If your Atlanta construction business relies upon heavy machinery or other potentially dangerous equipment, drug testing is always going to be a major component of your safe workplace policies.  Even if drug testing isn’t a norm for your industry, it is probably in your company’s bet interest to perform onsite drug testing on your employees; this can help you reduce workplace injury and, therefore, your liability and compensation payouts.

What Is a Urine Drug Test?

Urine drug tests are quick, inexpensive, efficient tests that can detect many types of drug usage.  Since the detection of drugs in the urine is unrelated to bacteria or fungal presence, clean catch isn’t required – saving on time and extra supplies.  Generally speaking, only about thirty mililiters are required for testing and re-testing, if required.

How Long Does an Instant Drug Test Take?

Much like a urine pregnancy test, instant urine drug tests can be read in just a few minutes.  If the results need to be lab-verified, the process will likely take a couple days.  However, onsite, instant urine drug testing can often catch employees who show up to work under the influence and prevent accidents from ocurring in the first place.

What Does a Urine Drug Test Detect?

Depending on the type of kit you have onsite and in stock, urine drug tests can detect the following substances: THC (the psychoactive substance found in marijuana), opiates like heroin and morphine, cocaine, phencyclidine (PCP), ecstasy (a.k.a. molly or MDMA), methamphetamines and amphetamines, prescription narcotics, alcohol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines.  Here at America Drug Free, we offer three different types of urine panels, depending on your needs: 5-panel, 9-panel, and the 10-panel.

What Are the Advantages of Urine Drug Tests?

Perhaps the most obvious advantage of the instant urine drug test is that it’s quick!  These tests are great to have on hand for employees who will be operating heavy machinery at your construction site.  They can also be used to test someone who is acting strangely or who has injured themselves or someone else.  Since results can be read within a matter of minutes, employees under the influence can be removed from work and harm’s way immediately.

Are There Disadvantages to Urine Drug Tests?

Urine drug tests are one of the easiest tests to falsify and contaminate.  Privacy of the employee is also a consideration, so take this into account when you look into your drug testing options.  Generally speaking, urine drug tests shouldn’t be relied upon in a court of law; if you suspect drug abuse in relation to a liability claim, you should draw blood from your employee as soon as possible.

Another consideration is that many abused substances pass out of the urine within 24 hours.  However, if you’re trying to determine safety in the workplace, urine tests will usually be sufficient.

Looking for Onsite Drug Testing in Atlanta?

Whether you struggle to keep your construction workplace safe and drug-free or you maintain another drug-free workplace, instant urine drug testing will likely be a major component of your program.  Here at America Drug Free, we offer onsite drug testing services that fit your needs.  Contact us today for more information about any of our drug testing options in and around metro Atlanta.