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Occupational
Health Services
Drug/Alcohol Testing MEASURABLE COSTS - HIDDEN COSTS - PUBLIC LIABILITY When you add up all the costs involved in ignoring the substance abuse problem, can you afford not to set up a substance abuse policy and program? Think you do not need a program because you do not have a problem? Think you may not recognize the problem? Think of what tomorrow may bring. If your company has a policy about substance abuse, it sends a clear message to present and perspective employees about where your company stands. Drug-free workplaces have a competitive edge in maintaining productivity and quality, improving employee health and reducing medical claims and absenteeism. The workplace is the only place that can set a standard of no substance use for employees that is tied to the economic incentive - a paycheck! Studies show that alcohol and other drug abusers: are far less productive; use three times as many sick days; are more likely to injure themselves or someone else; and are five times more likely to file workers compensation claims. The consumption of alcohol and the disease of alcoholism can be linked to 40% of industrial fatalities. According to recent industry estimates, approximately 18.7% of people age 18-34 abuse drugs and 71% of drug abusers are employed. 8% of full-time employees report abusing alcohol. 6% of alcohol abusers and 15% of illegal drug abusers admit to being drunk or high on the job in the past year, and an alarming 40% admit to working that way at least once a week. This growing problem of drugs in the workplace costs businesses about $100 billion annually due to theft, absenteeism, product defects, accidents and increased insurance and premiums. Alcohol remains the most commonly abused drug in America... and in American workplaces. It is clear that in many ways illicit drug abuse compromises the workplace more substantially than alcohol abuse and, to a certain extent, drug abuse is harder to detect. Nonetheless, the virtually identical psychology of addiction, the comparable safety risks and decreased productivity and the increasing incidence of polydrug abuse make alcohol a critical threat to employers and employees. This warrants a parallel company program to address alcohol and other drug abuse issues. You do not have a drug-free workplace if you tolerate excessive alcohol use. Small business may be particularly vulnerable to problems of drug abuse among their employees because drug abusers will seek work at smaller firms where the chances of any drug testing are slim. For small businesses, one serious accident or one troubled employee can create major problems. The cost of one employee's alcohol or drug abuse can be devastating. You can make a difference! What you do today can make your organization healthier, safer, and more productive in the future. A drug testing program can deter people from coming to work unfit for duty and also discourage alcohol and other drug abusers from joining your organization in the first place. To avoid possible negligent hiring lawsuits, many human resource professionals are conducting pre-employment screenings that go beyond job applications and interviews. Pre-employment screening should also include drugs of abuse testing; one of the most cost-effective ways of identifying applicants who are extremely likely to become problem employees. Increasingly employers are realizing that drug testing can help increase the safety of their organization, improve productivity, and reduce litigation expenses. Given the cost of litigation when you as an employer go to court, even if you win - you lose! With a focus on minimizing legal vulnerability, it is important that an employer addressing drug abuse in the workplace adopt a program that will not only be effective in deterring drug abuse, but also in deterring legal challenges. The most common form of drug testing is to analyze a sample of urine for traces of drugs. Urinalysis for drugs of abuse can be a valuable part of your efforts to eliminate drug abuse in your organization. A breath test is the most common method currently used for detecting alcohol. The results tell if the individual is under the influence of alcohol at the time the breath sample is collected. You, as a private sector employer, have a right to require that employees refrain from illegal conduct; have a right to require that employees be drug-free; have a right to implement a "zero tolerance policy." While there are ample procedural and substantiative safeguards that should be maintained, employers should not be dissuaded from exercising their rights. Drug testing works. However, the bottom line on drug testing is: DO IT RIGHT...OR NOT AT ALL! Medical Services, Inc. offers a solution to this dilemma, offering both mobile (on-site) and in-office collections for Regulated (D.O.T.) and non-Regulated drug and alcohol testing. Our occupational health specialist has a background in addictions and is a certified Breath Alcohol Technician, and Urine Specimen Collector. All our collections follow Federal Regulations 49CFR Part 40 Protocol. Testing services can be arranged 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week to accommodate multiple shift personnel and post-accident testing. Our rates are far below those of other collection services. Call us today to see what we can do for your company.
COLLECTION SERVICES: Providing service 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week
REASONS FOR TESTING:
DRUG TESTING:
ALCOHOL SCREENING USING FOUR DIFFERENT METHODS:
We will coordinate your collections anywhere in the U.S., through our large affiliated network of collection sites. We offer competitive rates and volume discounts for larger groups. YOUR SATISFACTION IS GUARANTEED!
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