Occupational Drug And Alcohol Testing

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Occupational Drug And Alcohol Testing
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Drug and Alcohol use and misuse at work has
significant safety threats to a company's
employees, customers and reputation.
They are notoriously difficult to manage once it
becomes evident or are implied unless companies
have strategies in place from the outset.
The use of illicit and prescription drug use
within work places is rising.
This is causing concern amongst the business
community and government departments.
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Organisations which have business critical
and safety critical roles need to have  a variety
of strategies in place to manage these
risks. One such effective strategy is to have an
established work place Drug and Alcohol Testing
process.
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The benefits of workplace drug and alcohol
testing include
Establishes a clear, ongoing and ambiguous
company message that substance misuse is
unacceptable Acts as a deterrent against
substance misuse at work Acts to ensure
employees confirm their prescription medications
can be safely used whilst at work Rapidly
answers questions related to suspicions of
substance misuse at work Helps to answer
whether short term, short notice sick leave
relates to substance misuse Gives confidence to
managers/ HR that employees returning to work are
being appropriately and safely monitored
Protects the company reputation and mitigates
against accusations of substance misuse
in relation to safely critical work and incidents
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Independent testing
We offer the ability to test for substances as
part of a drug and alcohol policy / programme
independent to the organisation thereby removing
the implication of bias
Independent review of results
The results of any Drug and or Alcohol test
should be reviewed by a MRO ( Medical Review
Officer)  to check to see if there is another
reasonable explanation for the results.  We offer
this service in conjunction with or separate to
our testing capabilities.
More information about the MRO review process can
be accessed here
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Testing
Testing can be done rapidly on site via POCT (
Point of Care Testing)  and  sent for
verification at approved laboratories  without
delays
When testing is needed
Testing as part of your HR Drug and Alcohol
process is usually  done for the following
scenarios
1) Pre-employment - To ensure steps are taken in
not hiring those taking , using, abusing illicit
or psychoactive substances
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2) Post Incident/ accident - To see whether
psychoactive substances were involved in an
incident/ accident 3) On suspicion of substance
use/misuse- To answer whether someones change in
behaviour, aggression or the smell of alcohol in
their breath related to psychoactive substance
use.  4) Randomly- To ensure compliance to the
Drug and Alcohol policy and to act as a deterrent
against illicit use.  5) Return to work/ Post
rehabilitation- To ensure employees maintain
their abstinence after returning to work. ?
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Samples of testing
The usual method for testing is on blood, urine
 (breath for alcohol) although hair samples can
be used and are a good way to look back over a
longer time period ( months)
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Substances which can be tested
Drugs
Amphetamines Metamphetamines Ephedrine MDMA
(Ecstasy) Cocaine Benzodiazepines Barbiturates Can
nabinoids Opiates - Codeine
Opiates- Dihydrocodeine Opiates-
Morphine Methadone (Heroin replacement) Ketamine L
SD Methaqualone Phencyclidine Propoxyphene Tricycl
ic antidepressants (TCA)
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Alcohol
Alcohol levels Liver Function Tests (LFTs) Mean
cell Volume ( MCV) CDT Phosphatidylethanol)
PEth Urine Ethyl Gluconaride (EtG) Urine Ethyl
Sulfate (EtS)
For verified results a GC/MS test needs to be
done which added an additional 3 day turnaround
time The sample can be done with or without
Chain of Custody
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Time scales Onsite test - Same Day via a Point
of Care Test ( POCT) Lab test - 1-2 days on
average Verified GC/MS result 5-7 days
Packages
We offer various combinations of tests although
specifics can be requested
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Urine based Occupational Drug and Alcohol
Screening Fee with report 195
DihydrocodeineEphedrine MDMA Methadone Metamph
etamines Morphine
Alcohol Amphetamines Barbiturates Benzodiazepine
 Cannabinoids Cocaine Codeine
Why use FlyingMedicine Ltd- As CAA and FAA
aeromedical examiners with extensive experienced
in the aviation sector, we understand regulations
with regard to DA testing and can ensure not
only pilots but other safety sensitive workers
are checked appropriately. 
For further information please contact us
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Contact Us
Address
Abbotts House, 198 Lower High Street, Watford,
Hertfordshire United Kingdom, WD17 2FF Phone
0333 404 3232 Email info_at_flyingmedicine.uk
Web www.flyingmedicine.uk
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