Why you should include Pre-Employment testing in your hiring process

As a manager or supervisor, one of the most important parts of your job is hiring the right people for the job. You do everything you can to make sure your team is safe, reliable, and equipped to do their best work. In high-risk fields, that should also include pre-employment drug testing.  

You already conduct pre-employment screenings like interviews and criminal record checks, so why not take the next step in your due diligence and ensure your potential employees are fit and ready to perform their duties safely? Substance policies and safety standards are ever-evolving. In order to stay up to date, implementing pre-employment drug testing is a must. 

CannAmm offers a comprehensive range of pre-employment testing services and training, allowing you to uphold your substance use policy as a condition of employment.

What is Pre-Employment Testing?

Pre-employment testing refers to a range of assessments that employers may require candidates to complete before they officially begin work. These evaluations are typically a condition of employment and are used to confirm that an individual is physically and medically fit to perform the duties of their role. By identifying potential risks early, pre-employment testing helps organizations create a safer workplace for their employees, contractors, and clients, especially in safety-sensitive environments.

Importantly, pre-employment testing goes beyond drug and alcohol screening. It may include a combination of occupational health assessments, physical demands evaluations, audiometric testing, and other fit-for-work checks. These assessments are designed not only to verify that a candidate is not under the influence of substances, but also to ensure they are physically capable of meeting the demands of the job. This holistic approach supports injury prevention, enhances productivity, and reinforces a safety-first culture from day one.

Why is Pre-Employment Testing Important? 

As a supervisor, you do everything you can to ensure the health and safety of your staff and clients. Pre-employment testing is just another way to make sure everyone stays safe on the job, even before they start. Not only that, but your employees will trust you more, knowing that you have their best interests at heart and are carefully vetting potential team members. 

There are many benefits to pre-employment testing:

• Increased workplace safety: Pre-employment testing helps identify potential substance misuse or health concerns before a new hire steps onto the job site. This proactive approach protects your current workforce, reduces the likelihood of incidents or injuries, and helps maintain a safer environment for everyone. It also minimizes post-incident paperwork and investigation time, saving both hassle and resources.
• Legal and regulatory compliance: Health and safety regulations are constantly evolving, and many safety-sensitive industries now mandate pre-employment testing. By implementing these protocols today, you not only stay compliant with current standards but also future-proof your hiring practices, demonstrating a clear commitment to employee wellbeing and industry best practices.
• Cost savings: Investing in pre-employment screening helps prevent workplace accidents, long-term disability claims, and avoidable turnover. Fewer incidents mean lower insurance premiums, reduced time lost to injury, and fewer costly rehiring cycles, all of which contribute to significant long-term savings for your organization.

Legalization, Cutoff Levels, and Testing in Canada

Pre-employment drug testing after the legalization in Canada

As cannabis is now legal in Canada, you may be wondering how drug testing fits into the picture. The good news is that while cannabis is legal for recreational use outside of work, like alcohol, it is still extremely dangerous to use in work settings, especially in high-risk industries. Pre-employment drug testing can still be a valid and enforceable part of the hiring process for your company.

The risk that substance misuse brings to the workplace overrules any legal status of the drugs. Employers should have clear policies that are in line with the provincial laws on substance use at work. 

Pre-Employment Drug Testing Cutoff Levels Canada

The cut-off levels for drug and alcohol tests, whether for urine or oral fluid testing, are determined by companies, keeping in mind the capabilities of testing laboratories and available point-of-collection devices. At CannAmm, most clients choose cut-off levels that are based on the Canadian Model for Providing a Safe Workplace and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) concentration limits. There are a number of reasons these levels are set the way they are. First, to set a reasonable standard to ensure employees are safe and fit for duty. Second, to eliminate the possibility of testing positive for second-hand exposure. Third, with a standard such as this, we are able to hold all donors to the same expectations.

How to Integrate Testing Into Your Hiring Process

Incorporating pre-employment drug testing into your hiring process doesn’t have to be stressful. It can be smooth and seamless with the right approach. Here’s a step-by-step checklist to help you through it:

1. Create or update your workplace policy: Ensure that your existing drug and alcohol policy is current, matches legal requirements, and outlines all testing expectations, both pre- and post-employment. Typically, potential employees are tested after a conditional offer of employment is made, but make sure the exact timing is included in your policy and communicated to all employees and candidates. 
2. Communicate with candidates: On the job advertisement and during the hiring process, make sure you let applicants know that testing is part of the process, to maintain a fair hiring process.
3. Choose a trusted testing provider and train your team: CannAmm offers comprehensive online training programs so you can manage everything in one handy online portal.
4. Record test results: Thanks to CannAmm’s secure online portal, all of your testing records and results can be safely stored and accessed in one centralized location. This not only streamlines documentation but also ensures you maintain the detailed records required for legal and compliance purposes.

Following these simple steps, you’ll be set up for success in no time. 

What Employers Need to Know

A lot of planning and consideration goes into implementing pre-employment testing in your hiring process. This involves planning, updating policies, and ensuring ongoing communication with your staff and potential employees. 

As an employer, you will need to apply testing consistently and uniformly across all candidates to avoid bias or discrimination. If you test some candidates but not others, you could be subject to legal risk. 

As noted earlier, it’s important to ensure that potential candidates are informed about pre-employment testing requirements early in the hiring process. Whenever possible, include this information in the job posting and reinforce it during the interview and offer stages. Clear communication helps manage expectations, promotes transparency, and reduces the likelihood of delays or misunderstandings later on.

It’s essential to have a clear policy in place for managing non-negative or positive test results. What steps will your organization take if a candidate’s test indicates potential substance use? Before making any employment decisions, results must be reviewed and interpreted by a qualified Medical Review Officer (MRO) to confirm whether there is a legitimate medical explanation, such as prescribed medication. This process ensures fairness, protects candidate privacy, and helps ensure that any final decision is based on a medically validated report, not just a laboratory result.

Why Choose CannAmm?

With access to over 3,500 collection sites across Canada, CannAmm makes pre-employment testing fast, accessible, and convenient, no matter where your candidates are located. Our testing specialists are well-versed in current protocols and legal requirements, helping you meet HR and safety compliance standards with confidence.

Ready to learn more about pre-employment testing? 

Contact CannAmm today to get started.