15.07.08
Medscreen keeps your drug and alcohol policy on the right track
The Transport and Works Act 1992 placed ‘due diligence’ demands on the industry specifically relating to drugs and alcohol. To demonstrate due diligence, the rail industry introduced a series of measures. These needed to be stringent, to counter the acceptance and availability of ‘social’ substances. Testing provides part of the answer. The deterrent effect of testing sits comfortably within the clear railway policy on the use of drugs and alcohol and it makes people sit up and take notice of the message conveyed by the policy – the inappropriate use of alcohol and drugs is not acceptable
The Railway Group Standard GH/RT 4000 establishes the use of random testing as the deterrent against the inappropriate use of drugs and alcohol by anyone who can affect or effect the movement of a train. It also requires pre-employment testing and testing after incidents or where there is a concern about an individual’s fitness for work.
Legal defensibility is an important requirement. It is not simply a question of ensuring the integrity of the sample from collection through to final result but also protecting companies from challenges to drug test results. This is where it is vital to ensure the integrity of the sample, from the point of collection to the analysis. As a Link-up approved supplier with a dedicated UKAS 17025 laboratory, Medscreen gives you the assurances you need. Furthermore, recognising that both the concept of drug testing and the collection of urine samples can appear unnecessarily intrusive, their nationwide team of highly trained and audited collecting officers provide the required competent and sympathetic service.
Railway incidents require drug and alcohol tests - which can be anywhere on the UK mainland - within two hours. Last year, Medscreen attended over 1600 emergency call outs with an average response time of 1 hour 18 minutes. The employee is breath tested for alcohol and a urine sample is collected and sent for laboratory drug analysis. Understanding the importance of these ‘post-incident’ tests, Medscreen is geared up to get the results back to the customer as quickly as possible.
The laboratory analysis is designed to deliver results fast without any compromise to accuracy and security. Positive results are reported via a medical officer. Medscreen can also take responsibility for the random selection process to reassure employees that the selection cannot be manipulated from within the company requesting the tests.
Medscreen provides a reliable but unobtrusive service supporting the rail industry’s drug and alcohol policies. With all the other pressures on the railway industry, this is one area where operating companies and contractors do not have to worry. Whether you are a small contractor or a major TOC, Medscreen has the resources and experience to help ensure your compliance with Railway Group Standard GH/RT 4000.
Medscreen – part of the Concateno PLC Group
Medscreen is part of the Concateno Plc Group of companies. Concateno has brought together the leading drug and alcohol testing companies in Europe to form a service provider with the facilities and expertise that can test all biological specimens. Each client has a range of requirements specific to them: the Concateno group has the most comprehensive drug and alcohol programme available to meet each customers’ specific needs - from point-of-care instant tests through to independently audited and accredited laboratory analysis for urine, oral fluid, hair, blood or sweat.
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