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While the illegal use of drugs gets most of our collective attentio

alcohol abuse is the greater driver of harm and cost in the wor

place. Workers with alcohol dependence or abuse outnumber wor

ers with substance dependence/abuse (including marijuana) by

factor of almost 3 to 1.1A workplace study suggested that 40%

all industrial fatalities (and 47% of industrial injuries) are linked t

alcohol consumption.

People with alcoholism use twice as much sick leave, are five time

more likely to file workers compensation claims, and are more like

to cause injuries on the job. Twenty percent of workers have bee

injured, covered for, or worked harder because of other employee

drinking.

Workplace alcohol testing programs have a significant positive im

pact on employee safety and the bottom line in the oil and gas i

dustry. Benefits include improved productivity, greater employee r

tention and better morale, enhanced job satisfaction and employe

retention.

Alcohol Abuse

and Productivity

Alcohol abuse and heavy drink-

ing off-the-job leads to absen-

teeism, accidents, poor job

performance, disability and pre-

mature death. A 2006 national

survey indicated that work-related impairment affects an estimate

15 percent of the U.S. workforce. Approximately 2.3 million wor

ers drink before work, 8.9 million drink during work hours, and 11

million come to work with a hangover.2

Medical Costs

American businesses absorb costs of drinking by paying highhealth insurance premiums for employees and their families.

a 2011 study by The Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Associ

tion, 14% of organizations reported high workers compensatio

incidence rates prior to implementing drug and alcohol testing pr

grams, whereas only 6% of organizations reported similar rates a

ter implementation, a decrease of over 50%.

Hangover and Withdrawal

Hangovers hinder cognitive and motor functions. Poor concentr

tion leads to slower work speeds, poor judgment and mistake

Impaired motor skills can cause accidents and injuries, which

AlcoholWHY TEST FOR

IN THEabuse

WORKPLACE SUBSTANCE ABUSE

DRUG

USER

VS

ALCOHOL

USERS

OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY?

Lifelocs products and training meet the

US Department of Transportations rigorous

requirements for mandated testing and are widely

used for non-regulated workplace alcohol testing.We can help you implement and manage drug

and alcohol policies to improve the safety of

your employees.

Visitwww.lifeloc.com/workplace.aspxorcall 303.431.9500for further information.

Test a high volume of

employees quickly and easily

with Lifelocs SENTINELAlcohol Screening System. The

SENTINEL can stand alone

or be sequenced with existing

turnstiles, time clocks and

access control systems.

No operator is required.

Oil and gas industry-related incidentscoupled with a fatality rate seven

times greater than any other industryin the United States.1

Lifelocs handheld, mobile Phoenix 6.0BT Breath

Alcohol Tester is the easiest to use on the market.

EasyMode software prompts the user through

the testing protocolno cables, docking

stations or electrical outlets required.

High Volume Screening

Alcohol testing programs improve workplacesafety, reduce accidents and enhance

productivity and morale.

1 - Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries 2003-2010.

Evidential Testing

MMD-0129

continu

8 BAKKEN OIL BUSINESS JOURNAL Oct/Nov 2013

7/22/2019 Bakken Journal - Alcohol Testing in the Oil and Gas Industry Article

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safety-sensitive

positions can

endanger the

lives of work

associates andthe public.

A night of heavy drinking can leave the reveler over the legal driving

limit the following morning. Even modest alcohol impairment com-

bined with a lack of sleep is a deadly combination. The hangover

cost to employers includes reductions in the quantity and quality of

work and the impacts on company morale and job satisfaction.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

Employers recognize vehicle crashes are a leading cause of occu-

pational fatalities in the U.S. Contributing factors include fatigue,

stress, extended hours, drug use and crash deaths associated with

alcohol consumption. Employers pick up the consequences of DUI inmedical costs, work loss, higher insurance, a reduced workforce and

concern about company reputation.

Best Practices

At a minimum, employer alcohol testing guidelines should include: 1)

when to test, 2) how to test and 3) consequences of a positive test.

Today breath alcohol testing is usually done on an individual basis

under conditions such as pre-employment, reasonable suspicion, ran-

dom and post-accident. Testing may be conducted by the company

or third party administrators. A Department of Transportation (DOT)

approved evidential breath tester is a good choice for mandated or

non-mandated DOT testing.

More recently companies are electing to test 100% of employees,

contractors and even customers entering or leaving a work site. This

approach has been made practical with the introduction of fully au-

tomated breath testing stations capable of unattended high volume

testing. Alcohol screeners of this type can be set to individual com-

pany tolerance levels and require no training or supplies. They can be

integrated into existing security and access control systems.

It is a best practice to develop your testing policies in consultation

with employee and/or union representatives. All employers must in-

sure that their policies and practices comply with local, state and fed-

eral laws to avoid penalties. Finally, make sure to review your policy

with a legal consultant such as a labor attorney.

A successfully implemented alcohol testing program can be benefi-

cial in creating a safer work environment, reducing liability, increasing

productivity, reducing costs, and creating greater employee retention

through better morale and job satisfaction.

1.National institute of Alcohol and Alcoholism National Institute of Health, Harwood, H.;

Fountain, D.; and Livermore, G. The Economic Costs of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in the United

States 1992. Rockville, MD: National Institute on Drug Abuse, 1998.

2.Prevalence and Distribution of Alcohol Use and Impairment in the Workplace: A U.S. Na-

tional Survey, Michael R. Frone, Research Institute on Addictions, State University of New

York at Buffalo, 2006. http://dionysus.psych.wisc.edu/lit/articles/FroneM2006a.pdf

2.3MILLIONDRINK

BEFORE WORK

8.9 MILLION DRINKON THE JOB

11.6 MILLION WORK WITH A HANGOVER

1505N.BroadwayMinot,ND852-31

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