Post-Accident Drug Testing
Post-accident drug testing is a critical precaution you should take in your business that helps protect both your business and employees. Although requiring job applicants and prospective employees to take drug tests is important, it is equally critical to conduct drug tests later on to maintain a drug-free workplace.
When to Test
Employers typically perform post-accident drug testing if one of their employees is involved in an accident, either on or off the job. If you are an employer, you might want to do this to assess whether or not drugs played any role in the accident, and it can protect you legally and financially down the line. This also holds true before they return to work. If the injury required medication during recovery, you need to know if that person is still taking the medication and if it is safe to return. A post-accident drug test is a definitive way to know.
Post Accident
Conducting post-accident drug tests can also protect your investment in workers’ compensation and help reduce healthcare costs associated with drug-related accidents. It can ultimately deter your employees from using drugs on the job. In many states, performing post-accident drug tests as soon as possible after an accident may entitle you to certain insurance benefits, and it can protect you from legal hurdles in case drug use was a factor in an employee’s accident. It’s ideal to test within 12 hours of an accident.
Before Returning to Work
It’s important not to underestimate the dangers of employees on drugs. Your company is responsible for maintaining a safe and healthy workplace. Drugs play a role in many accidents, especially certain types of drugs, ranging from prescription painkillers to opioids like fentanyl. Often these drugs are taken, legally and illegally, after an accident to manage pain, stress and anxiety.
Prescription Drugs
Although painkillers like Fentanyl, Oxycodone and Morphine may be legal when prescribed by a physician, but they are not legal in any other circumstances. Patients must be evaluated to make sure that prescription painkillers or opioids are a good fit for their needs. The ongoing opioid epidemic should also make it clear to employers that prescription painkillers and opioids are highly addictive, and they should consider that employees who start taking these drugs with a prescription may go on to abuse them later.
Employees who work in safety-sensitive jobs should not return to work while taking these prescription medications. They can impair motor functions and negatively impact productivity. These drugs can also cause drowsiness, nausea, confusion, seizures, breathing problems and even death, so employers should always be on the lookout for these symptoms, especially after an accident.
To learn more about post-accident drug testing, and to incorporate it into your workplace regulations, contact uVera Diagnostics. We have a variety of drug testing supplies that you can use to conduct post-accident drug tests, and our team members can work with you to decide which of our drug testing kits is best suited to your company’s needs.
Learn more with our Practical Guide to Workplace Drug Testing. Click to Download.
A Drug Free Workplace
If you want to minimize your risk of having an employee on drugs while working or causing an accident while on drugs, you need to perform post-accident drug testing. You can do this onsite with speed and accuracy; thus, cutting down on the time it takes to get results. So, what do you need to do to make this a part of your drug free workplace? You definitely need to work with uVera Diagnostics. We have all of the drug testing supplies you will need to perform onsite pre-employment drug testing.
At uVera Diagnostics, you can speak with one of our team members. We will work with you to determine the best drug testing kits based on your company’s specific needs and the types of drugs to detect. You can also order in bulk.
We have made the process very easy by giving you information about each drug test. Each drug test description includes the following information to help you decide which drug tests are the best to purchase for your company needs.
Drug Tests
- It will show the drugs it tests for, some giving you different options for combinations. We have drug tests that can detect from 3 to 14 drugs.
- You can search based on the type of testing procedure. You have the choice of urine dip panels, urine all-in-one drug test cups, split sample urine drug test cups, urine T-Cups or an all-in-one saliva drug test.
- It indicates if the drug test is FDA 510(k) Cleared & CLIA Waived.
- It will list the shelf life, so you can order the correct quantity based on how often you drug test.
- You can see if it is set to the SAMSHA cut-off levels.
- It will show if the drug test leaves a reserved urine sample for GC/MS (Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) testing.
If you want to know more about a having a Drug-Free Workplace, we have provided the following information. Just click on the article you want to read.
uVera Diagnostics has what your company needs
uVera Diagnostics has drug testing supplies to suit your company’s drug testing requirements. Our customer service can help you with any questions you have on drug testing and meet your company’s unique needs. We provide:
- FDA Cleared drug tests
- CLIA Waived drug tests
- Bulk purchasing
- A variety of quality products you need
- Easy to order—Order online or by phone
- Competitively priced products
- Easy to use products and you don’t have to touch the specimen!
We have many other drug testing kits, as well, that you can use for pre-employment drug testing. Contact us today if you have any questions about how we can help you fulfill your drug-free workplace initiative. From small quantities to large bulk orders, uVera Diagnostics has a drug-testing product that is right for you.
