Aims & Objectives

This course provides delegates with the training needed, for the purposes of health and safety and the law, to carry out random, pre-employment and with-cause drug and alcohol testing in the workplace.

It gives the knowledge and practical skills to be fully proficient with drug and alcohol testing equipment and techniques, ensuring compliance with health and safety requirements and industry best practice, including the correct procedure to follow after a positive test result.

Suitability

Employers and managers who are introducing, reviewing or carrying out workplace drug and alcohol testing. Suitable whether you have no current policy, want to review an existing one, are deciding between in-house and outsourced testing, or need one or two people trained on the equipment.

Requirements

No prior experience is required. The session includes a demonstration on all testing kits, followed by a hands-on physical assessment covering the equipment, paperwork and procedure.

Syllabus

Recognising Drug & Alcohol Use

• Understanding the signs and symptoms of drug and alcohol use
• Recognising patterns of behaviour that may indicate drug or alcohol use
• The most commonly taken illegal drugs and how they can affect the workforce and those around them

Policy & Prescription Medication

• What to include in your workplace drug and alcohol policy, and best practice for testing in-house
• Incorporating best practice for prescription drugs within your policy, and encouraging employees to notify you of new medication

Testing Methods & Equipment

• The range of drug testing methods and the best options for your company or industry
• The best testing equipment to use and why, with practical demonstrations and hands-on practice tests
• Testing kits cover THC/cannabis, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, buprenorphine, benzodiazepines, K2-AB, methadone and ketamine

Testing Procedures

• Pre-employment, random and for-cause testing procedures, and how to implement them effectively
• Alcohol policy and testing
• Best practice procedure following a positive test result

Notes

Comprehensive notes will be given to all students who attend the course.

Certification

On satisfactory completion of the course a certificate of competence will be issued that will be valid for three years.