Advancements in Breathalyzers for the Workplace
December 14, 2009 by Robin Saunders
Filed under Health Fitness
Many employers would make it mandatory for potential employees to take a breathalyzer test before being hired. Then there are also many companies out there that have decided to make their current employees take random alcohol testing. The problem with this was that while the concept was a good one, the testing was flawed.
The problem was, breathalyzers tests were done at a different location, and had to be by appointment. So the selected employee or employee hopeful had advanced notice as to when he or she would take the test. That knowledge made the test easy to pass, they just had to abstain from drinking the day prior to the test. After that, they could use alcohol again, it would even be possible for them to drink after the test and come to work drunk.
Older breathalyzer tests moved companies in the right direction, unfortunately, they ended up being a waste of time and money. Since people had advance knowledge, and were able to control the test results so easily, employees were rarely caught drinking.
Advancements to newer model breathalyzers provide more benefits to employers. Portable breathalyzers are now the norm, and they typically include a keypad and printer integral to the unit, along with internal memory storage. As the technology is so much less expensive, any interested company should be able to afford one. The breathalyzer test can now be accomplished in real time, making random breath tests much more accurate and effective. The ability to obtain immediate testing makes it much easier to prove if an employee has in fact been under the influence of alcohol on the job.
In addition, there is a lesser chance of a mistake with the results because of the fuel cell technology that is being used. This makes the new breathalyzers not sensitive to all chemical substances, like the previous models, which can result in a false positive result. The newer breathalyzers will only detect and give a positive reading if there is ethyl alcohol found and that is not able to register with any other kinds of substances that would have a similar structure to alcohol.
High quality breathalyzers are 99.99% accurate. Employers can trust the results to be correct. Employees who have had a positive reading have a lot less wiggle room. It would be very difficult to dispute a reading with that high of accuracy.
Breathalyzer technology is now so much more timely and accurate, employees know they cannot be successful in hiding alcoholic consumption on a break or during lunch. Drinking on the job is completely unacceptable. Now employers have the tool to prevent it, which protects their business interests, the consumer, and other employees from danger.
Written by Robin Saunders, an accomplished writer that tackles different subjects including alcohol, breathalyzers, DUI etc. The author uses an Alcohawk himself, get one for you and your family.
