News Dedicated to a Healthy Workplace
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March 2013
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Random Testing Deters Abusers
A comprehensive substance abuse testing program is your organization's best resource in maintaining the highest standards for employee safety, health and productivity. Random substance abuse testing can be an effective part of any program. Random testing is defined as the unannounced selection of candidates each having an equal probability or occurrence of being selected to be tested.
“Random testing is one of the most important parts of a workplace substance abuse testing program,” says Thomas B. Kibby, MD, MPH, CIME, FACOEM, "In my opinion, it is more valuable than post-offer employment testing.”
While mandated for companies operating under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s substance abuse testing requirements, an increasing number of non-regulated organizations also maintain random testing programs.
“The primary goal of any testing program should be to deter substance abuse,” says Dr. Kibby, who also is a certified Medical Review Officer (MRO). “This is best accomplished if employees know that they may be called for a drug or alcohol test at any time. So, if they’re at a party or concert, and drugs are being passed around, they’re much more likely to think twice about indulging, if they’re aware that they could be tested the next day,”
BarnesCare administers random testing programs utilizing a sophisticated software program that not only generates random selections but streamlines record management. BarnesCare also provides mandatory quarterly and annual statistical reports for your company. A full-time experienced professional, who is available to assist you with your individual data requirements, administers our program.
Selections may be requested monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually. Once a selection has been made, the employer representative is notified to inform the specific individual(s) to be tested. Testing can be performed at any of BarnesCare clinics or on-site at your company. On-site testing is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week anywhere in the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Clinical Reference Laboratory is a Substance and Mental Health Services Administration (formerly NIDA) certified laboratory. Test results are reported in 24 hours or less on negatives. Positive results require an additional 24-48 hours. Automated result reporting is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Dr. Kibby reminds clients interested in a random testing program that they must develop a specific drug-free workplace policy that spells out the details of testing. “No form of drug testing is perfect, and no testing program will identify every single person using drugs,” he says. “But if you can give an employee a reason to refrain from taking drugs, you’ve made a significant accomplishment.”
To learn more or about random substance abuse testing or to arrange for services, contact a BJC corporate health consultant at 314.747.5859.
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