples to a laboratory for further testing.

Since your business and workforce is unique, we test according to your company’s policies and procedures. We also help businesses create a comprehensive workplace drug and alcohol policy specifically tailored to their needs.

If you need assistance in making sure you hire only the best drug-free employees, please get in touch with us to find out your options for pre employment drug testing.