The documents provided do not directly address whether drug testing is considered an incident. However, they do discuss incident investigations and reporting requirements.
Generally, an incident is an unplanned event that results in, or could have resulted in, injury, illness, or damage. Whether a drug test is considered an incident depends on the circumstances. For example, if a drug test is administered following an accident or near-miss, it would likely be part of the incident investigation [1]. The purpose of incident investigation is to learn from past experiences and prevent future mistakes [2].
Incident investigations should be initiated promptly, ideally within 48 hours of the incident 3, 9. A multidisciplinary team should be assembled to investigate, gather facts, analyze the event, and develop plausible scenarios 6, 7. The focus should be on obtaining facts, not placing blame 6, 7.
The incident investigation report should include the date of the incident, the date the investigation began, a description of the incident, contributing factors, and recommendations 3, 9. The report should be reviewed with affected personnel, and resolutions and corrective actions should be documented [3]. Incident investigation reports should be retained for five years 2, 3.
If the drug test reveals that an employee is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, this could be a contributing factor to the incident and should be documented in the investigation report.
Important Safety Note:
Always verify safety information with your organization's specific guidelines and local regulations.
References
Page links are approximateRules for the Administration of the Oregon Safe Employment Act (General Occupational Safety and Health, Division 2, OSHA Oregon)
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