On October 13, 2016, federal agents arrested a Pennsylvania woman for her role in a scheme. She violated the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) regulated drug and alcohol program. Let's make sure your business doesn't use a service agent like this. 

In September 2016, the TDLR Advisory Board met in Austin, Texas. We reviewed their staff report and found some interesting statistics. 

Be sure the executives, managers, and supervisors understand the laws and regulations that apply to your business. Everyone should be on the same page before taking these next steps. These will take you from planning a drug-free workplace to implementation.  

Federal and state agencies regulate safety and security industries to implement a drug-free workplace. If your business isn't regulated, you're volunteering to have a drug-free workplace. In either case, never assume that you aren’t liable for any wrong doings. We won't cover every state and federal regulation but, we'll point you in the right direction.

If you oversee the human resources department and have been tasked with implementing a drug-free workplace, you have a lot to learn. With proper planning, you can implement a successful drug-free workplace program but, businesses failing to understand their requirements and liabilities can face severe penalties and lawsuits filed by workers. 

Screensoft is proud to announce its drug testing policy services. Screensoft customers now have access to a team of experienced industry experts and legal counsel. Developing a drug testing policy is the start to a successful drug-free workplace. 

A drug testing consortium is one random drug testing program consisting of many employers. Consortia are usually offered to employers regulated under the Department of Transportation. Applying them to the general workplace also has its advantages. 

The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has names Screensoft as an approved consortium. Screensoft has met the drug testing requirements of the Texas Administration Code 86.710 and 85.726. 

Human resources and managing your company’s drug testing program can be tough. A common mistake we come across is when employers jump into pre-employment or random testing. Drug testing is actually only one part of a complete workplace drug program. Workplace drug testing shouldn't be put in place without taking these first steps.