Alcohol and drug use in the workplace or recreationally increases the risk to not only an employee’s health and safety but also their productivity levels. Conducting a pre-employment health assessment helps employers identify if an applicant can meet the inherent requirements of the job, identify any risks, and determine if those risks can be reduced. In some pre-employment assessments, an instantaneous drug and alcohol screening will be conducted. In this blog post, we will cover what is tested in a drug and alcohol pre-employment assessment and what you should expect.
What is tested in a drug and alcohol Pre-Employment Health Assessment?
Blood Alcohol
A candidate’s blood alcohol level will be tested through a breathalyser.
Drug Urine Sample
A urine sample is taken at the time of the pre-employment health assessment where the candidate is tested for six different drugs.
They include:
- Morphines
- Amphetamines
- Methamphetamines
- Cocaine
- THC
- Benzodiazepines
A Urine Integrity Test is then conducted on this sample to prove that it hasn’t been tampered with. If the sample is deemed a non-negative the referrer can request for it to be re-examined and it will then be sent off for further lab testing. The lab result will determine whether the sample is positive or negative. If the drug that they tested positive for is not consistent with their declared medication, it will be interpreted as a positive sample under section 5 of the AS/NZS 4308:2008.
Benefits of Drug and Alcohol Testing
- Increase worker productivity
- Reduce the risk of workplace incidents
- Reduce absenteeism
- Suitable, capable employees fit for work
What other components are assessed in a Pre-Employment Health Assessment?
The main components of a pre-employment medical include:
- Detailed Medical History (Comprehensive medical questionnaire)
- Audiometry Evaluations
- Spirometry Test
- Job-specific Functional Capacity Assessments
- Standardised Vision Test
- Distance Vision Screening: This test is conducted at 3M distance using a Snellen eye chart. Screening is carried out with individual eyes and then with both eyes respectively. A repeat vision test may need to be carried out if requested by the referrer once any corrective devices have been obtained.
- Colour Vision Screening: This test is carried out with the use of both eyes using the Ishihara colour plates placed 75cm from the candidate.
- Physical Measures
- Blood pressure
- Heart rate
- Body weight
- Height
- BMI
How we can help
At Recovery Partners, our team is dedicated to providing accurate pre-employment assessments for a range of industries. Our qualified assessors can help you efficiently and effectively set up and review your pre-employment process.
For additional information about what is assessed in our Physical Pre-Employment Health Assessments, download our free sample report.
Want to find out more?
Our services are available nationwide. Our consultants love to have a chat, so go ahead and give us a call on 1300 OHS RTW (647 789) or email enquiries@rrp.com.au
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Disclaimer – these articles are provided to supply general safety information to people responsible for OHS in their organisation. They are general in nature and do not substitute for legal and/or professional advice. We always suggest that organisations obtain information specific to their needs. Additional information can be found at https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/Â