Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing with a Difference
1300 DRUGSAFE
1300 378 472

Tag: Drug Safety Measures Archives

Risk Management and Its Implications for Drugs and Alcohol at Work

by

risk management and drugs and alcohol at work

The recent changes to Chain of Responsibility (CoR) rules have Australian businesses rethinking their responsibility in the wake of any breaches in safety.

The adoption and regular tweaking of risk management systems should be imperative for any business. The proactive approach to safety and minimising of risk are hallmarks of a great company.

And when you consider the alarming new figures of drug deaths in Australia, never has the adoption of a risk management system been more important.

Drug and alcohol abuse is one of the biggest hazards in the workplace.

With a risk management system, you can effectively manage the risks of drug and alcohol at work.

 Read More

Drug Test Your Employees…Or Ignore It?

by

Does workplace drug testing cause more negativity than completely ignoring potential drug issues?!

Which is worse? Wanting to make your business drug-safe and therefore requesting your employees to undergo drug testing…or not doing anything at all?

Employers have a legal right to request that their employees consent to drug testing, but what happens to internal relationships and morale when workers object to being tested?

Employers are accountable for providing duty of care to their staff. For this reason, it is obvious that they are keen to know that their environment is a safe one.

Drug testing is a proven and effective means of determining this. Within 24 hours they can be aware of just how safe their office, factory, warehouse, retail showroom, machinery and vehicles really are.

However, how does this impact workplace-relations when workers might feel maligned?

There is one organisation which knows how to address potential drug use in the workplace and it does so by handling this matter discreetly, delicately and with sensitivity. It has a unique “community approach”.

That company is Drug-Safe Australia, an alcohol and drug screening enterprise, which was established almost 20 years ago by Michael White.

Drug-Safe Australia not only lead the industry in Australia and the South Pacific, they are also a vital tool for companies wanting to address substance abuse issues and start transparent conversations with their employees.

The community aspect of the nationwide franchise operation, known as Drug-Safe Communities, works like this. The drug testing intervention delivers multiple outcomes: the workplaces remain safe spaces for employers, employees, visiting clients and contractors.

For employers, taking care of their employees safeguards against poor production. The ripple effect is that drug testing reaches families and friends whose loved-ones may be affected by illegal substances.
What begins in the office or factory spreads out to innumerable homes and social groups.

Developing Drug-Safe: A Personal Journey

Michael White knows all too well about the worst outcomes of drug abuse. He has first-hand experience.

Michael launched Drug-Safe Australia in 2000 after losing a business partner to a heroin overdose. Not only did he have to suffer through the death of a friend and colleague, Michael suffered a domino effect of
consequences due to the tragic event. Clients turned their backs on him and he lost his business. He also discovered hundreds of thousands of dollars missing which had been misappropriated to pay for the drugs.

“I made the decision at that time to take responsibility for my future and not allow circumstances to decide my career going forward,” said Michael.

Over the next two decades he grew the business to be a market leader and trailblazer.

In 2016, knowing that despite his success he had only been able to help a portion of the Australian work force, he came up with the idea of developing a different business model to offer a broad coverage of professional field operatives.

Michael felt that the franchising sector in Australia needed fresh, innovative and life-changing brands. Drug-Safe Communities fits this need perfectly.

A Pioneering Franchise Model, Making A Difference

In a singular model such as Drug-Safe Communities, the credibility of an empowered local business owner working with other local businesses is critical to success.

Running a franchise involves a combination of self-driven entrepreneurship and the ability to comply with required structures and processes. A big part of this is to be motivated not just by the potential financial returns, but by the potential of positive changes in one’s work-life blend.

Strongly impacted by his history, Michael sets a high personal standard and he is not content with anything less than the best his company can offer. Because of this attitude, Drug-Safe Australia has become an innovative leader.

Michael is proud to say Drug-Safe Australia was the first NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities, Australia) accredited service in the land. NATA is the agency providing independent assurance of technical competence through a proven network of best practice industry experts for customers. Any new franchisee with Drug-Safe Communities has the support of NATA.

Michael’s enterprise was the first to offer on-site services with mobile clinics.

His was the first to receive ISO accreditation and the first to have Australian Standards approval for all of their drug testing equipment.

Drug-Safe’s Communities’ support is with franchisees from the very beginning, right through to the life term of the franchise agreement. They have unveiled another ‘first’, the Drug-Safe Academy, which enables online training and information sharing. They also coach and mentor franchisees extensively, with regular face to face discussions and leadership meetings.

“I enjoy meeting people who share my concern for the future of our Australian way of life, particularly in the changing attitudes towards alcohol and other types of drug abuse”, said Michael White.

The Big Why?

“My critical advice to prospective franchisees, the fundamental core message or question I would ask, is what I call the big why.”

New franchisees are often attracted to the sector in search of a change in their career or lifestyle, and they bring with them a desire to achieve more and make a real difference in their communities.

While having prior business experience is beneficial, Drug-Safe Communities are open to discussing their model with anyone who desires to make big differences. Current franchisees come from all walks of life, including medical, mining, and teaching backgrounds.

Michael believes that as a franchisor he needs to put the welfare of franchisees first. Unless the franchisee is profitable and emotionally satisfied, the franchisor cannot survive in the long run.

As a member of the Franchise Council of Australia, Michael understands that the key to success depends on both franchisees and the franchisor building long-lasting relationships with their customers and embracing technology.

Franchisees investing in this industry will be supported by Drug-Safe Communities to do just that. For over fifteen years, Drug-Safe Australia has led the alcohol and other drug screening industry in addressing substance abuse across Australia and the South Pacific.

Who Would Suit A Drug-Safe Franchise?

Any persons with experience in the medical fields, counselling and community work etc. would suit this engaging and rewarding franchise. Professionals with experience in drug abuse and illicit substances in the workplace are also encouraged to research this groundbreaking career path.

Each Drug-Safe Communities franchisee is granted an exclusive franchise territory to operate their new franchise. This means that any new lead originating from within their territory will be passed onto the
franchisee, gaining them a new contact and expanding their community services.

The territory is designed to provide ample opportunity so that a new franchisee can build their customer base quickly and provide the area to market the services of Drug-Safe Communities to potential new customers.

To view their latest franchise opportunities please contact Drug-Safe or call 1300 378 472  for a confidential discussion.

Recruitment Company Launches Pre-Employment Drug Testing

by

Momentum Consulting Group Pty Ltd., the nationwide recruitment-labour force company, has announced the introduction of mandatory pre-employment drug and alcohol testing.
“Some companies have required drug testing before hiring new personnel but by no means is this common place across Australia. Momentum Consulting has become the first member of our industry to take a stand and make it mandatory”, announced Managing Director John Patrick.
“We have formed a strategic alliance with the pioneer of workplace testing of alcohol and other drugs in Australia, Drug-Safe Communities. They have spent the past 16 years working in industries such as mining and manufacturing and are now rolling out a national franchise network to reach all industries.”
“Our clients are becoming more and more aware of drugs in the workplace. We believe this relationship with Drug-Safe Communities will build a strong connection with our clients because they will see how seriously we take pre-employment checks.”
“We have a culture of being Safety First,” added Human Resources Manager Liz McDowell, “We have an obligation as an employer to ensure safety for our employees. That makes onsite drug testing a fair thing to do. Safety is our number one obligation.”
“The biggest advantage for us is the ease of access. Until now, when you needed to have a person tested they had to go to a certain location which is often inconvenient. Now, with the Drug-Safe Communities network equipped with mobile testing vehicles, they can go to a client’s work site.”
“The other benefit to our clients is that this service is very cost-effective. Pre-employment checks are getting more expensive, for example, the cost of the pre-employment physical has doubled in the past three years. However, alcohol and drug testing is a fraction of that cost.”
“Momentum Consulting has always had a rigorous recruitment process with thorough screening, interviewing and assessment to ensure the ‘right fit’ very time. Now we have raised the bar even higher which is a definite plus for employers. We will credit our people as Drug-Safe Candidates – a status they can display on their
safety vests and in their resumes.”
Drug-Safe Communities Founder and Managing Director, Michael White, said “We are delighted to be working with Momentum Consulting in helping them to create drug-safe workplaces. Apart from ruining peoples’ lives and compromising workplace safety, drug use is costing the Australian business community billions of dollars
each year in lost productivity and profits. Now, with Momentum Consulting onboard, we can start turning that into a positive – one candidate at a time.”

Patrick concluded, “We believe that drug testing for pre-employment should be a national standard. By taking this stand and introducing this new procedure we are starting the trend.”

Ice Wars Documentary

by

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics well over one billion dollars a year is being spent by drug users on amphetamines which include crystal meth’…or as it is more commonly referred to, Ice.

If you needed a clue that it is finally being recognised as a severe national problem, the ABC ran a four part documentary called Ice Wars.

Their camera crew went out with the police in the streets, on drug raids and seizing drug labs.

The Sydney Morning Herald ran an article about two men in their twenties who were cooked from the inside and killed by drugs. Their core temperatures rose to more than 42 degrees after extended drug use. One was arrested as he ran in between heavy traffic, lapsing into a coma then passing away. The other had been seen trying to cool himself down in a baby bath before succumbing to an Ecstasy/Ice cocktail.

A detective said people have no idea what they are taking – whether it’s a bad batch of Ice, some form of synthetic drug, a bad cocktail of drugs or something thrown into pills.

At Drug-Safe Communities we continue to face a complacency amongst members of the public about the impact of drugs on society; we can only hope that they are taking notice of these media stories.

Drugs In April Part 4

by

Wrapping up “April drug month”…a Sydney mother and her two sons were all jailed for supplying heroin.

A 70 year old Perth man was jailed for attempting to kill his methamphetamine addicted son with a hammer.

A new group has been formed at Narooma called ICE Turning Family Pain Into Power.

A 27 year old man went on a methamphetamine fuelled crime spree and stole over $24,000 of items on the Capricorn Coast.

An $81,000,000 upgrade to Victorian health will see an extra 30 drug rehab’ beds for addicts languishing on public waiting lists.

In 2016, 257 people died of an overdose involving illicit drugs.

The Lives Lived Well organisation in Gladstone says 75 percent of the people it supports are men and a third are Ice users.

Police raids in WA have resulted in 43 people facing drugs charges and the seizure of methamphetamines, MDMA and cannabis.

A 38 year old who crashed his car near Rockhampton had methamphetamine and cannabis in his system.

A coronial inquest has been ordered into the deaths of four Queenslanders from powerful prescription drugs including “hillbilly heroin”.

A 30 year old man who crashed his car while disqualified from driving at Chinderah faces multiple charges after police found methyl-amphetamine, cocaine, cannabis, MDMA in his car.

Police have pinpointed five major highways as the corridors used to move drugs across New South Wales.

Police found $24,000,000 in cash in the semi-trailer of a truck pulled over on the Sturt Highway.

A WA District Court judge has called methamphetamine the nation’s biggest social problem.

A 21 year old woman was arrested after a 50 kilometre high speed pursuit by WA police and she was found to have 165 grams of methamphetamine in her back pack.

Police seized 317 grams of Ice from two passengers attempting to fly out of Ballina Airport.

An Albury hip hop dance school teacher is alleged to have operated a large cannabis supply network with a dozen people doing the selling for her.

Child Safety performance data has revealed Caloundra is the fourth worst suburb for Ice using parents between Gympie and Strathpine.

A pair of wannabe drug miles have been jailed after trafficking hundreds of packets of rock salt which they mistook for methamphetamines. Australian Border Force officials intercepted the real drug earlier valued at $58,000,000.

A teenage Hong Kong national who was part of the biggest Ice haul – 315 kilograms of methyl-amphetamine – in WA has been jailed.

Two night club promoters were jailed for at least nine years for smuggling almost $60 million worth of Ice into Australia in containers full of udon noodles.

Logan Hospital has been chosen to be at the forefront of Queensland’s fight against drug use after the city was named as one of the state’s Ice corridors.

A Queensland man who died was found to have a fatal amount of cocaine in his blood and had been snorting it for days before his death.

Three ice users have been jailed after they robbed a woman at gun point in the car park of a supermarket and stole her HSV Holden Commodore.

Sydney Roosters player Shaun Kenny-Dowall has allegedly been found with cocaine in his possession.

A glamorous former private schoolgirl who had an Ice addiction appeared in court after stealing peoples’ mail and credit cards.

A Canberra man appeared in court after allegedly selling cocaine to two high profile rugby league players.

NRL investigations are underway following the resignation of Cronulla Sharks chairman Damian Keogh over alleged drug possession.

There you have it.

The month of April was a busy month for police and magistrates concerning drug related incidents.

You don’t need to be Einstein to realise that Australia is in the grip of a sinister drug epidemic…and that is why we want people like you to join the Drug-Safe Communities team. As franchisees or independent drug testers trained in our Drug-Safe Academy.