Initially published by Gardenforum.
Global garden equipment manufacturer Hozelock is to implement drug tests to promote employee safety, utilising fingerprint sweat-based technology from Intelligent Fingerprinting.
The company will use the fingerprint sweat-based drug test to determine any recent employee use of cocaine, cannabis, methamphetamine or opioids.
The Intelligent Fingerprinting platform, which analyses sweat to screen for recent drug use, is quick, hygienic and non-invasive, and enables Hozelock’s HR staff members to easily conduct drug tests whenever necessary.
As staff numbers vary according to seasonal demand, ranging from 320 to approximately 650, fingerprint test technology makes testing especially convenient when staffing resources are more limited.
Andrew Parker, Human Resources Manager of Hozelock said, “Intelligent Fingerprinting is a really good way of allowing us to conduct random drug tests in-house – a process that’s an important contributor to Hozelock’s excellent safety record.
We consulted initially with Unite
“We consulted initially with Unite, who gave their full backing to our use of a fingerprint-based drug screening. Compared with urine and saliva methods, the fingerprint method of drug testing treats the employee with much more dignity, while the system’s shorter window of detection means we’re not intruding into our employees’ personal lives.
“No one in HR ever wants to catch anyone with a drug test. But some of our operations are potentially dangerous, and, as a responsible employer, it’s essential that we do the right things to protect our employees and their colleagues.
“That said, as a team, we are only concerned with people being safe to work for their shift – not what they might have done over the weekend. With its sub-24 hour window of detection, Intelligent Fingerprinting’s system allows us to look at just that, ensuring the safety of our employees while respecting their privacy during their personal time. From our experience, traditional tests typically look for drug use beyond this, and that’s not what drug testing for health and safety purposes is all about.”
