Employees
In order to ensure the safest possible environment for all employees and clients at or involved with our business all current and prospective employees who have been made an offer of employment may be required to undertake a drug test prior to commencing employment with this company.
The company will not tolerate the use of non-prescribed drugs or alcohol in the workplace and any employee reasonably suspected to be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs will be required to undertake a drug test immediately.
Those employees engaged in high-risk, or safety sensitive positions may be required to undergo a breathalyser and/or drug test prior to commencing work.
The company intends to comply with all applicable privacy and associated laws governing alcohol and other drug testing procedures.
Drug Testing Parameters
The alcohol and other drug testing programs will test specifically for:
- Alcohol
- Street Drugs-
- Marijuana THC
- Amphetamines AMP (Speed)
- Methamphetamines MET (Crystal)
- Methylendioxymethamphetamine MDMA (Ecstasy)
- Cocaine COC
- Opiates OPI (Opium & Heroin)
- Prescription Drugs-
- Tricyclic TCA (Antidepressants
- Barbiturates BAR
- Benzodiazepine BZO
- Methadone MTD
This list is not exhaustive and may be amended at any time to meet the required standards.
Notice
The company reserves the right to request any employee to undertake a drug test at any time as required by the company.
All employees involved in accidents (where practical) will be required to undertake a drug test a soon as possible following the incident/accident.
If the drug test is incident related the employee will be advised in writing of the requirement to undertake the drug test.
Testing facilities
The employer will only use an accredited drug testing laboratory or facility licensed to carry out this task and the employee will be able to follow up their test with this facility if required.
Notification of Drug Test Results
Where an employee has either been requested to undergo an alcohol or other drug test the employee will be advised of the results of the test as soon as possible.
Alcohol
In relation to an alcohol test this will be done at the time of testing, if the employee disputes the test result they will have to agree to have an independent blood test taken by a medical practitioner or an accredited collection agency or laboratory and be stood down with pay until the results of the test are supplied.
If the laboratory test proves negative and is in conflict with the initial test results, the employee will be provided with the opportunity for a review of the decision and possible reinstatement and reimbursement of any lost wages.
If the employee undergoes an alcohol test that provides a positive indication, they can admit that they are intoxicated and sign a letter of admission (copy attached) and will then be subject to the appropriate company disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.
If the employee undergoes an alcohol test that provides a positive indication and refuses to admit to using the substance indicated in the test (as above), or disputes the indication of the test, they are required attend a medical centre, collection centre or laboratory and to provide the required material for testing to confirm the result.
They will be accompanied by a company representative to the nearest medical centre, collection centre or laboratory as soon as practical to provide a blood test for laboratory testing.
Any employee who fails to comply with this instruction will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal based on the circumstances of their actions and employment conditions.
After the required test has been taken at the collection centre the employee will be sent home and suspended with pay until the laboratory results of the drug test are received.
These laboratory results of the test will be provided to the employee as soon as possible after they have been provided by the testing laboratory.
If the results are negative, the employee will be reinstated and recalled to work with no loss of wages or entitlements.
If the results are positive, the employee will be provided with the opportunity to explain the reason for the positive result and will then, depending upon the circumstances, be subject to the appropriate disciplinary action up to and including dismissal in accordance with our Disciplinary Process and Procedures Policy.
All drug test results will be conveyed and discussed with the employee in a manner to preserve privacy and confidentiality requirements
Other Drugs
Where there is a positive indication for drugs other than alcohol, the employee will be given the option of signing a letter of admission (copy attached) and will then be subject to the appropriate company disciplinary action up to and including dismissal.
If the employee undergoes a drug test that provides a positive indication and refuses to admit to using the substance indicated in the test (as above), or disputes the indication of the test, they are required attend a medical centre, collection centre or laboratory and to provide the required material for testing to confirm the result.
They will be accompanied by a company representative to the nearest medical centre, collection centre or laboratory as soon as practical to provide a urine, saliva or blood test for laboratory testing.
Any employee who fails to comply with this instruction will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal based on the circumstances of their actions and employment conditions.
After the required test has been taken at the collection centre the employee will be sent home and suspended with pay until the laboratory results of the drug test are received.
These laboratory results of the test will be provided to the employee as soon as possible after they have been provided by the testing laboratory.
If the results are negative, the employee will be reinstated and recalled to work with no loss of wages or entitlements.
If the results are positive, the employee will be provided with the opportunity to explain the reason for the positive result and will then, depending upon the circumstances, be subject to the appropriate disciplinary action up to and including dismissal in accordance with our Disciplinary Process and Procedures Policy.
All drug test results will be conveyed and discussed with the employee in a manner to preserve privacy and confidentiality requirements.
Suspension of Duties
Any employee who returns a positive indication for a drug test will be suspended with pay until the results are available.
Confidentiality
The company will make every effort to keep the results of alcohol and other drug tests confidential.
Only persons with a need to know the results will have access to the results in question.
The employee will be asked for the employee’s consent before test results are released to anyone else.
Test results may be used in Fair Work Commission matters, arbitration, administrative hearings and court cases arising as a result of the employee’s drug testing.
If the employee is to be referred to a treatment facility for evaluation, the employee’s test results will also be made available to the employee’s counselor/facility upon request.
Drug Test Costs
All cost associated with an employer required or requested alcohol and other drug test will be paid by the employer.
If the employee requests any additional tests or retesting of laboratory results these costs will be at the expense of the employee.
Policy Availability
This policy will be provided to all new and existing employees who are required to sign that they have read and understood the contents of the policy and return the section below to their supervisor.
Employee Signoff
I, ………………………………. have read, understand and agree to abide by the responsibilities set out in the Drug Testing – General, Policy.