DRUG TESTING

Drug Testing at Workplace

The Drug Testing at Workplace

Introduction

The drugs and substance abuse has become common practice at workplace which is causing a great deal of ethical and employee relation issues. However, the organizations have introduced numerous sophisticated measures to test and monitor the use of drug within the organization along with the rules and laws to ensure a safe environment.

The primary objective of the drug testing and monitoring measure is to promote the prevention, eradication of drugs and illicit use of substance and their related issues from the workplace. This measure also aims at safeguarding the health as well as safety of all workers within the organization. The effective management of drug abuse also prevents the accidents, improves the overall productivity as well as efficiency of the organization, and initiates the supporting programs to assist the employees who are experiencing the drug related issues within the organization (Hoopes, 2009).

There are numerous industries that are at have the immense harms with the consumption of drugs and other illicit substance and the mining industry is one of them. The mining industry is found to be at the high risk of substance abuse which is contributing in the high hazardous work environment. The illicit use of drugs and other liquors are not only injurious for the workers consuming the illegal drugs and substance but also for the other workers who are not themselves involved in the consumption of drugs instead working around the user of drug. The policy makers have introduced policies and laws to reinforce the drug free working environment and also introduced the penalties to punish whoever violates of law and regulations. The purpose behind introducing the drug policy in mining industry is to make sure that the employees are in a fit state to conduct their day to day duties without any influence of illicit substances or drugs. The mining is the safety sensitive job so the misuse of alcohol and drugs has the significant threat to the entire organization. It therefore needs to establish an alcohol and drug free environment in order to ensure the safety and health of the workers.

This study intends to highlight the illicit use of drug and substance within the workplace and the organizations policies, laws, measures and strategies to address this overriding issue which is putting the organizations at the risk. However, the paper also aims at describing the importance of drug testing measures for the employees as well as employers promoting the safe and healthy environment. The study also plans to determine the ethical issues related to drug abuse in the Australian mining industry and how the policy makers have been addressing this issue.

Discussion

The illicit use of drugs at the workplace has become an overriding issue for a long time which drastically impacts the ability to work safely. The substance abuse impairs the health of worker and its ability to exercise rational judgment, coordination, concentration, motor control and even causes an increased risk of incidents at the workplace which is ...