If you work in an industry where safety is a priority – such as transportation, aviation, manufacturing or mining – chances are you need to regularly undergo workplace drug testing. Not a problem for most people, but if you take drugs could you fail? What happens if you do fail a drug test at work?
Will you fail workplace drug testing?
The question of whether you could fail workplace drug testing will depend on a range of factors. These include what drug you’ve taken, when you took it, quantity and purity. It can also depend on personal factors, such as your sex, age, metabolism and general health.
There’s another key aspect to look at when answering this question and that is what method of workplace drug testing your employer uses. If it’s saliva drug testing, the detection period is less than for urine testing. As a very general rule, the detection period is:
- Up to 24 hours for cannabis for a saliva sample. For a urine sample, cannabis can be detected for up to 30 days in some cases.
- For amphetamines and methamphetamines, it’s up to 24 hours for saliva drug testing and up to 4 days for urine.
- For heroin and cocaine, the detection period is up to 2 days for saliva and 3 days for urine.
If you’re in line waiting to undergo workplace drug testing and you’ve taken drugs recently, you’ll obviously be hoping that your workplace uses the saliva drug testing method. It’s not only the preferable method for employees, but we believe also better for employers. You can read more about the advantages of saliva drug testing on our workplace drug testing page.
See this VicRoads page on drug testing for more on the detection period for drugs.
The ramifications of failing workplace drug testing
If you fail drug testing on a roadside in any state or territory in Australia, the consequences are clearly promoted. You’ll likely face a fine and lose your license for a set period.
But what happens if you fail a drug test at work?
In workplaces, the consequences are not universally defined. The consequences can be different in your workplace compared to another workplace. Even one in the same industry, with the same safety risks and the same work roles.
That’s because each workplace will have its own set of drug and alcohol policies and procedures, outlining the repercussions for failing or refusing drug testing.
Certain industries, such as aviation, may enforce strict measures, including possible termination, for those failing drug or alcohol testing. Zero tolerance policies aren’t exclusive to aviation; they extend to other highly safety-centric roles in industries like transportation, rail and mining.
However, for most workers, a more lenient approach is commonly taken. Instead of immediate job loss, a first offense may lead to a caution or other disciplinary measures. Additionally, individuals might be required to undergo further education or seek support for substance abuse issues.
If you really would like to know what happens if you fail a drug test at your work, you should find out. Ask to see your employer’s drug and alcohol policy and procedures. It should stipulate clearly and in detail what consequences people face is they do fail workplace drug testing or refuse to undergo testing.
IMAGE CAPTIONS:
What happens if you fail a drug test at work? It will depend on your workplace and, specifically, the details contained in its drug and alcohol policy. Credit Waldemar https://unsplash.com/photos/man-wearing-green-reflector-suit-lo0g2nBFT98 and Christoper Lemercier https://unsplash.com/photos/man-sitting-on-chair-covering-his-eyes-12yvdCiLaVE.
