Why is Workplace Drug Testing Important?

Substance abuse, particularly alcohol and drugs, can lead to significant workplace risks. Alcohol remains the most common substance Australians seek treatment for, and its abuse can:

• Impair physical and mental health
• Lead to absenteeism, dismissal, or impairment
• Increase accidents and safety risks

Drug use, including cannabis, cocaine, and methamphetamines, can also:

• Impair judgment and decision-making
• Cause extreme fatigue, anxiety, and depression
• Increase the risk of workplace accidents

Employers are now legally liable under state and federal legislation for criminal convictions relating to workplace negligence, including failure to address substance misuse. Implementing a comprehensive drug and alcohol testing policy not only protects your employees but also safeguards your business from potential legal action and criminal charges.

Implementing drug and alcohol testing in your workplace helps:

• Correct unsafe behaviours
• Improve employee health
• Boost productivity and morale
• Prevent accidents before they happen
• Comply with state and federal regulations to avoid criminal negligence charges

When Should You Conduct Workplace Drug Testing?

AusHealth offers flexible testing solutions, depending on your workplace needs. Common testing scenarios include:

• Pre-employment: Screening new hires before they join your team
• Random testing: Selectively testing employees without prior notice
• Post-incident testing: Conducted after workplace accidents
• Return-to-work testing: For employees returning after a positive test

Our experts can help tailor a testing schedule to suit your industry, company goals, and safety policies.

Video: Our Toxicologists explain how long it takes for drugs to leave your system.

The AusHealth Drug Testing Process

Our testing process is efficient, discreet, and compliant with Australian Standards. AusHealth offers:

• Saliva testing: Detects recent drug use
• Urine testing: Identifies drug use over several days or weeks
• Hair testing: Provides a long-term history of drug use (up to 3 months)

After sample collection, results are available within minutes. Non-negative results are sent to a lab for confirmation. Our team follows strict procedures to ensure accuracy and confidentiality.

Video: The most common excuses for a drug test.

Why Choose AusHealth for Drug Testing?

• Nationally accredited: Compliant with Australian Standards for drug and alcohol testing
• Experienced collectors: Our professionals travel to your workplace to conduct testing on-site
• Comprehensive testing: We test for alcohol, amphetamines, cannabis, cocaine, benzodiazepines, opiates, and more
• Fast results: Receive on-the-spot test results, with lab confirmation for non-negative results
• Custom solutions: Tailored testing services to meet your workplace safety requirements

Video: Our Toxicologists explain “what is duromine and does it appear in a drug test?”.

Who are our clients?

AusHealth is proud to serve a diverse range of clients across various industries, including:

• Australian Federal Police (AFP)
• Department of Home Affairs
• Department of Defence
• Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA)
• Virgin Australia
• TOLL IPEC
• Pacific National
• ARTC
• ONRSR
• SA Government
• NSW Government
• VIC Government
• Metro North Hospital and Health Service
• Metro South Health
• Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN)
• Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN)
• Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN)

Our trusted partnerships with these clients highlight our commitment to workplace safety, compliance, and professionalism.

Common Drugs We Test For

• Alcohol: Impacts decision-making, reaction time, and risk assessment
• Cannabis (THC): Reduces cognitive abilities and slows reaction time
• Cocaine: Causes heightened risk-taking behaviour, anxiety, and paranoia
• Amphetamines: Increase overconfidence, poor decision-making, and fatigue
• Benzodiazepines: Cause drowsiness, impaired risk assessment, and poor decision-making
• Opiates/Opioids: Highly addictive, causing impaired reaction times and decision-making

How long does a test take?

Testing generally takes 12-15 minutes per person. In cases of a non-negative result, samples are sent to a lab for confirmation, adding additional time to the process.