6 Advantages of Drug Testing for Baton Rouge Businesses

In today’s fast-paced work environment, ensuring the safety and productivity of your workforce is more critical than ever. Implementing a drug testing policy is a proactive step that Baton Rouge businesses can take to foster a healthier, more productive, and safer workplace. Learn why drug testing in Baton Rouge should be a part of your business strategy with Total Occupational Medicine.

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1. Safety: A Top Priority

Drug use in and outside of the workplace isn’t just about legality. It’s a serious safety concern that can have a wide-reaching impact. Impaired judgment and coordination from drug and alcohol use can lead to accidents and injuries, endangering employees and customers alike. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 464 workplace fatalities occurred in due to unintentional overdoses from the nonmedical use of drugs or alcohol. Instituting a drug testing policy is a straightforward measure by which employers can enhance workplace safety and prevent potential hazards before they occur.

2. Boosting Productivity

The impact of drug use on employee productivity is well-documented. From decreased cognitive function to increased absenteeism and presenteeism, the repercussions can be far-reaching. By deterring drug use, drug testing helps Baton Rouge businesses maintain optimal productivity levels. This can then ensure tasks are completed efficiently and effectively.

3. Legal Compliance and Protection

Certain sectors, especially those involving transportation and healthcare, require testing to comply with federal and state regulations. However, even outside these industries, having a drug testing policy offers legal protection, safeguarding your business in the event of accidents or legal disputes related to drug use.

4. Mitigating Risks

Drug use can elevate the risk of workplace errors, accidents, and conflicts. By implementing a robust drug testing policy, employers can significantly mitigate these risks, potentially lowering insurance premiums and reducing liability.

5. Promoting Employee Health and Well-Being

Beyond its immediate workplace benefits, a drug testing policy demonstrates a commitment to employee health and well-being. It not only helps in identifying those struggling with substance abuse but also encourages a healthier lifestyle, offering support and resources to those in need.

6. Ensuring Fairness and Equity

A fair drug testing policy applies uniformly across the board, establishing clear expectations for all employees. This promotes a sense of equity in the workplace, ensuring everyone is held to the same standards regardless of their role or seniority.

Total Occupational Medicine’s Drug Testing Services

At Total Occupational Medicine, we understand the importance of maintaining a drug-free workplace, not just for safety and productivity but also for the overall health of your workforce. Our drug testing services in Baton Rouge are designed to provide employers with a convenient, accurate, and cost-effective solution to enforce their drug testing policies. 

With our state-of-the-art equipment and certified technicians, we offer a range of testing options that can be tailored to meet your business’s specific needs. Whether it’s on-site testing to save time and reduce disruption or comprehensive testing at our Drusilla Lane location, we’re here to support your efforts in creating a safer, more productive workplace.

Choosing Total Occupational Medicine for your drug testing needs in Baton Rouge not only helps you comply with regulations and mitigate risks but ultimately saves money by reducing accidents, improving productivity, and enhancing your company’s reputation. Take the next step towards a healthier workplace today.

While companies are not legally required to have a drug and alcohol policy, employment protection law, which requires employers to treat substance dependence as a form of sickness, makes it clear that drug and alcohol use should be part of your overall health and safety protocols in the workplace. 

It’s no secret that using drugs or alcohol at work can have negative repercussions for employers. In industries like construction, workers under the influence of alcohol and controlled substances can cause accidents that lead to injuries or death of other employees and members of the public.

These risks underscore the importance of drug and alcohol policies. But this need is particularly pressing in the UK.

Why UK Employers Need To Be More Mindful Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse 

According to Alcohol Change, “24% of adults in England and Scotland regularly drink over the Chief Medical Officer’s low-risk guidelines.” Research from Public Health England (PHE) paints an even grimmer picture: 1.6 million adults in England may have some level of alcohol dependence.

Source: Public Health England 

Meanwhile, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) warns that the UK is the “worst offending country for prescription drug abuse” in Europe due to the prevalence of illegal online pharmacies selling drugs like diazepam (Valium) — a Class C drug in the UK.

If you are a contractor or construction organisation planning to create a drug and alcohol policy for your workplace or need information about its business benefits, we’ve put together a list of five reasons to have one.

1. A Drug And Alcohol Policy Is Part Of Your Health And Safety Responsibilities

Employers aren’t legally required to have or implement their drug and alcohol policies, nor are they obligated by law to pay for treating workers with substance abuse problems.

However, having a policy goes a long way towards meeting your health and safety responsibilities under the law.

For instance, the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act states, “It is the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.”

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Drug Of Abuse Tests.

Related Reading: Who Is Responsible for Workplace Health and Safety?

If you knowingly allowed an employee to come to work under the influence of drugs or alcohol and they placed their co-workers at risk of harm, you could be liable. A drug and alcohol policy helps prevent this by outlining clear actions and responses for these incidents.

2. Most Employers Have A Drug And Alcohol Policy

The good news is that most employers in the UK treat a drug and alcohol policy as an integral component of their overall health and safety policy.

According to the CIPD report Managing drug and alcohol misuse at work, around 77% of organisations in had a specific policy on drugs and/or alcohol, whilst 51% said they have disciplinary procedures for drug and/or alcohol-related incidents.

CHAS Tip: CIPD also found that only a third of organisations provide employees with information and resources for managing their drug and/or alcohol problems. This presents an opportunity for your company to go beyond punitive measures and treat substance abuse or dependence as a form of sickness. This assures employees that they can approach you for support and care.

3. Workers In Construction Face A Greater Risk Of Drug And Alcohol Abuse

Workers in the construction industry face a high risk of injury due to the repetitive and strenuous nature of work. This, in turn, places them at greater risk of using alcohol and self-medicating with prescription drugs for pain management — creating a deadly cycle of injury and substance abuse.

Citing NHS data, the Considerate Constructors Scheme reports that 20% to 30% of workplace accidents in safety-critical industries such as construction can be traced back to alcohol consumption. They also found that 59% of workers agreed that there is an issue related to drugs and alcohol in the construction industry.

A drug and alcohol policy enables you to address these risks and proactively prevent workers with substance abuse issues from endangering their co-workers and the general public.

Related Reading: Managing Health & Safety In Construction Trends

4. A Drug And Alcohol Policy Can Help Address Performance Issues Caused By Substance Abuse

Aside from the risk of endangering your employees and people in your community, drug and alcohol issues can also negatively affect employee performance. According to the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS), 42% of workers have, at one point, reported to work under the influence of alcohol — of that number, 39% said their performance was less effective than normal.

But the real kicker is this: reduced productivity/absenteeism due to alcohol misuse in England sets taxpayers and employers back by around £21 billion per year.

A drug and alcohol policy in itself doesn’t solve this problem. But it does help employees identify the signs of substance abuse and encourage your staff to come forward and seek help before their alcohol and/or drug problem escalates.

CHAS Tip: It’s essential to communicate your drug and alcohol policy to match your workforce’s preferred internal communication and training methods. For instance, the CIPD found that 64% of organisations communicate their drug and alcohol policies/procedures through a staff handbook. This is followed closely by 62% of organisations that communicate their policy during the onboarding process.

Source: CIPD

No method is 100% perfect, so we recommend using a mix of communication channels and methods to disseminate information about your drug and alcohol policy to employees across all your teams, departments and levels.

Related Reading: Guide To Workplace Health And Safety Training In Construction

5. A Drug And Alcohol Policy Is A Requirement Of The Common Assessment Standard

The Common Assessment Standard is the UK construction industry’s pre-eminent prequalification system, developed by Build UK, CECA and accreditation bodies such as CHAS.

Apart from covering 13 critical areas of supply chain risk management, the Common Assessment Standard also builds on the health and safety requirements outlined by the SSIP and PAS 91 schemes — industry-recognised accreditation systems.

For example, the health and safety module of the Common Assessment Standard requires contractors to present a drug and alcohol policy that includes the following information as a minimum:

• The preventative measures your company takes to ensure employees do not attend site under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
• Items such as testing requirement, frequency, substances tested for and management of test results
• Whether the policy addresses post-incident and/or reasonable cause drug and alcohol testing
• Whether the policy addresses a return-to-duty testing process and unannounced testing programmes for employees following a policy violation and/or substance abuse treatment.

Small micro-business can provide a drug and alcohol statement instead of a policy.

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