Construction drug and alcohol testing
Ensure safety at your construction sites with tailored construction drug and alcohol testing.
2023
a 2023 Report by the Construction Industry Joint Council found that drug misuse is a serious issue in the UK construction industry [1].
Substance abuse in the construction industry can lead to severe accidents, decreased productivity, and jeopardise health and safety regulations.
Such incidents can have detrimental effects on construction companies, including:
- Impaired decision making: Increasing safety concerns for your workers due to drug and alcohol-related accidents [2].
- Project delays: Increasing costs due to decreased worker efficiency [3]
- Legal liabilities: Potential lawsuits related to substance abuse incidents on construction sites [4].
Whether you’re an HR manager or a site supervisor, using Racoo’s expertise in construction drug testing helps you identify potential risks before they become major issues.
Get construction drug tests to ensure a safe and compliant work environment where your workers can perform at their best
Promote a safe work environment
Construction drug and alcohol testing can deter workers from substance misuse, reducing the risk of accidents. Regular testing supports the overall well-being of your workforce.
Maintain project timelines
Regular drug screening can ensure that your workers are always at their best, ensuring projects stay on track and within budget.
Uphold company policies
Our fully managed construction drug and alcohol testing service can be tailored to your company’s policies, ensuring safety without the hassle of managing the testing process yourself.
How can construction drug testing support your company?
Drug and alcohol testing in the construction industry involves checking workers for substance misuse.
The testing can be conducted post-incident, based on suspicions, or as part of a broader random testing preventive program.
Racoo Screening’s tests can be conducted using various drug testing methods, such as urine, saliva, or hair samples.
Our tests can detect a range of substances, from recreational drugs to prescription medications taken without a valid prescription.
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Fully managed
so you can focus on the project
- Tailored to your company’s needs
- Legal and ethical testing to ensure a safe work environment
Why partner with Racoo screening?
The UK Construction Confederation notes that “the use of drink and drugs by an employee is of serious concern to employers” and suggests screening could be used for “testing all or part of the workforce routinely, occasionally or on a random basis” and “as part of a selection process for job applicants” [5].
FAQs
About drug testing in the construction industry
The most common type of drug test for construction workers in the UK is urine tests. Racoo offers drug testing kits for construction sites in both urine and saliva samples.
Yes, construction companies in the UK can conduct random drug tests, especially if there’s a suspected drug problem or post-incident.
In June 2023, new guidelines were introduced for the construction industry regarding drugs and alcohol. The guidelines suggest that firms tell staff they may be “randomly selected and tested for drugs or alcohol regardless of their job” [6].
There are no guidelines on how often construction companies should conduct drug tests, the frequency of testing can vary depending on the company’s policies and the level of risk associated with the job.
Some companies may choose to conduct random drug testing, while others may only test employees after an accident or incident.Regular testing, including pre-employment drug tests and random drug tests, is recommended to ensure a safe work environment.
While there are no UK laws mandating a drugs policy, the Construction Confederation recommends that “a workplace policy applying to all staff can benefit all organisations and should form part of the overall health and safety package [5].”
RESOURCES
Learn more about alcohol and drug testing within the construction sector
references
[1, 2] www.linkedin.com Substance Use In The UK Construction Industry: Impact On Decision Making, Risk Perception, And Corner Cutting.
[3] www.constructionmaguk.co.uk Drug & Alcohol Use In Construction
[4] www.viewpoint.com Tackling Substance Abuse in Construction
[5] www.hbf.co.uk Construction Federation: Drugs & alcohol at work: guidance for employers
[6] www.constructionnews.co.uk Industry gets new guidelines on drugs and alcohol