The efficacy of preemployment drug screening for marijuana and cocaine in predicting employment outcome

Article Abstract:

Illegal drug use has been identified as an important cause of accidents and injuries on the job and overuse of sick leave. As a result, preemployment drug screening programs have been started by a large number of agencies and companies. To evaluate whether the consequences of employing people who use drugs are sufficiently damaging to justify expenditures on such screening programs, results from a survey of 2,537 postal workers are presented. The urine was tested for cocaine and marijuana and their metabolites before employment began. Then employee turnover, absenteeism, accidents, injuries, and discipline were evaluated for an average period of 406 calendar days. Results showed that 7.8 and 2.2 percent of the applicants had evidence of marijuana or cocaine use, respectively. Males were more likely to test positive for marijuana, and females, for cocaine. Blacks, younger workers, cigarette smokers, and mail handlers had a greater proportion of positive results than whites, nonsmokers, and workers in other job categories. Compared with nonuser employees, drug users had an increased risk of job turnover (marijuana users, 1.56 times the risk of nonusers; cocaine users, 1.15 times); accidents (marijuana, 1.55; cocaine, 1.59); injuries (for both drugs, 1.85); and disciplinary action (marijuana, 1.55; cocaine, 1.40). Nonusers had an absence rate of 4 percent, while marijuana users had an absence rate of 7.1 percent and cocaine users, 9.8 percent. Although these are unfavorable outcomes, the effects of drug use on job-related factors do not seem to be dramatic. It seems likely that claims of the devastating effects of drugs in the workplace used to justify preemployment drug testing are exaggerated. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Usage, Postal service, Marijuana, Cocaine

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Costs and benefits of preemployment drug screening

Article Abstract:

A survey of 2533 Boston postal workers to estimate the costs and benefits of pre-employment drug screening found that drug screening would save $162 per new employee, but this figure is based on certain assumptions. If drug use in a community was low or the cost of a urine test was high, any such program would actually lose money. In addition, absenteeism, injuries and turnover in employment among drug users may vary in different industries and different regions of the country. Companies that have high costs associated with absenteeism and accidents among employees who use drugs would most likely save money by pre-employment drug screening. Because of these factors, any company considering such a program should weigh the costs and benefits using data from its own industry and community.

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A controlled trial of an educational program to prevent low back injuries

Article Abstract:

An educational program that teaches workers ways to avoid back injury does not appear to be beneficial. Physical therapists taught 2,534 postal workers and 134 supervisors the principles of back safety, including proper ways of lifting and handling, posture, exercise and pain management. Although the program increased workers' knowledge of back safety, it did not reduce the number of back injuries, time lost from work, or costs associated with back injuries when their outcome was compared to a group that did not receive the training.

Injuries, Occupational health and safety, Occupational safety and health, Prevention, Study and teaching, Work-related injuries, Work related injuries, Employee safety education, Backache, Back pain, Back

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