Last updated : November 11, 2024
Employees are the most important part of your business. Every individual working harmoniously toward a common goal is the road to success and a path to employee satisfaction and retention. This sounds great, but one very notable cause for derailing this harmony is employee substance abuse. Unfortunately, small businesses experience approximately 44% of workplace drug abuse problems in the United States.
A well-managed drug program and effective mobile drug testing are critical elements to ensure a safe, drug-free workplace.
Mobile drug testing services offer many advantages over fixed-location facilities. Heading the list are the advantages of flexibility and a reduction in lost work-time when employees are not required to travel to remote, fixed-location facilities. In addition, on-site testing reduces the potential for tampering with samples.
Beyond these essential advantages are several potential value-added services that may be part of your mobile drug testing services. Many certified mobile testing companies today offer a full menu of services that enhance the effectiveness of a well-developed drug-free workplace program. Some of these are routinely offered while some may eventually become a reality for many mobile drug-testing companies.
Drug Program and Policy Support
Because of the certifications required and experience in dealing with substance abuse issues, mobile drug testing companies are very knowledgeable of the elements of workplace safety, DOT guidelines and Bureau of Workers’ Compensation requirements. These companies can help you to educate and execute the drug policies of your business.
Assisting in the development of a Drug-Free Program for all employees, top to bottom, should be a function of an effective mobile drug-testing company. Potential value-added services include:
- Drug Policy development and assessment
- Training and education consultation, plus “live” or web-based training programs
- Regulatory updates and assistance with compliance issues and assessments
- Consulting services
Operational Services
Besides the specific battery of tests performed on-site, mobile drug testing services may be expanded to include many other procedures that can be useful. With 24-hour sampling available, a mobile program can execute the following programs:
- Fingerprinting: With each drug test performed, fingerprinting of each employee can be accomplished at the same time. This may best be performed as part of the hiring process as part of the background check process.
- Background Checks: Checks should be performed as part of the pre-screening process before hiring to insure that that the applicant does not have a criminal background. Databases searched differ from those used for fingerprinting, so performing both will give a company the most comprehensive review of the prospective employee’s background.
- Pre-Employment Testing: Prior to starting to work, all new hires at every level should undergo a pre-employment drug test. Employees who are found to have traces of illegal substances in their systems during a test are likely to continue these practices after hiring.
- Random Testing: Awareness of the probability of occasional, unannounced testing of employees at every level may be a deterrent to substance abuse.
- Post-Accident Testing: A high percentage of accidents in the workplace involve substance use. Confirming that this may or may not be a reason for the accident is imperative.
- Reasonable Suspicion Testing: Managers should be able to contact the mobile drug testing company for a “random” test to determine if substance abuse is occurring with specific individuals.
- Return to Duty and Follow-up Testing: Once an employee returns after a suspension for substance abuse, it is advisable to follow up with more testing.
The versatility of your mobile drug screening company may create a range of opportunities to ensure a safe and drug-free workplace.
