| Here in Texas, it has been difficult to influence | | | | other factors may and will also play into this |
| employers to implement drug testing in the | | | | calculation. |
| workplace. In the construction industry, it has | | | | 5. Safety is the number one reason why |
| been even more difficult. As employees come | | | | employers drug-test their employees. The best |
| and go so rapidly, employers fail to recognize the | | | | employers drug-test job applicants. This enhances |
| benefits of drug testing. According to Jonathan | | | | the employer's image because current employees |
| Gerber of Cornell University, a new study reveals; | | | | understand the employer's commitment to safety. |
| "construction companies that drug test appear to | | | | Drug-testing job applicants also deters applicants |
| be successfully reducing workplace injuries". Drug | | | | the use and abuse drugs and alcohol. |
| testing was unheard of twenty years ago. Recent | | | | 6. Cost is the number one reason that employers |
| studies have estimated that as high as 49% of | | | | do not drug-test. Perceived exposure to legal |
| employers nationwide have implemented some | | | | liability is the other prime reason. Here's the |
| form of drug testing. | | | | reason for the legal liability concern. If you commit |
| The incidence of high numbers of alcohol and drug | | | | to drug testing, you must drug-test all employees. |
| abuse in the construction industry along with the | | | | Failure to drug-test even one employee can result |
| high risk of workplace injuries have caused most | | | | in additional liability exposure if that one employee |
| construction companies in Texas to at least give | | | | causes harm to property or another employee. |
| lip service to drug testing. Many insurance | | | | Once you commit to drug testing you have to |
| companies now require that the construction | | | | keep drug testing. |
| company submit their employee manual regarding | | | | 7. You will find that virtually all large construction |
| safety to qualify for insurance. | | | | companies drug test. They have the resources to |
| Jonathan Gerber's study entitled "An Evaluation of | | | | commit to faithfully drug test. Smaller companies |
| Drug Testing in the Workplace: A Study of the | | | | with fewer resources are more likely to avoid |
| Construction Industry," found the following: | | | | drug testing. The real problem is that job |
| 1. Within two years of starting a drug-testing | | | | applicants know who drug-tests and who doesn't |
| program, the injury rate had decreased by over | | | | drug-test. For this reason, employees with abuse |
| 50%. | | | | problems gravitate to these companies. |
| 2. If you decrease injuries, you will in almost | | | | So is drug-testing being to costly? In addition to |
| always reduce the workers' compensation | | | | the saving from the reduction to your experience |
| experience-rating modification factor. Companies | | | | modifier, you reduce your exposure to general |
| implementing drug-testing programs experienced | | | | liability claims. If your employee is intoxicated or |
| greater reductions in the experience-rating | | | | high on the job, he may cause damage to either |
| modification factor than those that did not | | | | a third party's property or to the third party or |
| implement drug testing. Over 70% of employers | | | | another employee. This could be a negligence |
| with drug-testing programs said that the benefits | | | | claim. Texas lawyers like general liability claim |
| of drug testing outweighed the cost of the | | | | litigation more than work comp litigation. They also |
| program. | | | | like any type of negligence claim. The work comp |
| 3. A drug-testing program that is fully supported | | | | system took away lump sum settlements years |
| by the employer with benefit the employer in | | | | ago, but this is not true in general liability claims. |
| three ways: lower workers' compensation costs, | | | | The small employer is putting his/her business at |
| greater safety in the workplace and a better | | | | risk by not drug-testing. I have seen high |
| quality of job applicants. | | | | insurance costs or the inability to obtain insurance |
| 4. Because of the nature of how the workers' | | | | cause many small construction companies to go |
| compensation experience modifier is calculated, | | | | out of business. Drug testing is not too costly. |
| the first three years after the drug-testing | | | | Properly administrated, drug testing can put more |
| program has started will experience the greatest | | | | money to the bottom line. |
| reduction in the experience modifier. Remember | | | | |