Infographic: Alcohol and drug testing safeguards

Testing for drugs and alcohol in the workplace is increasingly common, as advances in technology have made tests cheaper, more accurate and generally available.

It is expected tests will become more routine over the coming years.

For example, the federal government’s Building Code now has new fitness for work requirements that require head contractors on Commonwealth-funded construction projects to ensure their workplace health, safety and rehabilitation system reflects how they will manage drugs and alcohol in the workplace.

They are also required to have an on-site drug and alcohol testing policy covering employees of the principal contractor, subcontractors and their employees and others undertaking building work.

However, employers who implement this type of testing need to have safeguards in their policy that cover their actions should a test reveal a positive result.

Issues around valid results, disciplinary action, counselling, rehabilitation and disputes should be covered in the policy.
 

Note: testing must only be conducted by suitably qualified professionals such as Extrastaff.

WorkplaceInfo's new infographic summarises these issues, as well as facts about drugs and alcohol in Australian workplaces.


 

This article originally appeared in WorkplaceInfo

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