DOT Oral Fluid Collector Training is Open for Pre-Registration - learn more.

  • home
  • >
  • faq
  • >
  • Why are drug testing laws so important to understand?

Why are drug testing laws so important to understand?

  • Published: 12/28/2022
  • Updated: 12/28/2022

Risk

A prospective employee admits to using marijuana but has evidence of a legal marijuana prescription. Your policy prohibits the use of marijuana. Is this a violation?

It depends on the state. In some states considering this a violation is against the law as prohibited discrimination, in another state, you may be subject to liability for negligent hiring practices if you place her in a safety-sensitive position and she causes injury.

Money on the Table

Studies show that drugs and alcohol in the workplace contribute to more accidents, absenteeism, lower productivity, and decreased morale which create indirect costs on the workplace.

It often makes sense for an employer to adopt a program. Many states provide financial incentives for adopting a drug and alcohol free workplace program in the form of workers’ compensation insurance premium rebates or discounts.

These benefits are unique to the state, but you may never learn about them unless you take a workplace drug and alcohol testing course.

Lawful Activity

High turnover employers prefer to get drug and alcohol testing results instantly.

Many resort to instant testing urine or saliva to achieve this goal. However, is this method lawful? This depends on the state, whether the employer has adopted a policy under the state voluntary drug-free workplace program or independent of it, and the general procedures in how a non-negative result is carried out.

Understanding the state drug and alcohol testing laws is an important step in avoiding unwittingly committing unlawful activity.

Better Negotiations

Employers and labor unions often fiercely negotiate the terms of a drug-free workplace program. Critical to this negotiation process is actually knowing what limitations the state may or may not place on the terms of that bargain. Likewise, employers and their service agents (laboratories, medical review officers, collection sites, etc.) often engaging in negotiations on the price and extent of services to be rendered in the implementation of a drug-free workplace program. Both parties are at an advantage if they can express a solid understanding of the status of the laws in the state(s) which are the subject of the negotiations.

As an employer, understanding and staying up-to-date on drug and alcohol testing laws because testing plays an important role in maintaining a safe and productive workplace, but it is also subject to a complex web of state and federal regulations. By staying up-to-date on drug and alcohol testing laws, you can help ensure that your workplace remains compliant with all applicable regulations.

Related courses

DOT REASONABLE SUSPICION TRAINING FOR SUPERVISORS

DOT REASONABLE SUSPICION TRAINING FOR SUPERVISORS

$44.00

More Info
DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES

DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES

$19.00

More Info
DER TRAINING COURSE - FTA

DER TRAINING COURSE - FTA

$229.00

More Info
DER TRAINING COURSE - PHMSA

DER TRAINING COURSE - PHMSA

$229.00

More Info
FMCSA DER TRAINING COURSE

FMCSA DER TRAINING COURSE

$229.00

More Info
DER TRAINING COURSE - FAA

DER TRAINING COURSE - FAA

$229.00

More Info
DER TRAINING COURSE - FRA

DER TRAINING COURSE - FRA

$229.00

More Info
NON-DOT  DESIGNATED EMPLOYER REPRESENTATIVE TRAINING (DER)

NON-DOT DESIGNATED EMPLOYER REPRESENTATIVE TRAINING (DER)

$229.00

More Info
DOT BREATH ALCOHOL TECHNICIAN TRAIN-THE-TRAINER

DOT BREATH ALCOHOL TECHNICIAN TRAIN-THE-TRAINER

$2,000.00

More Info
NON-DOT ORAL FLUID COLLECTOR TRAINING

NON-DOT ORAL FLUID COLLECTOR TRAINING

$400.00

More Info
HAIR SPECIMEN COLLECTOR TRAINING

HAIR SPECIMEN COLLECTOR TRAINING

$400.00

More Info
DOT BREATH ALCOHOL TECHNICIAN TRAINING

DOT BREATH ALCOHOL TECHNICIAN TRAINING

$750.00

More Info
DOT URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTOR TRAINING

DOT URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTOR TRAINING

$750.00

More Info
DOT URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTOR TRAIN-THE-TRAINER

DOT URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTOR TRAIN-THE-TRAINER

$2,000.00

More Info
NON-DOT REASONABLE  SUSPICION TRAINING FOR SUPERVISORS

NON-DOT REASONABLE SUSPICION TRAINING FOR SUPERVISORS

$44.00

More Info
FRA SUPERVISOR REASONABLE SUSPICION AND POST-ACCIDENT TOXICOLOGICAL TESTING TRAINING

FRA SUPERVISOR REASONABLE SUSPICION AND POST-ACCIDENT TOXICOLOGICAL TESTING TRAINING

$59.00

More Info
DOT SCREENING TEST TECHNICIAN (STT) TRAINING FOR THE ALCO-SCREEN 02

DOT SCREENING TEST TECHNICIAN (STT) TRAINING FOR THE ALCO-SCREEN 02

$500.00

More Info
NON-DOT URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTOR TRAINING

NON-DOT URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTOR TRAINING

$650.00

More Info
NON-DOT URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTOR TRAINING

NON-DOT URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTOR TRAINING

$500.00

More Info
CALIFORNIA WORKPLACE DRUG TESTING LAWS

CALIFORNIA WORKPLACE DRUG TESTING LAWS

$350.00

More Info
DOT Mock Collections for Urine Collectors

DOT Mock Collections for Urine Collectors

$300.00

More Info
TEXAS WORKPLACE DRUG TESTING LAWS

TEXAS WORKPLACE DRUG TESTING LAWS

$350.00

More Info
DOT ORAL FLUID COLLECTOR TRAINING

DOT ORAL FLUID COLLECTOR TRAINING

$399.00

More Info
DOT ORAL FLUID COLLECTOR TRAIN-THE-TRAINER

DOT ORAL FLUID COLLECTOR TRAIN-THE-TRAINER

$2,000.00

More Info
DOT URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTOR QUALIFICATION TRAINING (NO ILT)

DOT URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTOR QUALIFICATION TRAINING (NO ILT)

$60.00

More Info
HAIR SPECIMEN COLLECTOR QUALIFICATION TRAINING  (NO ILT)

HAIR SPECIMEN COLLECTOR QUALIFICATION TRAINING (NO ILT)

$60.00

More Info
NON-DOT URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTOR QUALIFICATION TRAINING (NO ILT)

NON-DOT URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTOR QUALIFICATION TRAINING (NO ILT)

$60.00

More Info
DOT BREATH ALCOHOL TECHNICIAN QUALIFICATION TRAINING (NO ILT)

DOT BREATH ALCOHOL TECHNICIAN QUALIFICATION TRAINING (NO ILT)

$60.00

More Info
NEW YORK WORKPLACE DRUG TESTING LAWS

NEW YORK WORKPLACE DRUG TESTING LAWS

$350.00

More Info
DOT Breath Alcohol Mock Collections

DOT Breath Alcohol Mock Collections

More Info
DOT URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTOR ERROR CORRECTION TRAINING

DOT URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTOR ERROR CORRECTION TRAINING

$250.00

More Info
FAA SUPERVISOR REASONABLE SUSPICION TRAINING

FAA SUPERVISOR REASONABLE SUSPICION TRAINING

$44.00

More Info
USCG DER TRAINING COURSE

USCG DER TRAINING COURSE

$229.00

More Info
DOT ALCOHOL SCREENING TEST TECHNICIAN (STT) TRAINING

DOT ALCOHOL SCREENING TEST TECHNICIAN (STT) TRAINING

$500.00

More Info
NON-DOT URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTOR TRAIN-THE-TRAINER

NON-DOT URINE SPECIMEN COLLECTOR TRAIN-THE-TRAINER

$2,000.00

More Info
DNA SPECIMEN COLLECTOR TRAINING

DNA SPECIMEN COLLECTOR TRAINING

$400.00

More Info