Today’s high pressure working environments can be a challenge where health and safety and legislative compliance are concerned, with the burden falling largely on the employer.  However, we can help.  The Occupational Health Assessments and Health Surveillance Services we offer make it easy to comply with current health and safety legislation.

We provide health surveillance and health assessments with a difference.  Instead of being charged for each and every test or health check, we offer a bespoke service whereby professional, qualified and experienced staff attend your premises in a state of the art self-contained health screening vehicle to conduct as many checks and tests as you desire.

The cost is per visit, as opposed to per test.  This almost always results in substantial savings and a reduction in the burden on your business, whilst excelling at meeting your legal obligations and keeping your staff well and productive.

Our services include:

• Comprehensive Health Screening
• Health Surveillance
• Health Promotion Events
• Health Work Wellbeing Programmes
• Drug and Alcohol Testing
• All customised to your requirements

For more information or a bespoke quotation, please complete the form below:

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Tags: Assessments, Health, Health Surveillance, Occupational Health Screening

Propelled by a requirement to assure well-being, health and safety of workers, company substance misuse policies have eventually become increasingly popular across the UK. But unfortunately, there still persist an abundance of misinterpretations relating to the system, which can lead to misgivings among the staff involved in the process.

Alcohol and Drugs Testing In The Workplace – Exactly where is the danger?

A significant proportion of the population estimate that the impact of misused drugs within the workplace is a very minor issue. Everybody has seen Christmas anti-drink-driving commercials and as a consequence, bear in mind that drug driving and drink-driving is not safe, so can’t we trust in the general public’s common sense? Alas, as many as 50% of all workplace and roadside fatalities throughout the United Kingdom are connected with drink, street drugs, or a combination of both. Latest figures reveal that over 70% of illicit drug abusers are in full-time employment, meaning that the average substance misuser is, in a sense, the average member of staff. Modern Home Office stats estimate the number of 16 to 29-year-olds who have misused illicit drugs within the previous 12 months at just under 50% of the population. So, it is irresponsible to view this as someone else’s issue, because it is relevant to every place of work. While the usage of illicit drugs doesn’t automatically mean irresponsible attitudes within the working environment, it does drastically magnify the probability of incidents and accidents, attendance issues, a marked reduction in productivity, damage to equipment and stock, being involved in a lawsuit and a higher than average turnover of personnel.

Alcohol and Drugs Testing In The Workplace – So What Can You Do? Isn’t workplace drug testing difficult to do?

Lots of organizations only conduct a workplace drug screen in response to a significant damage to property or an injury, an incident, or in cases where they have reasonable cause for concern that an employee is unsafe or unfit for active duty. Due to the vast range of potential dangers associated with heavy industrial company premises, many workplaces believe it entirely reasonable to trigger diagnostic tests in such situations, as a measure to prevent them occurring ever again.

However, random drug tests brings the screening process to the next level, where a predetermined sample of the workforce is chosen at random to provide a sample of urine and/or breath. This could be seen as a little invasive, however, it is pretty commonplace for as few as 5% of the personnel to be screened up to once in every year. this is equivalent to only one in 20 people being drug and alcohol tested, as an alternative, as an individual, your likelihood of being subject to a test should be once each 20 years. As incredible as it seems, such infrequent testing has indeed been shown to decrease positivity rates from as high as 46% down to as low as just 2% within just a few months. This strongly suggests that the average substance abuser present in the working environment isn’t hopelessly addicted and unable to change, but is simply making lifestyle choices that can possibly be reshaped toward a more positive end result.

Alcohol and Drugs Testing In The Workplace. Can this be seen as an infringement of the person’s civil liberties and human rights?

Although some individuals within the company could be hesitant at first regarding the thought of testing, the majority of them comprehend that this will be conducted to safeguard the health and safety of anybody throughout the business. Provided the extent of testing is in proportion to the hazards within the work environment and doesn’t intentionally disrupt employee life outside of work, it doesn’t pose a danger to employee human rights. When it comes to America, around 98% of the top 1000 corporations drug test their workers without any issues.

Who says there is any danger while recreationally using street drugs away from the workplace?

Countless illegal drugs have certainly acquired a softer image as a result of their frequent coverage throughout national newspapers and magazines. Undoubtedly, phrases including “recreational cocaine use” may cause a great amount of harm in glossing over the risks to the general public. For a lot of teenagers, the use of cocaine is even more habit-forming than heroin and cannot be abused on a recreational basis without considerable risk of becoming addicted. Addiction aside, the level of cocaine purity has fallen from an average 45 percent purity in 2004 to a low of about twenty five percent purity in 2010 (with the purity of cocaine as low as nine percent being reported currently). Worryingly, the powders that dealers use to cut the cocaine range from local anaesthetics, carcinogenic pharmaceuticals, dog worming powders, through to insecticides. The unfortunate fact is you can never rely upon a drug dealer.

Even substances formerly regarded as soft drugs can still carry dangers. In recent years in England and Scotland, a frightening 92% of patients accepted for therapy for mental illness are regular cannabis users. With this in mind, workplace drugs testing undeniably possesses the realistic potential to deal with wider antisocial and health related problems when it becomes commonplace.

Read more about employee drug screening plus home drug screening kits, check out www.drug-aware.com

Regarding the author: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a supplier of Alcohol and Drugs Testing In The Workplace, alcohol and drugs screening kits, laboratory services and also alcohol and drugs awareness education. He has educated literally thousands of delegates across hundreds of organisations, HM Prison Service, the British police and hospitals and GP surgeries across the United Kingdom.

Spurred by a need to guarantee well-being, safety and health of contractors and employees, workplace substance misuse testing has gradually become increasingly common throughout Great Britain. Having said that, there still persist a significant number of misunderstandings relating to the system, that can possibly result in an uneasiness amongst the staff being screened.

Drug and Alcohol Information At Work – So, where is the hazard?

Numerous people suppose that the influence of alcohol and drugs in the working environment is a very minor concern. Pretty much everybody has been exposed to Christmas drink-driving commercials and as a consequence, bear in mind that drink-driving and drug-driving is risky, so isn’t it possible to rely upon most people’s common sense? Unfortunately, as much as 50% of all industrial and road fatalities around England and Scotland relate to drinking, illicit drugs, or a combination of both. Latest information reveal that in excess of two thirds of substance abusers are in full-time work, indicating that the average illegal drug user is, basically, the typical member of staff. New Home Office information estimate the volume of 16 to 29-year-olds that have engaged in drugs in the most recent 12 months at a significant fifty percent of that age range. As a result, this shouldn’t be viewed as somebody else’s problem, because it involves almost every working environment. Whilst the use of illicit drugs doesn’t by default point to risk-taking and irresponsibility within the work environment, it does greatly broaden the probability of incidents and accidents, attendance issues and absenteeism, a decrease in productivity, damages to equipment and stock, being involved in a lawsuit and a more substantial turnover of employees.

Drug and Alcohol Information At Work – What is realistic? Isn’t random drug screening rather complicated?

Many businesses only perform diagnostic tests after an industrial accident, an incident, or when they find reasonable grounds for concern that a member of the workforce may potentially be unsafe or unfit to be operating machinery. Because of the vast cross section of potential hazards associated with heavy industrial sites, many employers see it as being wholly prudent to carry out workplace drug screening on these occasions, as a measure to prevent them occurring again.

On the other hand, random drug and alcohol tests brings drug screening a stage further, wherein a predetermined sample of the employees is randomly selected to provide a sample. This could be seen as intrusive, however, it is actually pretty normal for only five percent of the staff to be drug screened up to once in every year. This would mean that just one in 20 individuals being tested, or maybe, as an employee, your probability of being screened would be once every 20 years. As amazing as it sounds, this style of minimal screening has been shown to lower positivity rates from as much as 46% down to a low of two percent in as little as only a couple of months. This indicates that the average drug abuser within the work environment is not addicted to drugs, but is purely making decisions about their lifestyle which may be adjusted towards a more agreeable outcome.

Drug and Alcohol Information At Work. Could this be seen as a violation of freedoms?

Although certain individuals on the payroll are hesitant at first regarding the thought of on-site drug testing, most recognise that this is primarily undertaken in order to improve upon the health and safety of everyone within the workplace. Provided the extent of testing is comparable to the possible dangers within the work environment and does not specifically interfere with staff time outside of work, it should not represent a danger to employee human rights. When it comes to America, more than ninety eight percent of the most successful 1000 organisations drug and alcohol test their staff without any issues.

So where is the danger when using substances away from work?

Numerous illicit drugs have established a less dangerous image due to their frequent coverage throughout the country’s television, radio and newspapers. Sure enough, terminologies including “recreational cocaine use” are responsible for a great deal of harm due to it downplaying the risks to people. For a lot of young people, cocaine is much more habit forming than heroin and, for this reason can not be taken on a recreational basis without having substantial threat of dependency. Addiction aside, the purity of cocaine has decreased from a typical 45% cocaine content in 2004 to a mere twenty five percent purity as of 2010 (with the purity of cocaine being as low as 9 percent being reported currently). Even more alarmingly, the added cutting agents that dealers use to add mass to the cocaine powder often range from dangerous anaesthetics, cancer-causing chemicals, animal worming chemicals, through to cockroach insecticide. The underlying message is that you can never ever rely upon a drug dealer.

In fact, substances previously deemed to be soft drugs nevertheless carry risks. Right now in England and Wales, 92% of individuals accepted for therapy for mental health problems are heavy users of cannabis. With this in mind, drug screening in the workplace genuinely has the potential to tackle wider social and mental health issues when it eventually is more common.

To discover more about drug screening in the workplace and also home drug testing kits, browse through www.drug-aware.com

Information on the author: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a supplier of Drug and Alcohol Information At Work, drug and alcohol testing devices, lab services as well as drugs awareness training. He has personally trained literally thousands of delegates across hundreds of companies, HM Prison Service, the British police and hospitals across the UK.

Prompted by a demand to provide well-being, health and safety of employees, employee alcohol and drug screening has come to be more and more common across England and Wales. However, there still persist a variety of misunderstandings surrounding the strategy, that can most likely produce concern amongst the staff being tested.

Random Substance Misuse Tests – So, where is the danger?

Lots of individuals estimate that the impact of abused drugs within the modern workplace is a minor issue. Each and every one of us has taken notice of Christmas time drink-driving TV advertisements and as a consequence, recognise that drug driving and drink-driving is dangerous, so can’t we rely upon everyday people’s judgement? The sad thing is, a staggering half of all roadside and industrial fatalities in the UK relate to alcohol, illicit drugs, or both together. Modern studies prove that well over 70 % of illicit drug abusers are in full-time work, suggesting that the typical illegal drug misuser is, effectively, the average member of staff. Recent Home Office reports estimate the number of 16 to 29-year-olds that have misused illegal drugs within the previous 12 months at just over fifty percent of that age range. In light of this fact, you cannot treat this as someone else’s concern, it involves each and every industrial environment. While the occasional use of illicit substances doesn’t automatically suggest irresponsibility within the workplace, it does substantially magnify the likelihood of accidents, attendance and punctuality problems, a reduction in productivity, damage to workplace equipment, being sued and a raised turnover of personnel.

Random Substance Misuse Tests – So what should we do? Isn’t employee drug and alcohol testing operationally disruptive?

Numerous organizations only conduct an employee drug screen in response to an industrial accident, an incident, or if they have reasonable cause for concern that a member of the workforce may be unsafe for duty. As a result of the large cross section of prospective dangers within heavy industrial work environments, many employers judge it to be completely logical to conduct diagnostic testing on such occasions, as a measure to prevent them occurring again.

On the other hand, random workplace drug testing brings workplace testing to the next level, where a predetermined sample of the personnel is chosen at random to produce a sample. This may sound intrusive, though it is pretty normal for only five percent of the workforce to be tested up to once every year. This is the same as just one in 20 people being drug tested, or else, as a member of staff, your chance of being subject to a test would likely be once every 20 years. Incredibly, this style of marginal screening has been confirmed to lower failure rates from as much as 46% down to a low of 2% in as little as just a handful of months. This indicates that the typical drug user present in the workplace is not addicted, but is merely making choices about their lifestyle which could be adjusted toward a better conclusion.

Random Substance Misuse Tests. Is this often perceived to be an infringement of freedoms?

Although some individuals within the company might be initially resistant to the possibility of screening, the majority perceive that this is being performed in order to underpin the basic safety of all the people throughout the company. Provided the amount of on-site drug testing is proportional to the dangers within the workplace and doesn’t especially disrupt staff time outside of work, it doesn’t technically represent a danger to staff human rights. In the United States, beyond 98% of the most successful 1000 organisations drug screen their work force without any problems.

Who says there is any risk while experimenting with illegal drugs outside of your job?

Quite a few illicit drugs have actually established a softer image as a consequence of their frequent mentions throughout countrywide television, radio and newspapers. In reality, expressions such as “recreational cocaine use” are responsible for a significant amount of harm due to it downplaying the dangers to impressionable young people. For numerous people, powdered cocaine is much more habit-forming than heroin and can’t be used on a recreational basis without significant risk of dependency. Addiction aside, cocaine purity has dropped from a typical 45% purity in 2004 to a low of roughly twenty five percent purity as of 2010 (with the purity of cocaine at an all-time low of 9 percent being reported). Worryingly, the chemicals that dealers use to bulk out the cocaine can be anything from local anaesthetics, cancer-causing chemicals, dog worming agents, all the way through to to insecticides. The reality is that you can certainly never rely upon a drug dealer.

Even drugs generally deemed to be soft drugs nonetheless carry risks. Right now in United Kingdom, a whopping 92% of men and women accepted for treatment for mental health issues are regular users of cannabis. bearing this in mind, workplace drug screening seriously possesses the potential to deal with wider antisocial and mental health concerns as it becomes commonplace.

For more information on workplace drug testing as well as home drug testing kits, stop by www.drug-aware.com

Information on the author: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a provider of Random Substance Misuse Tests, drugs and alcohol screening equipment, lab services along with drugs awareness training. He has educated literally thousands of delegates across hundreds of businesses, the HM Prison Service, the British police and hospitals and GP surgeries across the country.

Stimulated by a requirement to guarantee safety, well-being and health of employees and visitors, employee substance abuse screening has gradually become more commonplace throughout England and Scotland. Nevertheless, there still persist an abundance of myths associated with the strategy, that might result in doubt among the members of staff subject to testing.

Substance Misuse Screening In The Workplace – Precisely where is the risk?

Lots of individuals estimate that the impact of drugs of abuse throughout the modern workplace is a trivial matter. Pretty much everybody has seen Christmas time anti-drink-driving commercials and as a consequence, get the idea that drug driving and drink-driving is hazardous, so shouldn’t we be able to count on most people’s common sense? Sad to say, it’s estimated that one-half of all road and industrial fatalities across the United Kingdom involve alcohol, drugs, or both. Up-to-date statistics show that over 70 % of illicit drug users are in full-time jobs, meaning that the typical drug misuse is, essentially, the average business employee. Most recent Home Office research estimate the amount of 16 to 29-year-olds who have used illegal substances in the previous year at in excess of fifty percent. So, this shouldn’t be viewed as someone else’s problem, as it affects every single workplace. While the recreational use of drugs doesn’t by default suggest a tendency to ignore risks within the working environment, this does drastically broaden the probability of accidents, attendance issues, a drop in productivity, damage to equipment and stock, being the target of legal action and a larger turnover of personnel.

Substance Misuse Screening In The Workplace – What should we do? Isn’t workplace alcohol and drug testing difficult to do?

A lot of businesses only perform employee drug screening in the event of an accident, an incident or near miss, or in cases where they find reasonable grounds for concern that a worker may potentially be unsafe or unfit to be at work. Due to the broad cross section of potential hazards associated with heavy industrial companies, many businesses judge it to be entirely logical to perform diagnostic tests on such occurrences, in order to prevent them occurring ever again.

Of course, random workplace drug screening brings testing a stage further, whereby a predetermined percentage of the workforce is picked at random to volunteer an urine and breath sample. This sounds a little intrusive, though it is actually pretty customary for only five percent of the staff to be drug screened up to once per year. This is the same as only one in 20 individuals being drug and alcohol tested, as an alternative, as an employee, your probability of being actually screened should be just one time in each 20 years. Incredibly, such minimalistic testing has indeed been documented to lessen failure rates from a high of forty six percent down to as low as 2% within only a handful of months. This indicates that the run of the mill drug misuser found in the work environment isn’t addicted, but is just making choices about their lifestyle which could be influenced in the direction of a better end result.

Substance Misuse Screening In The Workplace. Is this often deemed a violation of the person’s civil Liberties?

While some individuals on the payroll might be resistant at first to the prospect of on-site drug screening, the significant majority are aware that this will be carried out in order to underpin the health and safety of everybody within the workplace. Provided the extent of on-site drug testing is proportionate to the threats found in the workplace and doesn’t deliberately interfere with employee time outside of work, it doesn’t represent a threat to staff human rights. In the US, beyond 98% of the most successful 1000 businesses drug and alcohol screen their work force without any controversy.

Is there really any risk when misusing street drugs outside of your job?

A number of illegal substances have certainly created a softer image through their repeated exposure throughout the country’s radio, television and newspapers. Of course, expressions including “recreational cocaine use” are responsible for a great amount of harm due to it misinforming people. For a significant proportion of youngsters, powdered cocaine is even more addictive than heroin and can not be abused on a recreational basis without considerable threat of becoming addicted. Addiction aside, cocaine purity has reduced from an average 45% cocaine concentration in 2004 to as low as about 25% purity in 2010 (with the purity of cocaine as low as 9% being reported). Worryingly, the powders that the dealers use to increase the volume of the cocaine have been known to range from local anaesthetics, carcinogenic chemicals, cat worming powders, through to cockroach insecticide. The reality is that you should certainly never rely on a drug dealer.

In fact, drugs typically thought of as soft drugs still carry dangers. In recent years in England and Wales, a dramatic 92% of individuals accepted for treatment for mental health problems are regular users of cannabis. bearing this in mind, workplace drugs screening unquestionably has the opportunity to attack wider community and health problems when it comes to be commonplace.

Read more about drug testing in the workplace plus home drug screening kits, check out www.drug-aware.com

About the author: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a provider of Substance Misuse Screening In The Workplace, alcohol and drugs test devices, laboratory services together with drug awareness training sessions. He has taught literally thousands of delegates from hundreds of organisations, HM Prison Service, the British police and hospitals across the country.

Prompted by a necessity to assure health, safety and well-being of members of staff, workplace alcohol and drugs screening has grown more common around Great Britain. But nevertheless, there still persist an abundance of myths relating to the practice, that might result in misgivings amongst the staff involved in testing.

Substance Misuse Awareness Training For Employers – So, where are the dangers?

Lots of people assume that the effect of street drugs throughout the working environment is a very minor problem. Each and every one of us has seen Christmas drink-driving TV advertisements and understand that drink-driving and drug-driving is illegal and dangerous, so isn’t it possible to depend upon everyday people’s common sense? Sad to say, about one-half of all workplace and road deaths across Britain are connected with alcohol, illicit drugs, or a combination of both. Up-to-date reports demonstrate that over two thirds of illegal drug users are in full-time jobs, which means that the average illegal drug user is, in effect, the typical company employee. Up-to-date Home Office statistics estimate the number of 16 to 29-year-olds that have abused illegal substances throughout the last 12 months at almost 50% of that age range. Therefore, this shouldn’t be seen as someone else’s problem, it impacts almost every business. While the use of illicit drugs doesn’t necessarily imply a tendency to ignore hazards within the company, this does substantially broaden the possibility of accidents and near misses, attendance and punctuality issues, decreased productivity, damage to equipment and stock, litigation and a higher than average turnover of staff.

Substance Misuse Awareness Training For Employers – What companies do? Isn’t workplace alcohol and drug testing operationally disruptive?

A lot of organizations only carry out testing after a workplace accident, an incident, or in cases where they find reasonable cause for concern that a worker could potentially be unsafe or unfit to be at work. Due to the large variety of prospective risks found within heavy industrial work environments, numerous companies view it as completely prudent to trigger diagnostic testing in such instances, as a way to prevent them occurring ever again.

However, random employee drug testing takes on-site drug screening a stage further, whereby a predetermined sample of the workforce is selected at random to produce a breath and urine sample. This may sound intrusive, though it is quite commonplace for as little as five percent of the staff to be drug tested up to once per year. This would mean that only one in 20 individuals being drug and alcohol screened, or else, as a member of staff, your odds of being tested may be just once every 20 years. As incredible as it seems, this kind of minimalistic screening has already been demonstrated to lower failure rates from as much as 46% down to a low of only 2% within only a handful of months. This might indicate that the run of the mill substance abuser found in the work environment isn’t addicted and unable to change, but is simply making lifestyle choices that can possibly be adjusted in the direction of a more agreeable end result.

Substance Misuse Awareness Training For Employers. Will this be perceived to be a violation of an individuals’ freedoms?

While some employees may be resistant at first to the possibility of workplace screening, most perceive that this is primarily performed in order to underpin the well-being of all the people throughout the place of work. Provided that the extent of testing is comparable to the hazards within the workplace and doesn’t intentionally interfere with personnel personal time, it shouldn’t represent a danger to staff human rights. When it comes to the United States, around ninety eight percent of the biggest 1000 businesses drug and alcohol screen their personnel without any difficulty.

Is there really any danger while misusing substances away from the workplace?

A number of drugs have certainly formed a softer image through their repeated exposure in nationwide magazines and newspapers. In reality, terminologies such as “recreational cocaine use” are responsible for a significant amount of harm due to it downplaying the dangers to impressionable young people. For a lot of people, cocaine as a drug is much more habit forming than heroin and, as a result can not be abused recreationally without having considerable risk of falling prey to addiction. Addiction aside, the purity of cocaine has dropped from an average of 45 percent cocaine concentration in 2004 to a low of approximately 25 percent purity in 2010 (with purity at an all-time low of 9 percent being reported). Shockingly, the added cutting agents that the dealers use to increase the mass of the cocaine can range from local anaesthetics, cancer-causing chemicals, animal worming powders, all the way through to to insecticides. The fact of the matter is you should never ever trust a drug dealer.

Even substances typically considered to be soft drugs still carry risks. In recent years in Great Britain, a whopping 92% of men and women admitted for treatment for mental health problems are heavy cannabis users. With this in mind, workplace drugs testing realistically has the potential to tackle wider antisocial and mental health problems as it eventually is more widely accepted.

To learn more about workplace drug and alcohol policies together with home drug test kits, pay a visit to www.drug-aware.com

Information on the author: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a provider of Substance Misuse Awareness Training For Employers, drugs and alcohol test kits, laboratory services and drugs and alcohol awareness education. He has educated literally thousands of delegates spanning hundreds of businesses, HM Prison Service, the British police and hospitals and mental health units across the country.

Provoked by a requirement to assure safety, well-being and health of visitors and employees, company drugs and alcohol testing has come to be noticeably commonplace across the British Isles. But nevertheless, there still persist several misinterpretations relating to the process, that can most likely give rise to worry among the members of staff being screened.

Substance Misuse Awareness For Employers – Where are the risks?

Some people think that the influence of street drugs in the workplace is a very minor concern. We all have taken notice of Christmas time drink-driving television campaigns and understand that drink-driving and drug-driving is risky, so shouldn’t we be able to depend upon everyone’s judgement? Regrettably, as much as 50% of all road and industrial fatalities across Great Britain involve drink, drugs, or both. Latest figures demonstrate that about seventy percent of illicit drug users are engaged in full-time employment, meaning that the typical illegal drug user is, effectively, the average business employee. Current Home Office studies put the number of 16 to 29-year-olds who have indulged in illegal drugs in the most recent 12 months at a significant fifty percent. In light of this fact, this isn’t someone else’s issue, it affects each and every company. Although the consumption of illegal substances doesn’t necessarily point to a tendency to ignore hazards within the place of work, this does significantly heighten the likelihood of accidents and near misses, absenteeism and attendance issues, a drop in productivity, damage to plant and equipment, being the target of legal action and a more extensive turnover of workforce.

Substance Misuse Awareness For Employers – So what do you suggest? Isn’t random drug screening rather complicated?

Many businesses only conduct an employee drug screen in response to a workplace accident, an incident, or anytime they find reasonable cause for concern or suspect that a worker is unfit to be on active duty. Due to the vast variety of possible hazards associated with industrial workplaces, lots of businesses judge it to be wholly reasonable to conduct testing on these occurrences, as a way to prevent them occurring again.

In contrast, random workplace drug screening brings on-site drug testing a stage further, whereby a predetermined proportion of the employees is chosen at random to provide a sample of urine and/or breath. This may sound a little heavy-handed, though it is quite commonplace for only 5% of the staff to be screened up to once in every year. this is equivalent to just one in 20 staff being screened, in other words, as a member of staff, your odds of being actually screened would probably be just a single time in every 20 years. Incredibly, this style of infrequent testing has actually been demonstrated to reduce rates of positivity from as much as forty six percent down to as low as just 2% inside of just a handful of months. This just shows that the run of the mill substance abuser found in the average business is not addicted, but is just making lifestyle decisions that may be changed towards a better outcome.

Substance Misuse Awareness For Employers. Might this be regarded as an infringement of human rights?

Whilst a number of employees can be hesitant at first regarding the possibility of testing, the majority of them get the idea that this is being performed to improve the safety of everybody throughout the workplace. As long as the extent of on-site drug screening is in proportion to the threats throughout the work environment and does not specifically impact upon personnel leisure activities, it does not represent a threat to staff human rights. Around the United States of America, over ninety eight percent of the largest 1000 businesses drug and alcohol test their members of staff without any difficulty.

Who says there is any harm while experimenting with narcotics outside of work?

Lots of drugs have recently created a less dangerous image through their continued exposure within countrywide newspapers and television. Sure enough, terminologies such as “recreational cocaine use” can cause a significant deal of harm in downplaying the risks to individuals. For a large amount of young people, powdered cocaine is more habit-forming than heroin and, for this reason can’t be used on a recreational basis without having major threat of addiction. Dependency aside, the purity of cocaine has decreased from an average of forty five percent cocaine content in 2004 to as low as roughly 25 percent purity in 2010 (with cocaine purity as low as 9% reported). Even more worryingly, the added cutting agents that dealers use to bulk out the powdered cocaine can range from local anaesthetics, carcinogenic pharmaceuticals, animal worming powders, all the way through to to dangerous insecticides. The underlying message is you should never ever rely upon a drug dealer.

Indeed, substances usually deemed to be soft drugs can still carry risks. Presently in England and Wales, a frightening 92% of everyday people taken in for therapy for mental illness are heavy users of cannabis. With this in mind, workplace drug testing in reality possesses the realistic ability to attack wider antisocial and mental health concerns when it eventually becomes more widely accepted.

To discover more about drug screening in the workplace and home drug testing kits, check out www.drug-aware.com

Information on the author: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a provider of Substance Misuse Awareness For Employers, drugs and alcohol testing equipment, laboratory services and also alcohol and drugs awareness training courses. He has instructed literally thousands of delegates from hundreds of businesses, Her Majesty’s Prison Service, the British police and hospitals throughout the country.

Pressed by a requirement to assure health, safety and well-being of members of staff, company substance misuse policies have eventually become increasingly popular within the United Kingdom. Having said that, there still persist several myths surrounding the strategy, that can most likely give rise to concern among the workers involved in testing.

Substance Misuse Information For Employers – Just where are the dangers?

Lots of people presume that the effect of alcohol and drugs throughout the working environment is a trivial matter. Everybody has been exposed to Christmas drink-driving television campaigns and as a consequence, know that drink-driving and drug-driving is risky, so shouldn’t we be able to depend on most people’s common sense? Sorry to say, around fifty percent of all industrial and road fatalities across Great Britain are connected with alcohol, illicit drugs, or a combination of both. Up to date reports demonstrate that about 70 % of drug misusers are in full-time work, meaning that the average substance misuser is, essentially, the typical employee. More recent Home Office reports estimate the volume of 16 to 29-year-olds that have engaged in drugs throughout the last 12 months at approximately fifty percent. So, this shouldn’t be viewed as somebody else’s issue, because it has an impact upon every single business. While the recreational use of illicit substances may not necessarily mean a tendency to ignore risks within the working environment, this does greatly broaden the possibility of accidents, attendance issues and absenteeism, a marked reduction in productivity, damages to machinery and wasted materials, compensation claims and a raised turnover of employees.

Substance Misuse Information For Employers – What do you suggest? Isn’t employee drug testing operationally disruptive?

Plenty of businesses only administer workplace drug screening after an industrial accident, an incident, or in the event that they have reasonable grounds for concern or suspicion that a colleague might be unsafe to be on active duty. Due to the vast cross section of possible threats found at industrial company premises, numerous businesses believe it to be wholly proper to perform workplace testing on such occasions, as a measure to avoid them from occurring ever again.

On the other hand, random drug and alcohol testing brings testing the workplace to the next level, whereby a certain proportion of the employees is chosen at random to provide a sample. You may see this as a little invasive, but it is very customary for just five percent of the personnel to be drug tested up to once per 12 month period. This is the same as just one in 20 staff being drug and alcohol screened, or perhaps, as a member of staff, your likelihood of being tested could be just once every 20 years. As incredible as it sounds, this form of minimalistic screening has indeed been confirmed to decrease failure rates from a high of 46% down to as little as two percent inside of just a handful of months. This highlights that the typical drug misuser found within the working environment is not hopelessly addicted and unable to change, but is purely making lifestyle choices which can possibly be changed towards a more positive conclusion.

Substance Misuse Information For Employers. Will this be deemed an invasion of an individuals’ freedoms?

Whilst certain staff members might be hesitant at first regarding the prospect of on-site drug screening, many understand that this will be performed to improve upon the safety and security of everyone in the company. As long as the amount of testing is comparable to the dangers within the company and does not intentionally impact upon personnel life outside of work, it should not represent a danger to staff human rights. Within the USA, over 98% of the leading 1000 organisations drug screen their members of staff without any controversy.

Is there any danger while misusing drugs away from work?

Lots of street drugs have formed a less dangerous image due to their continual exposure in countrywide television, radio and newspapers. In reality, expressions including “recreational cocaine use” have been shown to cause a great deal of harm in glossing over the dangers to people. For numerous young people, snorting cocaine is unexpectedly more habit forming than heroin and, for this reason can not be used recreationally without having considerable threat of becoming addicted. Dependency aside, the level of cocaine purity has fallen from an average of 45 percent cocaine concentration in 2004 to as low as roughly twenty five percent purity as of 2010 (with purity at an all-time low of 9 percent currently being reported). Even more shockingly, the bulking agents used to add weight to the cocaine powder have been known to range from dangerous anaesthetics, carcinogenic pharmaceuticals, dog worming agents, all the way through to to insecticides. The underlying truth is that you should certainly never rely upon a drug dealer.

In fact, substances typically regarded as soft drugs often still carry risks. At this time in United Kingdom, a shocking 92% of individuals admitted for treatment for mental health issues are heavy cannabis users. bearing this in mind, workplace alcohol and drug screening really possesses the potential to tackle wider social and health problems as it eventually is more widely accepted.

Read more about workplace drug and alcohol policies and also home drug testing kits, pay a visit to www.drug-aware.com

Information about the author: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a supplier of Substance Misuse Information For Employers, alcohol and drugs screening devices, laboratory services and also drugs awareness education. He has instructed literally thousands of delegates from hundreds of companies, the HM Prison Service, the British police and hospitals and drug treatment centres across the country.

Prompted by a demand to assure well-being, health and safety of contractors and employees, business substance abuse policies have become more and more commonplace around Great Britain. However, there are still many misunderstandings surrounding the strategy, which might create apprehension among the workers involved in screening.

Employee Drugs and Alcohol Testing – Where exactly are the hazards?

Some people estimate that the impact of illegal drugs throughout the work environment is a trivial matter. Everyone has taken notice of Christmas anti-drink-driving television advertisements and as a consequence, recognise that drug driving and drink-driving is not safe, so shouldn’t we be able to depend upon everyone’s judgement? Sorry to say, around half of all roadside and industrial deaths across England and Scotland involve alcohol, drugs, or both together. Present statistics reveal that in excess of 70 % of illegal drug abusers are engaged in full-time employment, meaning that the typical drug abuser is, effectively, the average member of staff. The recent Home Office information place the number of 16 to 29-year-olds who have used controlled drugs throughout the last 12 months at almost 50% of that age range. Therefore, this is not somebody else’s issue, because it involves each and every business. Whilst the occasional use of illicit substances might not by default point to risk-taking and irresponsible attitudes within the industrial environment, this does substantially broaden the probability of workplace accidents, absenteeism, decreased productivity, damage to plant and equipment, being sued and a raised turnover of staff.

Employee Drugs and Alcohol Testing – What is your recommendation? Isn’t Drug screening in the workplace disruptive?

Plenty of companies only carry out employee drug screening in the event of an industrial accident, an incident or near miss, or in the event they find reasonable cause for concern or suspect that a member of staff may potentially be unsafe or unfit to be operating machinery. On account of the broad diversity of possible dangers associated with industrial businesses, many managers view it as completely proper to perform diagnostic tests on these occurrences, as a way to avoid them happening in the future.

However, random drug testing brings testing to the next level, whereby a predetermined sample of the employees is selected at random to volunteer a sample of urine and/or breath. This may sound intrusive, though it is quite typical for just five percent of the staff to be tested up to once in every 12 month period. This would mean that only one in 20 staff being drug screened, in other words, as a member of staff, your probability of being tested may be just a single time in every 20 years. Incredibly, this form of marginal testing has indeed been documented to decrease rates of failure from as much as 46% down to a low of two percent in as little as just a few months. This indicates that the run of the mill drug misuser found in the work environment isn’t hopelessly addicted, but is merely making decisions about their lifestyle which can possibly be changed toward a more positive end result.

Employee Drugs and Alcohol Testing. Might this be perceived as an infringement of an individuals’ human rights?

Whilst certain individuals within the company may be initially resistant to the prospect of on-site drug screening, the majority of them comprehend that this is primarily conducted to assure the safety of anybody within the working environment. So long as the extent of on-site drug screening is proportional to the possible dangers throughout the business and does not especially impact upon employee time outside of work, it doesn’t represent a danger to employee human rights. When it comes to the United States, over 98% of the richest 1000 corporations drug and alcohol screen their work force without any difficulties.

Is there any harm when abusing drugs and alcohol outside of the workplace?

Quite a few street drugs have indeed acquired a softer image as a result of their continued exposure in the country’s media. In actual fact, expressions including “recreational cocaine use” have been shown to cause a significant amount of harm in glossing over the dangers to young people. For some young people, the use of cocaine is much more habit-forming than heroin and, as a result cannot be abused recreationally without significant risk of addiction. Dependence aside, the level of cocaine purity has fallen from an average of forty five percent cocaine content in 2004 to a low of roughly 25% purity as of 2010 (with purity being as low as 9 percent being reported currently). Worryingly, the compounds used to add weight to the cocaine can be anything from local anaesthetics, carcinogenic pharmaceuticals, pet worming chemicals, through to insecticides. The underlying truth is you should never rely on a drug dealer.

Indeed, substances typically regarded as soft drugs nonetheless carry risks. Right now in England and Scotland, a shocking 92% of patients accepted for therapy for mental illness are heavy users of cannabis. bearing this in mind, drug testing the workplace truly possesses the opportunity to deal with wider antisocial and health related concerns as it comes to be more common.

For more information on workplace drug screening and also home drug test kits, browse through www.drug-aware.com

Information on the author: Christopher Evans is the Technical Director of Drug-Aware Ltd, a supplier of Employee Drugs and Alcohol Testing, alcohol and drug screening equipment, laboratory services together with alcohol and drugs awareness training. He has trained literally thousands of delegates spanning hundreds of organisations, HM Prison Service, the British police and hospitals and GP surgeries across the country.