Drug and Alcohol Testing at the Workplace

A few days back a few of my friends were discussing alcohol and drugs at the workplace. They seemed to imagine that alcohol or drug abuse happened only outside and not in the workplace. Their argument was that the workplace consisted of individuals carefully selected after at least one interview and that the office was a ‘clean’ place or Drug Free Workplace. That Drug and Alcohol Testing at the Workplace was an unnecessary waste of time and money^.

Social Background

The logic amazed me. About 80% of us consume alcohol. We are not addicts but we do socially consume alcohol. Our alcohol consumption pattern may be brought out during an interview but I doubt it would disqualify us on that ground alone unless we admitted to being an alcohol and substance abuser or worse and I am sure better sense prevails in most of us. In other words, alcohol and substance abusers do not confess during an interview. This is one of the strongest reasons for having a Workplace Drug Testing.

Workplace is a Representation of our Society

A workplace is obviously a representation of the society we live in. People who work in offices, etc. are not aliens from another planet – they are drawn from the society we live in. If the society we live in has a sizeable percentage that likes alcohol or drugs or both, then logically, the workplace too will have a percentage of these people, hence Drug Testing at the Workplace.

The Silent Lot

Alcohol and substance abusers take care to ensure that their breath does not smell and give them away so unless they are so inhibited that they cannot function, chances are, there is one sitting a few feet from you in the office you work. I hope this convinces sceptics for the need for Drug and Alcohol Testing at the Workplace^.

Damage Potential

An alcohol and substance abuser carries the risk of serious problems especially if he is working in a high-risk area such as factory floors where accidents will not only result in injuries or worse, they are seriously expensive and could lead to tremendous loss of productivity.

Statistics released by the Australian Government Indicate Requirement for Mandatory Drug and Alcohol testing at the Workplace:

·                  6% of accidents at the workplace in South Australia, happened because one or more of the involved staff were under the influence of alcohol

·                  3% of accidents at the workplace in South Australia, happened because one or more of the involved staff were under the influence of drugs

·                  Over one-tenth of work related injuries at the workplace were caused by alcohol consumption

·                  Australia annually loses $2.9 Billion due to loss of productivity and absenteeism caused by alcohol and drug consumption

·                  It is estimated that as many as 6% of Australians enter the workplace while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or both.

With the government released statistics itself indicating that alcohol and substance abuse is widespread, I feel the time has come for mandatory drug & alcohol testing at the Workplace^.

If you need to introduce drug and alcohol testing to the workplace, please contact CMM Technology for quality testing devices. Telephone 618 9204 2500

Product Focus – The Redline Breathalyser

The Redline Breathalyser is one of the most affordable, convenient and guiding disposable breath testers on the Australian market today. With a tried and true history of use by the French Gendarmerie, it stands as a cost-effective and very economical option for businesses and industries that require a competitive and affordable drug-testing solution.

This breathalyser, supplied by CMM Technology, is in fact the only disposable device that accords with the accuracy and reliability requirement of the Australian Standard: AS 3547-1997 Type 1. And it is calibrated to meet with all Australian requirements.

History

CMM Technology sources products that have reliability at the core of their reputation. The Redline Breathalyser was originally devised for police use in France, and to this day is still outlined as one of the preferred preliminary roadside drug test equipment by French police as well as law enforcement agencies in Israel, Italy and many other countries. In Europe it is conveniently sold as an individual breathalyser measure option that can be bought from leading grocery, supermarkets, pharmacies and service stations across Europe.

Usability

Perhaps one of the most important features of the Redline Breathalyser is its usability and ease. Unlike some other testing units that require full training and thorough knowledge, the Redline allows anyone, anywhere to use it to gauge their own alcohol consumption or the alcohol consumption or lack thereof of their employees.

Step by Step instructions are

·                  Snap off both ends and empty harmless white silica crystals

·                  Use ONE continuous breath to fully inflate the bag

·                  Insert white cap end of tester into white neck of fully inflated bag

·                  Use both hands to squeeze breath from bag slowly through the tester tube

·                  Evaluate results under good light, within 2 minutes of test being taken

·                  Under the limit reading – no greening of crystals or minor amount of greened crystals has not reached the red line

·                  Over limit reading indicated by distinct green colour change of yellow crystals all the way up to the red line or beyond

In Australia, most people remain unclear about and unaware that blood alcohol concentrations can in fact vary from individual to individual.  While the standard guideline in relation to driving is a blood alcohol reading of .05% – equating to no more than 2 standard drinks in the first hours and one per hour after that (for males) and no more than one standard drink per hour for women – this remains a guideline and definitive BAC’s cannot be generalized.

Further detail on BAC’s need to incorporate accurate information about body size and a number of other factors. The Australian Drug Foundation lists these as:

·                  “Body Size – for the same amount of alcohol consumed, a smaller person will have a higher BAC that a larger person because the alcohol is concentrated in a smaller body mass

·                  Body Fat – people with a lot of body fat tend to have higher BAC. Alcohol is not absorbed into fatty tissue, so the alcohol is concentrated in a smaller body mass

·                  Sex – Being female will almost always mean you have a higher BAC than a man who has consumed exactly the same amount of alcohol as you.

·                  Being Young – younger, less experienced drinkers may have a lower tolerance and so their BAC may rise faster than older drinkers

·                  Empty stomach – a person with an empty stomach will reach a higher BAC than someone who has just eaten a meal.”

To monitor your blood alcohol concentration levels, whether in the workplace setting or individually and privately, source quality test products such as the Redline Breathalyser supplied by CMM Technology. 

Child Protection – when drug testing really matters.

CMM technology knows our most precious global commodity is our children. Future generations will dictate the course and wisdom and success of the national and global agenda, and it behooves us all to pay attention to the needs and requirements of the younger members of our immediate and extended community.  While most of us are able to adequately provide our families and our children with a fairly decent level of economic, social, emotional, educational and health support, a proportion of children in our society are unduly impacted by parental drug use. Many falls under the auspices of State child protection bodies and the accompanying regulatory requirements, and many of these families are required to undertake routine or random drug testing and screening as a condition for ongoing family cohesion and unity.

In numerous instances drug and alcohol screening is required as a part of an ongoing monitoring and treatment plan, and is used as part of a clear risk assessment strategy that can underpins decision-making in relation to removal of children, supervised or unsupervised access or the prospect of successful trial or permanent reunification.

In 2006 The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at the University of New South Wales, delivered its report on The Costs and Utility of Parental Drug-testing in Child Protection. It made careful study of the available research and literature, and found that “appropriate use of alcohol testing is feasible and that it can promote better outcomes in child-at-risk cases, as long as monitoring and compliance with testing and treatment entry are supported.”  It also maintained that alternatives to drug and alcohol testing that were less invasive (clinical assessment and standard self-report tools) were questionable in terms of reliability.  In its summary it went on to unequivocally state that current available research “suggests drug-testing is a viable means of monitoring drug use levels and referral to treatment.” 

In all states of Australia, the issue of drug and alcohol use in families and the need for stringent child protection strategies is a pressing one. CMM Technology believes our children are our future and supports the need for effective drug and alcohol testing measures in those cases where child protections monitoring and guidance is required. Call CMM Technology and speak to our expert consultants today. Telephone 618 9204 2500