Drug testing your applicants is a good way to weed out any potential employees with substance abuse problems and keep your workplace drug-free. There are, however, some considerations to take before drug testing your applicants.

Be Uniform
If you decide to institute a drug testing program, the key is to perform these tests uniformly. This means that you will have to test each applicant, regardless of position. If you test some applicants and not others, you can expose your company to discrimination lawsuits. Be sure to inform each applicant that they will be tested as a condition of receiving an offer of hire.

Offer Employment First
The American With Disabilities Act makes it illegal to drug test applicants without first offering a conditional offer of employment. This means that you can't just test every applicant that applies for a position. Your company has to be prepared to hire this applicant should their drug test results come back negative. You will need to inform your employee that they are hired, pending the results of the drug test. Failure to comply with this can mean some serious legal trouble for your company.

Put it in Writing
One of the most important steps that you can take during your drug testing is to put your policies in writing. Specify what tests will be administered, who will be tested and when they will be tested. If a negative drug test is a condition of hire, include this in your policy. If you conduct drug testing following a workplace accident, be sure that your staff is aware of this and that they agree to it in writing. Make sure that your employees sign these before taking any tests in order to protect your company from legal consequences.

Consider Random Testing
While many employers drug test before hire, few conduct random testing. While the majority of your applicants and employees will be drug free, there are some that will find ways to beat the initial test. This is why it is crucial to conduct random testing in order to find any employees that are using substances in the workplace. A specialist at an outpatient rehab facility says testing for substance abuse becomes even more crucial following a workplace accident or injury, as employees working under the influence of drugs or alcohol can put their fellow employees—and your company—at risk.

When it comes to instituting a drug testing program in your workplace, there are several considerations to take into account. From making sure that your drug testing activities are uniform to putting everything in writing, it is important to make sure that you cover all of your bases when you start your program.