The fact that drugs and alcohol can be dangerous in the workplace is nothing new. The partial legalization of cannabis added another challenge for companies a year ago. Daniel Budde, measurement technology expert at the company Dräger, explains in the Basi interview the possibilities of recognizing intoxication in employees and curbing risks.

What specific challenges have the companies you advise faced in terms of workplace safety since the legalization of cannabis?

Budde: It’s about preventing dangers for others that can arise from people who use cannabis or other drugs. After all, employees are obliged to be able to perform their work in full. People who smoke pot and then turn up for work are generally unable to do so. They also pose a potential risk to colleagues. Take an employee who drives an industrial truck under the influence of drugs and injures others as a result. Companies must prevent this – which is hardly possible by simply observing people. Only in rare cases will it become apparent that someone is not concentrating or has memory lapses due to intoxication.

What measures have proven effective in ensuring that employees do not pose a risk?

Budde: I have been working with the police for almost 18 years, but also with the industry, to detect the consumption of intoxicants at the wheel or during working hours. It is possible to detect substances in blood or urine. What is new, however, is the possibility of a saliva test – similar to the one we know from the coronavirus era. This involves taking a sample of saliva or liquid from the inside of the cheek using a sampler. These tests reliably show whether active drug ingredients are present in the body. After all, it is not a question of whether this happened the night before during leisure time. The saliva tests have proven to be reliable for such short-term assessments. Five to six substances can be detected after five minutes and if there is any uncertainty, the test can be repeated. The procedure cannot be influenced by mouthwashes or similar and therefore represents a sensible change in technology in my view.

How and when can saliva tests be used in companies?

Budde: That is very different. It is possible to test people who are suspected of being unfit for work. However, some companies also test all employees at random – or they do this at the start of a shift, for example before employees enter a large construction site. After an accident, the measurement procedure can be used to determine whether drugs were involved. When it comes to preventing risks in hazardous areas such as oil refineries or nuclear power plants, this is usually done via access controls with corresponding measurements.

Are there any training or educational programs in this context?

Budde: If a company wants to use such tests, a company agreement is required in any case – the works council must give its consent. A plan B must also be considered if employees do not agree to such a test. There is then the option of releasing them if there are justified doubts about their ability to work. The tests themselves are not medical devices and are therefore not subject to occupational health and safety regulation. The application is self-explanatory and videos are available, but users can also be instructed on request. Apps can be used to document the test results.

Have accident statistics and safety incidents in businesses changed since the partial legalization of cannabis?

Budde: We don’t have any precise figures on this yet – but we do know that five to ten percent of people have tested positive for cannabis on the roads since then. And we can assume that a number of these people are either on their way to or from work.

Further information can be found on the website of the BGRCI (Berufsgenossenschaft Rohstoffe und Chemische Industrie)