Employees showing signs of impairments such as bloodshot eyes, alcohol breath, and uncoordinated movements pose safety risks in the workplace. As a result, more employers effectively introduce drug and alcohol policies to manage hazard risks. Can an employer require a blood test to check for drugs and alcohol? An employer may request for drug or alcohol test if it is a part of the employment agreement or workplace policies. Generally, employers ask for a drug or alcohol test to directly impact your safety and that of others in the workplace. Additionally, if there is a reasonable cause, conducting a drug and alcohol test can determine the degree of intoxication in the body. Thus, it can prevent possible health and safety risks or hazards from happening. Moreover, avoid causing further damage to equipment or other properties in the workplace.

When can an Employer Require a Blood Test for Alcohol Intoxication?

When can an employer require a blood test? Safety-critical industries such as mining, transportation, and construction have a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol and drugs. Therefore, an employer may require a blood test for alcohol or other substances in pre-employment screenings or random on-site testing. The standard type of alcohol detection is through blood and breath samples. A blood test is more accurate, but it is more intrusive and expensive. Thus, employers commonly use breathalysers instead. An alcohol breath test can be more efficient and practical, whether be it for pre-employment or random on-site testing. However, before instituting a blood test on employees, an employer should also consider these beforehand:

• Is there an existing drug and alcohol problem in the workplace;
• How severe is the nature of the problem;
• The impact of drugs and alcohol in terms of work performance that directly affects workplace health and safety;
• Consider whether blood testing is the most effective way of detecting a drug and alcohol problem in the workplace, as there could be a less invasive to blood testing that may be even more efficient and cost-effective.

Can an Employer Require a Blood Test: Workplace Drug and Alcohol Policy

Can an employer require a blood test for alcohol? The answer is yes, so long as the company’s drug and alcohol policy defines it clearly. The policy should make employees aware of the guidelines that a company sets when it comes to drug and alcohol testing. Therefore, before an employer can require a blood test, the company must set a comprehensive workplace drug and alcohol policy. Companies that are new to setting up policies and programs regarding workplace testing can refer to the TDDA (The Drug Detection Agency). Having a fair and effective drug and alcohol policy is crucial in making the workplace safe and healthy at all times. These guidelines may include:

• Workers should know the purpose of testing
• How often does testing occur
• The repercussions for refusal to undergo testing
• Confidentiality of test results (who will be able to see the information after testing)
• Documentation of the information regarding test results
• What happens when test results come back as positive

Can an Employer Require a Blood Test: Other Grounds for Testing

Can an employer require a blood test to check for alcohol after an accident? Employers must make the workplace safe and risk-free. In case of an accident, a blood test can help determine whether alcohol or other drugs have contributed to it. An alcohol policy aims to promote healthy and safe practices and deter alcohol abuse. Additionally, the alcohol policy must abide by state laws to protect the employees’ rights. Consistent monitoring of employee alcohol levels can significantly reduce alcohol-related incidents.

Can an employer require a blood test randomly? The best way to prevent accidents is to have consistent drug and alcohol tests. Employers can conduct random alcohol tests to avoid accidents from happening. Portable and easy to use BACtrack workplace breathalysers, available at Breathalysers New Zealand, allow for more regular alcohol tests in the workplace. The fuel cell sensors in a BACtrack device are less likely to provide false-positive results. These are also the same sensors you could find in a police officer’s breathalyser.

BACtrack Workplace Breathalysers

Can an employer require a blood test for alcohol? Yes, but employers should consider using breathalysers instead. Breathalysers are devices that measure a person’s blood alcohol content (BAC) through the breath. It only takes 10 to 15 seconds for BACtrack devices to process breath samples and have the results ready. Breathalysers such as the BACtrack S80 Pro Gen2 breathalyser are suitable workplace breathalysers to screen for alcohol. It uses fuel cell sensors to measure BAC accurately. The BACtrack S80 Pro Gen 2 is highly accurate and reliable for workplace testing. It utilises the Xtend electrochemical fuel cell sensor technology to ensure accurate BAC results with each and every test. The fuel cell sensor technology of the S80 Pro Gen2 is the exact sensor you could find in the breathalysers of law enforcement. 

The BACtrack S80 Pro Gen 2 is specifically modified to meet the testing requirements of mining, construction, or transportation industries for reliable and dependable breath tests. A BACtrack workplace breathalyser is all you need to free the workplace from alcohol-related incidents. So, can an employer require a blood test for alcohol? Yes, but it may no longer be the best testing method due to the existence of the BACtrack Pro Gen2 available at Breathalysers New Zealand.

How to use the BACtrack Pro Gen2 Workplace Breathalyser

Operating the BACtrack S80 Pro Gen2 is straightforward. An employer may follow these steps for using the BACtrack S80 Pro Gen2 for workplace alcohol testing:

• Power on the device and wait for the countdown timer to begin (they may need a few seconds to warm up).
• The employee must give a sufficient blow to the mouthpiece until they hear a click sound. The sound signifies that there is now an adequate breath sample.
• The sensor analyses the sample breath and displays the BAC results on the screen.
• The breathalyser will give an audible warning as to the alcohol limit that the company can set to their desired value.

The S80 Pro Gen2 comes with reusable and replaceable mouthpieces designed to capture breath samples effectively. The proprietary breath capture system ensures precise breath samples enter the alcohol sensor, eliminating the likelihood of false-positive results. Furthermore, it has a short warm-up time. Therefore, allowing for more convenient workplace testing. As a result, they are ideal for high-volume usage that requires back-to-back testing. The BACtrack S80 Pro Gen2 can effectively meet all workplace alcohol testing requirements. These features can ensure a safe and healthy working environment. In conclusion, can an employer require a blood test for alcohol? Definitely so, but why use an intrusive, expensive and time-consuming option when you can get the BACtrack S80 Pro Gen2 workplace breathalyser at Breathalysers New Zealand.