What’s your policy on workplace drug testing?

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A business’ drug and alcohol policy is a vital document, particularly when it comes to workplace drug testing and handling positive results. Featured image credit Drager. Secondary image credit Dev Asangbam https://unsplash.com/photos/_sh9vkVbVgo

If you own or manage a business where safety is important and you conduct workplace drug testing, it’s wise to periodically communicate your drug and alcohol policy and procedures to your employees and review your policy.

We’ll explain why in this article as well as provide some key information to consider when it comes to drug and alcohol policies.

Communication on drug and alcohol policies vital

Communicating your policies and procedures around drugs and alcohol is vital for several reasons:

  • Primarily, you want all your workers to understand the details of your policy and know their expectations.
  • If you conduct workplace drug testing as part of your policy, it’s important that workers know this and are aware of what testing takes place.
  • Workers who are aware of your approach to drugs and alcohol are more likely to be on board and do the right thing.
  • Communicating your policy and procedures, and your approach to workplace drug testing, is vital when you must enact consequences after failed tests.

Reviewing your policies and procedures

It’s worth remembering that your drug and alcohol policy and procedures shouldn’t sit on a shelf gathering dust. As well as communicating to workers, it’s also important to review all details periodically.

Reviewing your drug and alcohol policy regularly will ensure it is up to date and clear. It will also help ensure you are following the policy to the letter, particularly regarding failed workplace drug testing.

This is essential, particularly when it comes to failed tests. If you have a clear, robust and up to date policy in place, you follow it religiously, and you communicate your policy and procedures to workers regularly, you’ll be helping to safeguard your business.

An example of this can be seen from cases involving workplace drug testing at the Fair Work Commission. While cases aren’t common and employees don’t always win, when they do win it’s often for two main reasons:

  • The employer’s drug and alcohol policy wasn’t clear or wasn’t communicated effectively.
  • The employee has been able to show that the consequences they’ve received weren’t in line with their employer’s drug and alcohol policy.

For employers, the message should be clear. Make sure your drug and alcohol policy is detailed, robust, clear and up to date. Make sure it’s communicated thoroughly and regularly to your employees and others who work on your site. And make sure you follow your policy to the letter.

Let Integrity Sampling help

Is your drug and alcohol policy sound? Do you conduct workplace drug testing? Are you conducting it correctly and handling positive tests according to your policy?

One of the benefits of becoming a client of Integrity Sampling is that we’ll review your policies and procedures and, where necessary, provide suggestions for improvement. It’s another example of the ways we go above and beyond to make your business a safer workplace.

IMAGE CAPTION:

A business’ drug and alcohol policy is a vital document, particularly when it comes to workplace drug testing and handling positive results. Featured image credit Dräger. Secondary image credit Dev Asangbam https://unsplash.com/photos/_sh9vkVbVgo

A business’ drug and alcohol policy is a vital document, particularly when it comes to workplace drug testing and handling positive results. Featured image credit Drager. Secondary image credit Dev Asangbam https://unsplash.com/photos/_sh9vkVbVgo

By Michael

Michael is the founder of Integrity Sampling and is responsible for overseeing all national operations. He is based at Integrity Sampling's head office in Melbourne and is also responsible for the co-ordination of drug and alcohol testing within Victoria, assisting in the implementation of drug and alcohol (fit for work) policies and the presentation of drug and alcohol education and awareness programs. You can connect with Michael Wheeldon on LinkedIn

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