Workplace safety can be critical to a company’s success. Improving and sustaining workplace safety can aid in the reduction of workplace accidents and injuries. Fewer accidents and injuries can reduce workflow disruptions and increase overall workplace productivity. Alcohol and drug screening are essential to industries like mining. Mining industries can be risky, especially with employees who abuse drugs and alcohol. Therefore, employers should prioritise workplace safety to enhance their company’s productivity. One of the most effective workplace strategies is mining drug and alcohol testing. Alcohol and drug use can impair performance. These substances can impair vision, reaction time, judgement, memory, and coordination. These impairments can significantly impact an employee’s ability to perform tasks at work. Employees, for example, may struggle to operate machines if they are under the influence.

Mining drug and alcohol testing can assist employers in identifying potentially risky applicants. Hiring candidates without substance abuse problems can help reduce workplace issues significantly. Generally, drug and alcohol testing can give numerous advantages to any firm. Employers can conduct testing in the workplace utilising a breathalyser to check alcohol use. Breathalysers New Zealand provides reliable workplace BACtrack breathalysers as an alcohol testing device to ensure a safe and healthy working environment. Furthermore, among the benefits of alcohol and drug testing are:

• Reduced annual healthcare costs
• Reduced insurance costs
• There are fewer damaged properties due to fewer accidents
• Reduced accident compensation costs due to fewer workplace injuries

Mining Drug and Alcohol Testing: Advantages

Effective drug and alcohol policies are critical in maintaining a safe and healthy working environment. A reliable drug and alcohol test is beneficial in various ways. Generally, it creates a safe environment, increases productivity, boosts employee morale, and reduces company costs. The main objective of mining drug and alcohol testing is to prevent workplace accidents and injury. Furthermore, impairment leads to risky behaviour, resulting in uncomfortable and strained relationships with colleagues. A drug-free workplace increases employees’ work satisfaction. Knowing their employer prioritises safety makes employees feel valued and more devoted to work. As a result, there is a low rate of turnover and absenteeism. Furthermore, workplace accidents cost businesses billions of dollars in yearly losses and expenses. The benefits of drugs and alcohol tests outweigh the costs of implementing them.

Numerous accidents are reported across many industries due to alcohol or drug use. Therefore, each sector must have a comprehensive safety policy to avoid adverse accidents. It is even more crucial for mining companies due to the increased risk factors. Frequent mining drug and alcohol testing are crucial for risk management and workplace dangers. A workplace breathalyser is appropriate if you require a quick and convenient way to check for alcohol consumption. Breathalysers New Zealand has multiple selections of accurate and reliable BACtrack breathalysers for workplace use.

Mining Drug and Alcohol Testing: Testing Methods

Mining companies commonly perform a breath test because it is reliable, quick, and easy to perform. This test is also the most cost-effective method available for alcohol testing. For example, a breathalyser is all employers would need when performing a breath test to conduct mining drug and alcohol testing at work. Furthermore, mining companies can also provide these various methods for workplace alcohol and drug test:

• Breath test: Aside from workplaces, a breathalyser test is also a standard method used in police roadside screening. The fuel cell sensor technology of police breathalysers can accurately estimate BAC levels even in high-volume uses. Breathalysers New Zealand’s BACtrack breathalysers employ the same technology as police breathalysers. A breath test is the quickest and most non-invasive method to trace alcohol concentration.
• Mouth swab test: Saliva can reveal drug and alcohol use within 6 to 24 hours. A mouth swab test is the standard method for drug screening at roadside checkpoints because it is convenient and less invasive than a urine or blood test.
• Blood test: A blood test is the most accurate test type. However, it is also the most costly and invasive procedure. Therefore, they are suitable as a secondary test to confirm initial positive test results.
• Hair follicle test: hair sample test determines alcohol or drug usage. Hair tests have a longer detection window and can trace substance use for up to 90 days. Thus, it helps determine if a person has a substance use disorder.

When to Conduct Mining Drug and Alcohol Testing?

Workplace testing is a standard in the mining industry, as with other safety-regulated sectors such as healthcare and manufacturing. Hence, mining drug and alcohol testing is essential for reducing workplace risks associated with substance use. A zero-tolerance policy stipulates that employees must not be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Therefore, to minimise the risk of alcohol abuse, an employer can implement an alcohol policy utilising a breathalyser. In addition, employers must conduct a workplace policy for employees and sign a consent that they agree to participate in the drug and alcohol test.

Employers can conduct mining drug and alcohol testing in various situations. For example, employers can administer a drug and alcohol breath test randomly and under reasonable suspicion. Some organisations also include pre-employment testing as part of their hiring process. The test can determine whether a job applicant misuses alcohol or drugs, compromising the safety and well-being of coworkers. Furthermore, a breathalyser is one of the most effective ways to measure employees’ BAC levels. Breathalysers like the BACtrack breathalysers feature a fuel cell sensor, providing accurate and quick results within 10-15 seconds. Fortunately, Breathalysers New Zealand’s BACtrack breathalysers employ the same technology as police breathalysers that employers can use for workplace testing.

Breath Tests using BACtrack Breathalysers

Mining and other industries like aviation, transportation, law enforcement, and construction that handle potentially dangerous equipment have zero-tolerance policies. Therefore, conducting standard mining drug and alcohol testing is appropriate for these businesses. Alcohol and drug testing are vital in high-risk and safety-critical occupations. The misuse of alcohol and drugs can cause harm to employees in the workplace. Fortunately, Breathalysers New Zealand offers BACtrack breathalysers that can be essential for both workplace testing and personal use. BACtrack has a wide range of personal and professional breathalyser units. From small keychain testers and smartphone-compatible units to professional and highly accurate fuel cell breathalysers. BACtrack breathalysers provide users with quick and easy access to breath testing whenever they need to know their BAC levels. Conducting a standard drug and alcohol test will be quick and easy with the help of a portable breathalyser.

BACtrack at Breathalysers New Zealand

Drug and alcohol testing at work is perfect for mining industries and jobs that require heavy machinery operation. Therefore, for workplace mining drug and alcohol testing, the BACtrack breathalysers from Breathalysers New Zealand are ideal for preventing alcohol-related accidents within the workplace. Breathalysers New Zealand offers highly precise and reliable alcohol breath testers with the BACtrack professional models. Furthermore, despite high-volume testing, these professional models maintain consistency for a more extended period. For a complete list of BACtrack alcohol testers, you can visit the official Breathalysers New Zealand website to help you maintain workplace safety effectively and efficiently.