“Should you introduce alcohol and drug testing?” is a question asked by WorkSafe Tasmania in a recent edition of its Workplace Issues newsletter.
The article highlights that drug and alcohol testing in your Tasmanian workplace isn’t just a way to determine if someone is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Testing can also be used:
- As a pre-employment tool, to identify people who may have issues with drugs or alcohol before you employ them.
- After an incident or accident, to identify if drugs or alcohol may have played a part.
- Randomly, involving everyone in your workforce. By conducting random testing – and we stress that it must be random – your employees are more likely to come to work in a safe condition, knowing that if they don’t they could be tested and caught.
But, as the article states, drug and alcohol testing in Tasmania is not for all workplaces. To consider introducing testing, your workplace should be one where safety is a priority. For example, industries such as transportation, aviation, agriculture, mining and manufacturing. You should also:
- Have a drug and alcohol policy that includes details of your drug and alcohol testing program. It’s important that this includes the procedures you will take if an employee returns a positive test for drugs or alcohol.
- Include the testing as part of a broader program of safe work procedures.
- Include support, training and information to employees about the effects of drugs and alcohol and its potential impact on health and safety.
- Conduct testing in a confidential fashion that respects employee’s privacy and legal rights.
To read the full article, go to the WorkSafe Tasmania website.
Alcohol and drug testing in Tasmania – we’ve got your covered
Integrity Sampling can support you with all aspects of drug and alcohol testing, plus help your business develop a drug and alcohol policy and provide education for your employees. We have two branches in Tasmania, including Hobart and Launceston.
