According to the Wall Street Journal(1), the number of U.S. workers who tested positive for various drugs rose to 4.6 % in 2021. This shows that a significant number of workers expose companies to the risks associated with working under the influence. Although drug testing deters your employees from abusing drugs, you must comply with all regulations if you need to implement a drug testing program. In this article, the premier third-party administrator of confidential diagnostic testing educates on how often random drug tests are done, how long it takes until you have to take a random drug test, and where to find the right professionals for the task.
What is Random Testing?
Employers select employees for testing without prior notice in random drug tests. They are randomly selected so that each person is equally likely to be checked. This type of testing helps employers control and deter alcohol and drug usage in an organization.
Factors that Determine the Frequency of Random Testing
Nature of the job
Most companies enforce a strict no-drug policy to promote safety at the workplace. Before an employee is hired, they are subjected to pre-employment and subsequent random testing. The Department of Transport (DOT) regulates specific industries and requires a continuous random testing program. Also, federal government employees are bound by Executive Order 12564 of 1986, which prohibits the use of illegal drugs, whether on or off duty. These are the professionals who may frequently undergo random testing.
- Truck drivers
- Machine operators
- Hospitals and healthcare
- Government employees
- Construction
- Private security
- Aerospace and defense
- Education
- Firefighters
- Railroad employees
- Pharmacists
- Social workers
Industry standards
Most companies uphold a drug-free working environment to maintain work ethics, standards, and safety. Employees might feel targeted when they are subjected to random testing. Therefore, employers enforce random drug testing laws that apply to all employees. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the period for periodic testing is capped at one year, although there are no limits to the frequency of testing at work.
Previous drug test results
A failed drug test is a reasonable cause for a subsequent random return-to-duty test. Employees who have previously tested positive for a controlled drug have a higher chance of abusing alcohol or drugs.
Reasonable suspicion
Is random testing legal? While random drug testing is not allowed in most states, employers can conduct one in cases of probable cause. This is when an employer is reasonably convinced an employee has been using drugs on the job. A supervisor must communicate in writing the signs that made them draw their conclusion. There is no limit to random testing in case of reasonable suspicion.
Workplace Accidents
Accidents that may be caused or contributed to by alcohol or drug use may result in random testing. This is to establish whether alcohol or drugs were a factor in the accident. Also, there is no limit to random testing after an accident.
Striking the Right Balance for Effective Employee Drug Testing
Keeping a drug-free environment is every company’s dream. However, this exercise should be moderate and not profile employees. It should be uniform, unbiased, and compliant. As an employer, read through the applicable state and federal laws. Notify your employees, ensure a random selection process, and choose a reputable random drug testing provider.
ARCpoint Labs of San Rafael is a qualified third-party lab technician that closes the bridge between sample collection and lab testing. Our qualified technicians draw samples from employees and submit them to certified labs for testing and analysis. Browse our services and contact for scheduling within Marine, Sonoma, and the North Bay.
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