According to SafeWork Laboratories (a national drug testing laboratory group), the Australian construction industry could save several hundred million dollars per year through compulsory workplace drug and alcohol testing. National marketing director for SafeWork Laboratories Mr Andrew Leibie, said absenteeism and a lack of productivity caused by drugs and alcohol were significant costs for the industry.

“The Australian construction industry employs more than one-million workers but very few work sites have drug and alcohol testing regimes,” he said.

“When random drug tests have been introduced to workplaces in the past, around 10% of samples have been positive for drugs such as cannabis or amphetamines. That means potentially 100,000 construction workers on-site, in offices or in factories could be working under the influence of prescription or illicit drugs.”

Mr Leibie said drug tests generally cost between $100-200 per employee, per year.

“The cost per employee is in some instances less than their hourly wage,” he said.

“Once random drug and alcohol testing is introduced to workforces, the detection rate drops almost overnight to around 5%, before reaching a baseline of 3-4% going forward, which is consistent across all industries.

“Given our estimates and factoring in the cost of testing, if construction companies can halve the number of days lost to drug-related sick leave, they can save hundreds of millions of dollars.”

Mr Leibie said despite initial opposition, industry and unions had recognised that discouraging drug and alcohol use would result in safer workplaces.

The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) announced earlier this year that it would support drug and alcohol testing policies, but was opposed to urine testing.

“Saliva and urine testing both differ in cost, complexity and length of time drugs can be detected,” Mr Leibie said.

“Australian Standards govern their use in the workplace. As long as these protocols are adhered to, industry can be confident in the integrity, efficiency and legal defensibility of the process.”

The workplace drug testing market in Australia is estimated to be worth around $80 million a year in direct costs and is growing at around 20% a year.