In fact, even when workers know they are going to be tested, 3-5 percent test positive for drug usage. Clearly, a workplace tainted by the presence of workers impaired by substance abuse would have to be seen as a violation of this clause, given the level of knowledge about the hazards of construction work. There is no denying that substance abuse is a very real problem for the construction industry, as it is for the rest of the economy. More than 95 percent of all U.S. companies report having problems with substance abuse in the workplace. Detection Substance abuse in the workplace is a difficult problem from both the high risk potential for accidents that it causes as well as reduced worker productivity.
Detection is a crucial element in any loss prevention program.
This requires additional vigilance on the part of site supervision, since drug testing only indicates past usage and does not actually measure impairment. Impairment is the operative term in dealing with substance abuse, since this can be the proximate cause of accidents. In addition, it must be recognized that substance abuse extends beyond the use of illegal substances. Misuse of prescription medication and alcohol are often overlooked when attempting to detect substance abuse and in structuring a prevention program. While the construction culture has changed a great deal in the past decade, alcohol use is still a widely condoned activity among construction workers.