The Importance of Drug Testing in Hazardous Environments

The oil and gas industry is held up as an exemplar in the field of health and safety. Here, Dräger (UK), experts in drug detection and safety in the oil and gas industry, give their perspective on the importance of drug testing in hazardous environments.

According to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas), a third of employers admit drug and alcohol misuse is a problem at work, but with stringent drug and alcohol testing policies in place since the 80s, the oil and gas industry is well ahead of the game in comparison to other industries.

With thousands of people on any given day working in highly hazardous environments or safety critical areas and who are handling and monitoring dangerous equipment and chemicals, it is imperative that offshore workers remain drug and alcohol free in order to maintain the safe and efficient running of this sector.

Mark Burrup, Dräger’s Regional Focus Group Manager Diagnostics, said: “The oil and gas industry has developed a particularly robust set of drug and alcohol testing procedures in comparison to other industries and although drug and alcohol misuse is rare, this remains an issue that the industry must continue to address.

“Industry regulations are particularly tough due to the fact that personnel are operating in a safety critical environment. Whether on an offshore rig or an oil refinery, workers must pass a yearly medical examination which incorporates drug and alcohol testing. They also face random testing, as well as ‘for cause’ drug and alcohol testing.

“As a leading provider of drug and alcohol testing products, Dräger is able to support the zero-tolerance position which clearly exists within the oil and gas industry and in fact, the industry is held up as an exemplar in the particular areas of drug testing and safety in general.

“While the oil and gas industry is clearly ahead of the game, in short, it has to be! In a safety critical environment, a worker under the influence of drugs or alcohol could ultimately endanger the lives of many others and this is a risk the industry is not prepared to take.”

Mark continued: “Our Dräger DrugTest 5000 is the only drug testing kit that has Home Office approval for testing for cannabis use in police stations and can be used to test for a range of illegal substances. The rigorous type approval process has confirmed that our device is accurate, reliable and robust. We are experienced in safety solutions on a national and a global scale and have developed a product which is easy to use, reliable and works in real time.  Dräger ultimately supports companies in their role in this increasingly important area.”

“The Dräger DrugTest 5000 comes with Dräger SSK 5000, a surface testing device. Together, the kit means that HR Managers, Safety Inspectors or Police can identify and analyse up to eight suspicious substances on site, on the spot, quickly and efficiently, anywhere and anytime. There is also enough of the sample left for them to send away for laboratory testing if it is required.”

Phil Saxton, General Manager of Dräger Marine and Offshore, Dräger’s dedicated safety site based in Aberdeen, said: “We have been serving the oil and gas industry for many, many years and we take our responsibilities very seriously. Our expertise in drug and alcohol impairment is just one part of our ongoing commitment in the marine and offshore environment.”