There’s been a lot of press lately about drugs use and drug testing in Perth and Western Australia. All of which, if you own or manage a business in Perth or surrounds, should be a concern to you. Because conducting drug testing in your workplace is not just good practice; it’s fast becoming a business imperative.
Why is drug testing so important for your Perth business?
• Ensuring your employees are fit for work has always been an important part of any workplace safety program and conducting drug testing is simply doing that – ensuring your people are safe to work and aren’t under the influence of drugs.
• Drug use and drug testing is perhaps even more important in the current climate, with methamphetamines and particularly ICE a big issue in Perth and Western Australia. While ICE is a scourge in all parts of Australia because of the insidious nature of the drug, the drug’s impact is being felt even more so in this state. That’s because of the level of the drug’s use, which is higher here than in other parts of the country.
• We know that drug related workplace accidents cost a huge amount of money every year – in Australia around $1.3 billion annually. About half of this cost is borne by employers.
• Any workplace accident where a person is seriously injured or killed can be devastating to a business, but when drugs are involved the impact can be even greater. You’ll very likely face questions about your safety program and in particular how you manage drugs and alcohol at your workplace. Hopefully, if you’re ever in that position, you’ll have the answers the Police, Coroner or other authority is looking for!
It starts with a robust drug and alcohol policy
If you’re looking to implement workplace drug testing at your Perth business, start with a robust drug and alcohol policy.
The policy should clearly detail how you manage drug and alcohol in your business. Details such as the responsibilities of management and employees, the type of drug testing to be carried out and the proceduresfor when an employee is detected under the influence of drugs need to be included.
Once you have completed your drug and alcohol policy, don’t put it on a bookshelf to gather dust. Make sure everyone knows about it. Educating your employees about the details of your policy, their responsibilities and the importance of being fit for work is a vital part of any good workplace drug and alcohol policy.
NOTE: Integrity Sampling conducts drug testing Perth. We also have branches in the Western Australian regions of Busselton, Dampier, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie, Karratha and Port Hedland.
