Sunday, January 19, 2014

Why Businesses Need To Consider Drug Testing In Beckley WV

By Marissa Velazquez


Drugs have devastating effects on businesses, and if workers are not prevented from using these substances, they can cause many problems. Businesses can reduce the risks associated with drugs use by consulting the services of drug testing in Beckley WV. A comprehensive drugs testing program is needed to help businesses know who are using the substances and how to stop that behaviour.

Employees who use drugs risk being involved in work related accidents. If an employee operates a machine or drives a company car while intoxicated with alcohol or other drugs substances, this could lead to accidents. Personal injuries in workplace bring about increased costs through compensations.

This is especially so in the first time of transferring workers to the new positions. Randomized tests can surprise workers when they are performed, and these are the best deterrent techniques to the problem of substance abuse. If you device a test program which is done randomly without the knowledge of workers, they always ensure that they do not use drugs because they do not know when the tests will be done.

The average collection procedure only requires about 15 minutes, and the other time is spent in driving to the facilities and waiting at the laboratory room to be tested. This time can amount to many lost man-hours when calculated in the long term. If every employee who is being tested in a year takes 2 hours, when multiplied by the number of employees tested in that period, this can result to direct effect on productivity.

That lost time means lost productivity. The on premise test is different because it requires zero travel hours and employees do not have to wait in queues for their turn. The workers are called in turns and those waiting to be tested can remain in their duties until their turn comes. They are tested on an as needed basis, and not much time is wasted.

The decision for an employee to be tested may come from designated employee representative, a supervisor, or a head of department. The suspicion on an employee of using drugs should be based on a pattern of observed behaviour, speech, smell, appearance, or other aspects, which are associated with intoxication. Tests can be performed on-premise or at the laboratories.

Drugs tests on employees reduce the number of sick days or leave, which arise due to effects of the substances. Business owners and the management team should make plans to implement a testing procedure, which is cost effective but also produces the desired results. Although it is not mandatory to test workers, some businesses are required to do so especially employees in the transport industry who hold safety sensitive positions such as truck drivers, and public bus drivers.

Employees, employers and operators who do safety sensitive functions in mass transit, railroad, trucking, aviation and pipeline industries are mandated to facilitate drugs tests routines to prevent substance abuse. Businesses should consider drug testing in Beckley WV in order to minimize liabilities in workplace. The technicians can help develop tests programs that suit the needs of a business. The tests may be performed on premises or the workers can travel to laboratory facilities but each method has its own pros and cons.




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