New Zealand sees spike in workplace drug and alcohol testing
New Zealand is leading by example in testing employees for drug and alcohol misuse, new figures show
Employers in New Zealand are beginning to take a hard line on substance misuse, with figures showing a marked increase in the number of drug and alcohol tests carried out.
In a country of approximately 4.5 million people, the New Zealand Drug Detection Agency revealed that it carried out 39,369 alcohol screening tests between 2011 and 2012 - a 32 per cent year-on-year rise and the equivalent to testing almost one per cent of the population.
The organisation believes it will more than double that number this year, with forecasts predicting the number of tests will reach 90,000.
Meanwhile, onsite drug test numbers showed a similar spike with the organisation carrying out 68,561 screenings in 2012, up from 52,124 in 2011 and 29,513 in 2010.
One of the reasons for the surge in test numbers is the increasing number of sectors taking an interest in alcohol and drug testing, chief executive Chris Hilson explained.
Where the agency once tested across 12 sectors, which included transport and construction, it has now expanded its jurisdiction to 23 industry fields.
"The rise in the number of on-site workplace drug and alcohol tests in 2012 illustrates that many more employers are taking workplace safety very seriously," Mr Hilson said.
"Most of our testing takes place in the safety-sensitive sectors such as forestry, transport and construction - sectors in which it's vital for employee safety but also for their customers and suppliers and, in some cases, the general public. There's no second chance if there's any impairment from drugs and alcohol in those workplaces."
According to the figures, cannabis is the most frequently detected drug in the workplace, with it showing up in 71 per cent of non-negative tests. The second most common substance was opiates - including codeine - while methamphetamine was found in six per cent of the non-negative samples.
