Why have a drug and alcohol testing policy?

Alcohol and drug problems are major issues for employers in the UK affecting the profitability and effectiveness of organisations as well as the health, safety and welfare of all staff. Employers will be breaking the law if they know of drug-related activities in the work-place and fail to act. They have a duty of care to protect staff from the mistakes of other employees acting under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Statistics

• Up to 17 million working days are lost each year as a result of alcohol use.
• Alcohol is involved in 20 - 25 % of all industrial accidents and 60% of all fatal accidents.
• 75% of problem drinkers are in employment.
• A third of 16-59 year olds have used one or more illicit drugs

To take a proactive stance on drug and alcohol abuse in your work-place, contact us for assistance in devising a testing policy.

Analysis Procedure

We work closely with a UKAS accredited laboratory and benefit from the services of experts in toxicology. We offer you:

• Rapid screening of samples and reporting of results
• Confirmatory analysis to provide legally defensible results
• Toxicological assessment
• Testing for sample adulterants that may have been added to attempt to hide drug use
• Medical review service

Pre-employment, Pre-appointment, Periodic Drug and Alcohol Testing

Our railway screen for Drugs of Abuse (DOA) meets both Network Rail and London Underground (LUL) requirements. All specimens for drug & alcohol testing are collected under a strict chain of custody protocol. Drugs tested for are as follows:

• ALCOHOL
• METHADONE
• AMPHETAMINES
• MDMA (Ecstasy)
• CANNABIS
• COCAINE
• PROPOXYPHENE
• BENZODIAZEPINES
• OPIATES

(London Underground tests also include LSD & BARBITUARATES )

 

Please contact us for details of our rapid results (fastrack) service.

Random Drug and Alcohol Testing

Random DOA tests can be arranged around the UK to comply with the Network Rail random quota of 5% per annum or a client's own company policy. By managing the entire process, including random selection, we ensure that the process is fair, reliable and legally defensible.

For Cause / Post Incident Drug and Alcohol Testing

In the event of a safety-related incident, we guarantee to be on-site within 2 hours, ensuring that urine samples are collected and sent for urgent analysis. Working to strict chain of custody protocols, we provide you with rapid, legally defensible results.

Consultancy Service

All organisations can benefit from an agreed policy on drug and alcohol use. We are able to offer an independent advisory service that is geared to assessing an individual company's needs and gives assistance in devising a bespoke workplace drug and alcohol policy.

24 hour Medication Advice Service

Our medically qualified staff will answer questions concerning all medications and their side effects, alongside the implications for safety at work. Telephone enquiries can be made day or night. Your call will be answered immediately and a member of our medical team will give a comprehensive verbal report on the medication's side effects and suitable recommendations. A faxed or emailed report from Express Medicals will follow.

Training Seminars

Seminars are available for staff of all levels to enhance awareness of drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace and to consider how best to approach the issues surrounding drugs and alcohol at work.