Drug Screening

Term from Occupational Health industry explained for recruiters

Drug screening is a process companies use to test employees or job candidates for the presence of drugs or alcohol. It's an important part of workplace safety and compliance programs. Companies might require these tests before hiring (pre-employment), randomly during employment, or after workplace incidents. The process typically involves collecting samples (usually urine, but sometimes hair, saliva, or blood) and having them analyzed by certified laboratories. This practice is common in industries where safety is crucial, like transportation, healthcare, and construction.

Examples in Resumes

Managed Drug Screening program for 500+ employees across multiple locations

Coordinated pre-employment Drug Testing procedures for new hires

Implemented random Drug Screen protocols compliant with DOT regulations

Supervised company-wide Substance Testing program and maintained testing records

Typical job title: "Drug Screening Coordinators"

Also try searching for:

Occupational Health Coordinator Drug Testing Specialist Drug Program Administrator Safety Compliance Coordinator Substance Testing Coordinator Medical Review Officer Health Screening Specialist

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you handle a situation where an employee disputes their test results?

Expected Answer: Should discuss the formal appeal process, role of Medical Review Officers, split specimen testing, and chain of custody documentation while maintaining confidentiality and following company policy.

Q: What experience do you have implementing a new drug testing program?

Expected Answer: Should explain process of policy development, legal compliance, vendor selection, staff training, and communication strategy to employees.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What are the different types of drug tests and when would you use each?

Expected Answer: Should describe urine, hair, saliva, and blood testing methods, their detection windows, and appropriate situations for each type of test.

Q: How do you ensure confidentiality in the drug screening process?

Expected Answer: Should discuss secure record keeping, limited access to results, proper communication channels, and compliance with privacy laws.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the typical process for conducting a drug screen?

Expected Answer: Should outline basic steps: notification, collection, chain of custody, laboratory analysis, and result reporting.

Q: How do you maintain proper documentation for drug screening?

Expected Answer: Should describe basic record-keeping requirements, chain of custody forms, and confidentiality procedures.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic drug screening procedures
  • Documentation and record keeping
  • Collection site coordination
  • Basic compliance knowledge

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Program coordination
  • Vendor management
  • Policy implementation
  • Results interpretation

Senior (5+ years)

  • Program development and oversight
  • Regulatory compliance management
  • Staff training and development
  • Policy creation and updates

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Lack of knowledge about confidentiality requirements
  • Unfamiliar with chain of custody procedures
  • No understanding of DOT regulations if position requires it
  • Poor attention to detail in documentation
  • Unfamiliarity with different testing methods