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DRUG TESTING IN THE WORKPLACE Introduction On

On August 28, 1991, a Manhattan subway train jumped its tracks, killing five passengers and injuring 200 others. A blood test administered after the accident revealed that the blood alcohol level of the train operator was twice the legal driving limit in New York state. The train operator was charged with five counts of second degree murder. Further investigation revealed an empty crack cocaine vial in the train operator?s compartment. Within hours of the accident, the disaster was cited as compelling evidence for expanding Employment Drug Testing (Solomon, 1993, p. 73).

The problem of employee drug usage is growing in America. Public and private sector organizations have been struggling with ways to deal with the problem. The goal of these organizations is to operate with maximum efficiency and effectiveness and to be able to provide their employees with a safe environment to work in. Drug usage by employees compromises both of these objectives. This paper discusses the origins of drug testing in the workplace, the types of drug testing currently in use, court rulings that have specifically addressed employment drug testing, and arguments for the use of drug testing by employers. More specifically, the argument is made that drug testing is a strategic and effective management tool for public and private organizations, a tool which can increase productivity and provide other benefits.

Drug testing dates back to the 1970s, when several companies began marketing the relatively lowcost scientific processes they were manufacturing to detect drugs in urine. These processes were originally used by crime laboratories, hospitals and drug therapy programs, but their use was expanded in the early 1980s to include the U.S. military and a collection of private employers. By 1985, drug testing had become a more common practice in an effort to combat substance abuse in the workplace (Bureau of National Affairs, 1986).

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DRUG TESTING IN THE WORKPLACE Introduction On. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 02:27, March 29, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1708089.html