All articles
7 min read
Workplace Drug & Alcohol Testing Explained
A practical guide to D&A testing for UK employers — policy, consent, methods and what to do with a positive result.
Drug and alcohol testing in the UK workplace is governed by employment law, GDPR and your own written policy. Done properly it is a powerful tool for protecting safety-critical operations.
Best practice covers pre-employment, with-cause, post-incident and random testing — each underpinned by clear consent and a robust chain of custody.
A Medical Review Officer (MRO) should review every non-negative result before it is communicated to the employer, ensuring that prescribed medications or other legitimate explanations are properly considered.