by Gordon Vincent


Maintaining a safe and productive work environment has become a key concern of many business owners. Despite this fact, however, businesses that are small or medium in size are at greater risk when it comes to determining the suitability of existing employees or new job applicants. This often requires new approaches and you can now protect your profit with mobile drug testing.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recently released a report that indicated 9 out of 10 businesses that are small to medium in size employ heavy substance users and drinkers. They also found that 75% of substance abusers were employed by small businesses. This makes it more important than ever to establish procedures and implement policies to protect against the repercussions of employees who work while impaired.

Many business owners fear the repercussions of taking such drastic measures. However, work site safety often depends on implementing DOT-regulated and non-DOT regulated programs. Ultimately, this decision could impact a small business owner's profit margin. Since abusers often have impaired judgment, mobile screening is a great way to reduce risks.

This type of option has many advantages. According to the US Department of Labor, abuse of drugs is a serious problem that costs $7,000 per year to small business owners. This is because these employees miss work more often and are 1/3rd less productive than other workers. They also have a tendency to file more workmen's compensation claims since accidents increase when they are on-the-job. When viewing the consequences, it is easy to see why drug screening is a preferred option.

The advantage of mobile screening is that employees are not required to travel to a test site and require very little down time. Basically, the lab comes to the job site. Trained technicians collect needed samples, process them, and return the results in a timely manner. They also ensure a controlled environment so errors are less likely to occur, such as cross-contamination.

It is not uncommon to see these units out-and-about. They have been used for screenings at probation offices, with athletes prior to sporting events, and even at schools and with parents who fear children are succumbing to peer pressure. The advantage for medium and small businesses is that the third-party, impartial design provides quick, accurate results so that decisions that can impact the profit margins can be expedited.

Another advantage is that it is cost-effective since it significantly reduces lost man hours and the need to train technicians who specialize in this field. Additionally, the odds that an employee could send someone else to take the test for them are significantly reduced. One of the greatest benefits, however, is the fact that random testing can occur without prior notice being given to employees.

There are many advantages to using new approaches to protect your profit with mobile drug testing. It is not only convenient and cost-effective, but is more efficient than many alternatives. This option is growing in popularity making sure workplaces remain safe while lowering the cost of running a business.




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