The rapid workplace drug tests, also called workplace drug tests, have become mandatory for companies operating in some sectors.Over the years they have evolved to include various types, capable of tracing from the most well-known narcotic substances to the most recent chemical compounds.
In this article we will see what the main drug rapid tests at work are,how they work and what obligations they entail for an employer.
What are rapid drug tests and how do they work
The drug tests in the workplace are used to detect whether a worker has used psychotropic substances or narcotics, which may alter his abilities,with a risk for the health and safety of the employee but also for his colleagues or for the company's activity.
The law imposes drug tests especially for certain types of employment, at greater risk, but several companies carry out tests at the time of hiring and subsequently on an annual basis,even when there is simply a suspicion of substance abuse.
It is the occupational doctor who deals with this, although companies can resort to further analyzes in public or private laboratories.
The objective of the test is to establish, starting from the organic liquids or the hair of an individual,if there are traces of metabolites of narcotic substances.
The various tests available can detect traces of different metabolites, which however are detectable in different ways depending on the organic sample you choose to analyze (for example,the metabolites remain in the urine or saliva for a very limited time).
When carrying out the test, various specific parameters of the person undergoing the test must also be taken into consideration, such as their body mass,the time that has passed since the last use of the drug and the level of tolerance to it.
Generally,the main narcotic substances that remain in the body are:
- THC and cannabinoids up to 30 days
- Amphetamine 2 to 4 days
- Heroin or morphine up to 5 days
- Cocaine for 2 to 4 days
- LSD from 1 to 4 days
- Methadone: 3 to 5 days
- Benzodiazepines up to 8days
Depending on the type of test chosen, an organic sample is taken in the presence of the occupational doctor to avoid counterfeiting or mix-ups.Communication regarding the test can reach the subject maximum 24 hours before, but not earlier than that, due to the amount of time that some substances can remain in the body.
Major workplace drug tests provide a result rather quickly,within 5-10 minutes of execution.The negative result indicates that the subject has not used a certain substance in the specific time window for the permanence of residues (but does not exclude that he may have done so previously).
In case of a positive outcome the tests detect whether one of the substances is present in the body,but they don't reveal what exactly when she was hired.For this reason, positive tests are sent back to a laboratory for more in-depth analysis (second level toxicological assessment).
In parallel to this,the worker will be put in contact with the local SERT for further checks and the start of a detoxification process.
The different methods of drug testing
There really are many types of rapid drug tests for work,which allow you to analyze different types of samples.
The most widespread, and also the simplest to carry out, are certainly those of urine and saliva.
The drug urine test provides an indication of short/medium term drug use.Through this test, the presence of metabolites of the main drugs can be detected up to 4 days after the last intake, and for cannabis even up to 30 days.Traces of cocaine in urine however are detectable up to 4 days after the last intake.
The salivary tests are often preferred because they are even more easier to carry out in terms of sample collection and because they provide a quicker result: generally in 5 minutes you can already have theresults.
In the case of metabolites of synthetic substances, such as amphetamine, the salivary test is a fairly reliable type of test; it is less so, however, for benzodiazepines or cannabis metabolites.For the latter, a saliva test usually detects the substance only if it has been taken in the last 12 hours, while for cocaine it can be reliable for up to 3 days.For this reason the detection of narcotic substances in urine is more reliable.
The blood test is certainly a more reliable test but also more difficult to carry out in a workplace.It is often carried out as a in-depth diagnostic in case of a positive first salivary or urine test. The results are precise, but on the other hand it is also true that many substances are traceable for a shorter period of time than urine tests.For example, cannabis is detectable up to 12 hours after consumption,unless there is regular consumption.
The most reliable test in the detection of narcotic substances in an organism in the long term is certainly that of the hair.
The hair test can in fact indicate drug use up to 6 months after consumption and also establish theaverage consumption over a consistent period of time.Clearly, it must be performed by specialized laboratories and has a higher cost, while guaranteeing practically total certainty of the outcome.
The sectors in which rapid drug tests are used
Drug testing is mandatory for several types of work,primarily for those where the driving of road vehicles of categories C and D is expected, such as trucks and buses, or work vehicles.
The test is also mandatory for those who drive vehicles transporting people, such as taxis or rental cars with drivers,as well as for those who drive vehicles that transport dangerous substances.
It is also a mandatory test for members of the armed forces and doctors who carry out invasive operations, such as surgeons, as well as for workers involved in the movement and safety of ships, trains or planes.
Finally,drug tests are also planned for construction workers who work at altitude,and for all those who work in contact with dangerous or flammable substances.
The legislation on drug testing in the workplace
The obligation to carry out drug tests in the workplace was established by a note from the Ministry of Health dated 7 July 2017,called "guidelines for the prevention of serious and fatal injuries related to the consumption of alcohol and narcotic substances,the assessment of conditions of alcohol dependence and drug addiction and the national coordination of supervisory activities regarding health and safety at work pursuant to article 5 of legislative decree 9 April 2008, n.81".
This note, in addition to indicating which professions require mandatory drug testing, imposes precise obligations on the employer,such as, for example, banning the use of alcohol or drugs in the workplace and promoting campaigns against their use.
The competent occupational doctor, however, is entrusted with the frequency of checks,which become much closer in the event of a positive test on a worker.
The employer can also arrange for surprise tests in the event of obvious altered conditions of the worker.
The worker, however, if he does not show up for the scheduled drug test,will be subjected to temporary suspension of his duties until further investigations.
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