When Should an Employer Use Mobile Drug and Alcohol Testing?

For many employers, arranging a drug or alcohol test traditionally means locating a collection site, sending an employee away from the workplace and hoping the facility is open when testing is needed.

Mobile drug and alcohol testing provides another option.

Instead of sending the employee to a collection facility, a trained collector can travel to the workplace, job site or another appropriate location to perform the collection. This can be particularly useful when testing is time-sensitive, when several employees need to be tested or when leaving the worksite would create unnecessary disruption.

At Work Safely Mobile Testing, we provide mobile drug and alcohol testing throughout Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Here are several situations where employers commonly benefit from mobile testing.

Post-Accident Testing

After a workplace or vehicle accident, an employer may need to arrange testing quickly based on its company policy or an applicable DOT testing requirement.

Mobile testing can allow the collection process to take place closer to the employee’s location rather than requiring additional travel after an incident.

For DOT-regulated employers, it is important to remember that post-accident testing requirements vary by transportation agency. A workplace accident by itself does not automatically mean that a DOT post-accident test is required.

Employers should follow the applicable DOT regulation and their company’s testing procedures when determining whether testing is required.

Reasonable-Suspicion Testing

Reasonable-suspicion situations can be difficult for supervisors and managers.

When an employer determines that testing is appropriate under its policy or applicable regulations, transporting an employee to an off-site collection facility can create additional logistical and safety concerns.

A mobile collector can instead travel to the requested location, allowing the employer to manage the situation with greater privacy and less disruption.

DOT-regulated employers should ensure that reasonable-suspicion testing decisions are made in accordance with the requirements applicable to their specific DOT agency.

Random Testing

Companies with random testing programs may need to test one employee or several employees with relatively little notice.

Mobile testing can be especially helpful for transportation companies, construction companies, manufacturing facilities, warehouses, field-service organizations and businesses with multiple employees selected at the same time.

Bringing the collector to the workplace can reduce the amount of time employees spend traveling to and from a collection site.

Pre-Employment Testing

Mobile testing is also useful when employers are hiring multiple employees or conducting onboarding at a central location.

Instead of sending each applicant or new employee to a separate testing facility, an employer can arrange for testing at the workplace or another suitable location.

Whether a test is DOT or non-DOT depends on the position and the applicable testing program.

A non-DOT test cannot be used to satisfy a DOT testing requirement.

Return-to-Duty and Follow-Up Testing

Employees subject to a DOT return-to-duty or follow-up testing program must follow the applicable federal requirements.

For DOT programs, the Substance Abuse Professional establishes the follow-up testing plan, and required return-to-duty and follow-up drug collections are directly observed.

Mobile collection can make it easier for employers to arrange these tests at an appropriate location while maintaining the required collection procedures.

After-Hours, Weekend and Holiday Testing

Drug and alcohol testing needs do not always occur during normal business hours.

Accidents, reasonable-suspicion situations and other testing events can happen overnight, on weekends or during holidays.

Work Safely Mobile Testing provides 24/7/365 mobile dispatch, allowing employers to request a collector when testing is needed outside traditional collection-site hours.

Availability and applicable fees can vary based on location, timing and the type of service requested.

Testing Multiple Employees at One Location

Mobile testing becomes particularly efficient when several employees need to be tested.

Instead of having multiple employees leave the workplace individually, a collector can travel to the location and conduct the required collections onsite.

This can be useful for random-testing events, pre-employment groups, project mobilizations and other workplace testing programs.

DOT and Non-DOT Testing Are Not the Same

Employers should always identify whether a test is being conducted under a DOT-regulated program or a non-DOT company policy.

DOT testing must follow the requirements applicable to the employee’s DOT agency and federal testing regulations.

Non-DOT testing follows the employer’s or requesting party’s applicable testing program and does not satisfy a DOT testing requirement.

Work Safely Mobile Testing can assist with both DOT and non-DOT collections while keeping the two programs appropriately separated.

Mobile Testing Can Reduce Workplace Disruption

The biggest advantage of mobile testing is simple: the testing comes to you.

For many employers, that can mean less employee travel, less time away from the workplace, easier coordination, greater privacy, simpler testing for multiple employees and access to testing outside normal business hours.

The appropriate testing method and procedure will depend on the reason for the test, whether the program is DOT-regulated and the employer’s testing policy.

Need Mobile Drug or Alcohol Testing?

Work Safely Mobile Testing provides mobile drug and alcohol testing across Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Services include DOT and non-DOT drug testing, breath alcohol testing, rapid/instant drug screening, hair follicle testing and other mobile collection services.

For routine scheduling or urgent testing needs, call 1-800-539-4934 or use our online testing request form.

Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.