| A healthy, safe, and engaging work | | | | for health workers and nurses due to an again |
| environment is one of the most critical | | | | baby-boom population, workforce in the health |
| requirements for employers and their | | | | industry is increasing while showing no signs |
| employees. The ability for personnel to | | | | of slowdown. Therefore, stringent measures |
| compose themselves as part of your company's | | | | are required to make sure that every health |
| workforce is essential in promoting the | | | | worker is not only highly capable and well |
| efficiency and effectiveness of you company. | | | | educated. In addition, standard drug tests |
| | | | are appropriate to ensure a healthy and clean |
| However, of all the current issues under | | | | labor service sector with high integrity. |
| constant discussion, drug testing is one | | | | |
| procedure that is often overlooked. More | | | | Drug dependent employees in highly sensitive |
| often than not, drug testing could be the | | | | service industries could mean life and death |
| line between a positive workforce and | | | | for their charges. A missed dose by a sickly |
| discouraged and wasteful employees. Drug | | | | elder or incapability of physicians or |
| testing ensures that such costs are accounted | | | | doctors in diagnosis and in the operating |
| including the health and well-being of its | | | | table provides a basis for stringent drug |
| employees. | | | | testing policies. |
| | | | |
| The service industry continues to be the most | | | | Drug problems in organizations can be |
| vulnerable business sector in case of drug | | | | manifested in various forms. These include |
| dependent employees. Impairment due to drug | | | | absenteeism, liability and insurance, product |
| abuse puts critical service providers in | | | | or service issues, worker's compensation |
| direct contact as seen with teachers, | | | | claim, accidents, rising health care costs, |
| caregivers, and nurses. The constant human | | | | cost for replacing damaged equipment and |
| interaction required for service personnel | | | | inventory, and cost of work spoilage. The |
| along with the critically skilled procedures | | | | occurrence of these events can affect all |
| that only these jobs can do makes drug | | | | segments of the workforce. |
| testing in the workplace a relevant policy | | | | |
| for companies. These jobs are classified as | | | | The core of all of these is that the |
| safety-sensitive positions or human-intensive | | | | importance of workplace drug testing in the |
| services. Employees in the public sector with | | | | service industry is emphasized because each |
| the prime responsibility to ensure public | | | | member of the workforce is responsible for |
| safety such as law enforcers, firemen, and | | | | someone person's life. The weight of such |
| other public servant should also be included | | | | responsibilities shows that any danger or |
| in the loop of workplace drug testing. | | | | harm posed to drug dependent employees could |
| | | | also mean the safety of their patients. Drug |
| The Service Industry | | | | testing as a tool to increase control and |
| | | | productivity within the health services is |
| The service industry especially in the health | | | | more urgent and necessary compared to other |
| sector continues to be one of the most | | | | sectors. |
| sensitive jobs today. With the rising demand | | | | |