Although drug testing is part of our name, we also do a lot of alcohol testing as well. Breath alcohol is what we do most often, however we can also test urine, hair, blood, or even nails for alcohol. In Arkansas if you register .080 BAC (blood alcohol concentration) and you’re driving, you can and probably will be arrested for DWI. For employment reasons the DOT considers a positive alcohol test to be .040 BAC which is half of the state of Arkansas requirements for driving. Most non-DOT employers have also adopted this .040 BAC. Failing a breath alcohol test as an employee generally carries the same consequences as failing a drug test, termination.

We perform several dozen reasonable suspicion alcohol tests annually using one of the 8 breathalyzers we own. It’s baffling to me that every year at least 3 or 4 of these employees, that tested over the .080 limit, drove themselves to our clinic. What’s even more shocking is that the employer knowingly sent them. When this happens, we inform the employees that they should have someone pick them up. We tell them we cannot detain them but if they choose to drive, we will immediately call the police. This tactic has always worked in preventing them from leaving and possibly hurting themselves or someone else.

Just a couple of months ago we recorded our highest breath alcohol concentration ever at our office. This employee was in a training class all day long to become a city bus driver. The supervisor, who had been trained in reasonable suspicion procedures, was astute enough to recognize something was “different” about this employee. In that training the supervisor also learned what you think would be common sense: if you believe someone might be under the influence of a substance, you must provide them with transportation to the testing site and transportation home. This employee who spent all day training on his first day on the job registered a .322 BAC, that’s over 4 times the legal limit of .080.

To foster a safe and productive work environment, employers are strongly advised to inform and educate employees about the dangers of substance use, both legal and illicit, before or during work hours. Substances can impair judgment and affect the ability to perform tasks safely and effectively.

Implementing a robust testing program is a proactive measure to deter substance abuse and demonstrates a strong commitment to workplace safety. Let First Choice help you develop and maintain that testing program.