Importance of Drug Screening in Construction and Transportation
In the United States, 15 million Americans have an alcohol use disorder and 69% of substance abusers are employed full or part time. With the construction industry having one of the highest rates of drug and alcohol abuse across sectors and transportation having a large impact on public safety, drug screening programs are essential to keeping employees and businesses safe.
Because of the high-risk nature of both industries and the increased potential of work-related incidents one could encounter, continuous drug screening procedures are essential during the interview process and throughout employment.
Transportation
The transportation industry consists of several sectors including air freight and logistics, airlines, marine, road and rail, and transportation infrastructure. According to the Department of Transportation, transportation and transportation-related industries employ over 13 million people, accounting for 9% of workers in the United States.
Transportation has the biggest impact on public safety. Whether by rail, road, water, or air, this industry is responsible for moving people and products from one point to another.
In relation to substance abuse in this industry, truck drivers account for 19% of substance abuse and airplane pilots are commonly arrested for attempting to fly while under the influence. Though drug and alcohol testing is enforced, results are not immediate and the potential danger caused could be drastic.
Construction
The five primary sectors of the construction industry are residential, commercial, heavy civil, industrial, and environmental construction. Within these sectors, nearly 11.2 million people in the United States work in the construction industry. The construction industry has one of the highest rates of drug and alcohol abuse and 40% of construction fatalities are related to substance abuse.
Similarly to the transportation industry, construction companies require drug screenings throughout employment. Because results are not immediate, EyeGage technology can be used to prevent fatal accidents by having employees screen their eyes before operating heavy machinery.
Drug Screening Innovation
An innovation to current drug screening methods, EyeGage technology is being developed and tested to assist targeted industries, including transportation and construction, to prevent fatal accidents by developing computer vision algorithms to detect and measure alcohol consumption by analyzing characteristics of the eye.
Current drug screening measurements including blood, breath and urine testing are not always immediate or accurate. Where EyeGage can assist in the safety of these industries is by providing:
- Quick reporting and identification of drugs and/or alcohol in employees system
- Measurements of concentration levels of used substances
- Estimates of impairment level on a scale of 1-10
For these reasons, EyeGage can improve the overall safety protocols within the transportation and construction industries in real time and help keep millions of Americans safe. EyeGage is able to categorize substances including alcohol, marijuana, amphetamines, opiates and benzodiazepines through its mobile application; which can decrease accidents or injuries before operating vehicles or heavy equipment.
