Workplace alcohol testing programs have significant benefits for the oil and gas industry by improving safety and productivity. Alcohol abuse is a greater problem than drug abuse in the workplace, contributing to 40% of industrial fatalities and 47% of injuries. Implementing alcohol testing programs can reduce accidents by over 50% and lower health insurance costs. Regular alcohol screening of employees is an effective best practice to create a safer work environment.

1. Oil and gas industry-related incidents
coupled with a fatality rate seven
times greater than any other industry
in the United States.1
Alcohol testing programs improve workplace
safety, reduce accidents and enhance
productivity and morale.
Why Test For
Alcohol
abuse
in the
Oil and Gas Industry?
Evidential Testing
While the illegal use of drugs gets most of our collective attention,
alcohol abuse is the greater driver of harm and cost in the workplace. Workers with alcohol dependence or abuse outnumber workers with substance dependence/abuse (including marijuana) by a
factor of almost 3 to 1.1 A workplace study suggested that 40% of
all industrial fatalities (and 47% of industrial injuries) are linked to
alcohol consumption.
Lifeloc’s handheld, mobile Phoenix 6.0BT Breath
Alcohol Tester is the easiest to use on the market.
EasyMode™ software prompts the user through
the testing protocol…no cables, docking
stations or electrical outlets required.
Workplace alcohol testing programs have a significant positive impact on employee safety and the bottom line in the oil and gas industry. Benefits include improved productivity, greater employee retention and better morale, enhanced job satisfaction and employee
retention.
High Volume Screening
Test a high volume of
employees quickly and easily
with Lifeloc’s SENTINEL™
Alcohol Screening System. The
SENTINEL™ can stand alone
or be sequenced with existing
turnstiles, time clocks and
access control systems.
No operator is required.
Lifeloc’s products and training meet the
US Department of Transportation’s 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.
Visit www.lifeloc.com/workplace.aspx or
call 303.431.9500 for further information.
1
48
- Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries 2003-2010.
People with alcoholism use twice as much sick leave, are five times
more likely to file workers’ compensation claims, and are more likely
to cause injuries on the job. Twenty percent of workers have been
injured, covered for, or worked harder because of other employees'
drinking.
MMD-0129
WORKPLACE SUBSTANCE ABUSE
Alcohol Abuse
and Productivity
Alcohol abuse and heavy drinking off-the-job leads to absenVS
teeism, accidents, poor job
ALCOHOL
DRUG
USERS
USERS
performance, disability and premature death. A 2006 national
survey indicated that work-related impairment affects an estimated
15 percent of the U.S. workforce. Approximately 2.3 million workers drink before work, 8.9 million drink during work hours, and 11.6
million come to work with a hangover.2
Medical Costs
American businesses absorb costs of drinking by paying higher
health insurance premiums for employees and their families. In
a 2011 study by The Drug and Alcohol Testing Industry Association, 14% of organizations reported high workers’ compensation
incidence rates prior to implementing drug and alcohol testing programs, whereas only 6% of organizations reported similar rates after implementation, a decrease of over 50%.
Hangover and Withdrawal
Hangovers hinder cognitive and motor functions. Poor concentration leads to slower work speeds, poor judgment and mistakes.
Impaired motor skills can cause accidents and injuries, which in
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2. 2.3
million
drink
before work
safety-sensitive
positions can
endanger
the
lives of work
associates and
the public.
8.9 million drink
on the job
11.6 million work with a hangover
A night of heavy drinking can leave the reveler over the legal driving
limit the following morning. Even modest alcohol impairment combined 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 occupational 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 in
medical costs, work loss, higher insurance, a reduced workforce and
concern about company reputation.
Business, pleasure,
personal, or even group
conferences; no matter
the need, we have the
facilities and staff to
accommodate you.
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, random 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 automated breath testing stations capable of unattended high volume
testing. Alcohol screeners of this type can be set to individual company 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 insure that their policies and practices comply with local, state and federal 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 beneficial 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. National 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
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