Drug &Alcohol

Not only is there a legal obligation to provide a safer work environment, but drug and alcohol misuse can also have a huge negative impact on productivity and costs to your business.

A urine drug test is the most commonly used test when job applicants or employees are screened for illegal drugs or alcohol use.

Urinalysis shows the presence of drug residues that remain in the body after the effects of the drug have worn off.

Saliva tests range depending on the drug, but most can detect drugs used in the last 12 hours to three days. Urine tests will also differ depending on the drug’s half-life but can detect most drugs for about two to four days.

This is usually done at the same time a drug testing using an approved breathalyser.

Pre Employment

For Safety Critical Industries and mandatory testing such as for Network Rail and LUL.

Random

Random, or “spot,” drug testing is a strong deterrent to drug users because it is conducted on an unannounced basis. Using a random selection process (e.g., computer-generated), an employer selects one or more individuals from all the employees included in the employer’s workplace drug-testing program.

For Cause

Reasonable suspicion testing, also known as for cause drug testing, is performed when supervisors have evidence or reasonable cause to suspect an employee of drug use. Evidence is based upon direct observation, either by a supervisor or another employee. Specific reasons for reasonable suspicion testing include physical evidence of illicit substances, patterns of erratic or abnormal behaviour, disorientation or confusion and an inability to complete routine tasks or following an accident.

The body quickly absorbs and metabolizes codeine narcotics. So for most standard blood or urine screens, codeine will be detectable for 1-2 days. However, codeine is detectable in hair for longer periods of time.

As a rough guide, it takes about an hour for the body to process a unit of alcohol – to play it safe, it’s best to start counting from the time you finish drinking.

So, if you have 20 units of alcohol and stop drinking at midnight, it’s going to be 8pm the following day before it’s out of your system.

And if you think this won’t apply to you because you’re a moderate drinker, think again. It only takes ‘a few’ drinks to land you in trouble the morning-after.

If, for example, you drink three 250 ml glasses of 14 per cent strength wine (10.5 units) and call it a night at midnight, in theory it will be 10.30 the next morning before you’re no longer under the influence. It might seem extreme, but if you are in any doubt, you’re better off not driving at all the next day.