Pressat

Hull and East Yorkshire employers offered new service to identify ‘under the influence’ workers

Wednesday 29 November, 2017

Screening
initiative will reduce risks, aid compliance, cut costs and improve
standards


With the results of a survey showing
one in four employees arrive for work under the influence of alcohol
or drugs, Yorkshire-based security specialist Phil Green Security has
launched a state-of-the-art testing service - to increase workplace
safety and drive up productivity levels.





Yorkshire and Humber is the third
worst area in the UK for employees working under the influence, the
survey revealed. Only London and the West Midlands fare worse.
Commissioned by risk assessment and employment law specialists ELAS,
the survey showed that, of those interviewed, 27.41% of workers in
Yorkshire and Humber admit to working under the influence of alcohol
or drugs. The real figure could be even higher.





Phil Green Security's workplace
screening identifies those taking drugs at home as well as in the
workplace, and accurately shows who has clocked on under the
influence - including those who are suffering ‘the morning after
the night before’. Phil Green Security utilises a selection of
testing methods, laboratory confirmation testing and even the ability
to forensically detect substances on work surfaces.



Phil Green Security has introduced
the new service to coincide with the run-up to Christmas, when NHS
figures show alcohol consumption alone increases by 41%.





Government statistics highlight 17
million work days, costing employers £1.6 billion, are lost each
year across the UK because of employees’ drink and drug use. The
problem is so prevalent that workers are putting themselves, their
colleagues and the public at risk - leaving employers wide open to
costly litigation as well as reduced productivity.





Phil
Green, Head of Service & Operations at Phil Green Security,
said: “Perceptions of who is most likely to arrive for work under
the influence of drink or drugs do not match the facts. This is not a
problem restricted to younger workers - it is across the board. In
fact, GPs nationwide are expressing concern about drug and alcohol
use among people over 50. We encourage employers to take a clear
approach that does not discriminate any group of workers. Regular
screening is good for employees, encouraging them to look after their
health, and good for employers, because it cuts the number of days
lost as a result of drug or alcohol use and significantly reduces the
risks while pushing up standards.”





Mr Green said, "while all employers
can benefit from the screening service, regular drug and alcohol
testing should be seen as a necessity for businesses who employ drivers,
those operating machinery and who routinely come into contact with
the public. Our systems have been designed to minimize disruption to both the client and employee and at the same time to be cost effective. Gone are the days when a drug test was limited to just the use of urine; as we now operate saliva based oral testing which is carried out within minutes in any location. We have also built our service so that if needed we are able to cover contractors, delivery drivers, visitors and just about anyone that will engage with our clients site and staff."





“Safety and liability, as well as
compliance, should be major considerations when employers think about
the risks employees working under the influence pose in Hull and East
Yorkshire,” Mr Green added.





For further information, visit
https://philgreensecurity.com/drug-testing/ or call 01482 961 899 (24 hours).





Follow Phil Green Security on Twitter
@PhilGSecurity, Facebook @PGSec, LinkedIn @philgreensecurity


ENDS





Editor’s note:
Phil Green is available for interview. Pictures available on request.
ELAS interviewed 1500 employees from across the country. The results
of the survey are accepted to provide an accurate rough estimate of
the number of employees working under the influence. However, the
true figure is thought to be higher - with many workers not
surprisingly unwilling to admit they are working under the
influence.



Distributed by Pressat