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Do Construction Companies Drug Test?

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Svetlana Živanov

On October 29, 2021

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The nature of construction work means that there is a higher risk of injuries and even death at work. Statistics for 2019 show that there were over 1,061 fatalities in the private construction industry that year. This was the highest figure since 2007.

There is a strong link between the misuse of drugs and alcohol and safety at work. For this reason, the answer to the question ‘do construction companies drug test’ is, yes. Many do.

Let’s take a closer look at why they do, and what benefits there are to construction drug testing.

Drug Testing in the Construction Industry

Across all industries, drug use negatively affects productivity. It leads to increased rates of accidents and injuries, more sick days, and affects the morale of teams in the workplace.

Sadly, rates of drug and alcohol abuse are higher in the construction industry than in any other. For this reason, the construction industry has more drug test occupations than most.

Challenges for Employers and Employees

Employers face many pressures in the construction industry. They need to keep their worksites productive and safe at the same time. They need the operators of heavy machinery to be alert and not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

When they start to drug test for construction jobs, it can also make it hard for them to find sufficient skilled labor. That’s because sadly, construction employees have some of the highest rates of cocaine and opioid misuse of any employed group.

Construction employees who have sustained injuries on the job may also be on pain medication. These can show up on a drug test, although they are being used legitimately.

Is Drug Testing Mandatory?

The question of ‘Do construction companies drug test?’ naturally leads to whether it is mandatory or not.

The answer is, not yet.

The Drug-free Workplace Act of 1988 sets out requirements for any company receiving a contract of more than $100,000. They must implement a drug-free workplace policy. This requires employers to establish a drug-free awareness program and a policy statement.

It stops short of mandating regular drug testing, but the inference is clear. In order to establish and maintain a drug-free workplace, regular drug testing is necessary. Specific government departments may have their own requirements for construction companies’ drug testing.

Construction drug testing is not a legal requirement in the private construction industry when not working on federal projects. Yet there are still many benefits to construction companies testing for drugs.

Also, this issue is gaining more and more traction nationally and on a local level. There is a move to make drug testing mandatory in certain industries. It’s good to get ahead of the curve and bring in drug testing sooner rather than later.

The Benefits of Drug Testing

A 2004 study investigated the link between drug-free workplaces and occupational injuries. It found a significant decrease in injuries when employers implement a drug-free workplace. This was especially true in the construction industry.

Lowering the rate of injuries is not only good for sparing people’s pain and suffering. It also impacts the retention of employees and sticking to agreed timescales. It also limits the chances of costly litigation.

In some parts of the country, discounts may be available on workers’ compensation insurance. These are given to companies that carry out drug testing. This reflects the positive impact that drug testing has on injury claims and payouts.

For employees, there’s a great benefit to working with a company that requires a drug test for construction jobs. If you’re clean, you want to know that your coworkers are as well.

If you go onto a worksite that is full of untested people, you may be putting yourself at risk. Working for a company that takes the time and care to carry out drug testing makes it a safer workplace for all.

What Drug Test Do Most Companies Use?

To answer, ‘What kind of drug test do construction companies use? we need to think about the workplace setting. They need to use something that’s simple and easy to carry out. That’s why the majority of companies use urine and saliva testing.

What Do Jobs Drug Test For?

It tests for the following drugs:

amphetamines
barbiturates
benzodiazepines
buprenorphine
cocaine
ecstasy
marijuana
methadone
methamphetamine
morphine
oxycodone
phencyclidine

There is a possibility that employees could adulterate urine tests. For this reason, swab tests are becoming more popular. At 12 Panel Now, we offer a 10-panel mouth swab drug test. This tests for:

amphetamines
barbiturates
benzodiazepines
buprenorphine
cocaine
methamphetamine
morphine
marijuana
oxycodone
phencyclidine

Check out 12 Panel Now reviews online to see why we are a great choice for your company’s bulk drug test needs.

Urine Testing

These screen for 6 to 18 different drugs depending on the drug test cup purchased.

The drug test cup is solidly constructed, leak-proof, and gives results within just a few minutes. You can read the test results through the cup, so you do not need to open it after completing the test.

The results are presented in a simple format. They read either positive, negative, or invalid.

They also have a temperature strip. This ensures that a genuine sample is given. An employee cannot substitute it with someone else’s urine that they have brought with them.

Saliva Testing

Saliva testing is becoming more popular because it is more difficult for employees to adulterate. The test can also be supervised, which a urine test cannot.

This helps to ensure that your results are accurate.