US data: Drug use, accidents correlated

DrugCheck Phils. Inc., the country’s leading drug-testing company, has released a study by the US National Institute on Drug Abuse outlining the correlation of drug use and the human factor in railroad accidents involving federal railroad management personnel.

Mylon Villasante, spokesperson of DrugCheck Phils., said, "These data from the US serve as an empirical evidence on the effect of drugs and the importance of detecting their use by employees early."

The study noted that in 1993, there were 911 "human factor accidents" (HFAs), resulting in property damage worth $6.4 million.

The year after the federal government instituted a random, mandatory and unannounced drug-testing program, HFAs decreased every year: 495 in 1994, 294 in 1995, 168 in 1996, 135 in 1997 and only 54 in 1998.

Property damage also went down every year after 1994. In the first year of the program, it went down to $5.4 million, or a decrease of 15 percent from the previous year.

In 1995, HFA damage was down to $4 million, or a 25.7 percent decrease from the previous year. 1996 saw the highest percentage decrease at 70.4 percent, with property damage placed only at $1.2 million.

At present, it is estimated that property damage would not surpass the $1-million mark and HFAs would not go beyond the target limit of 60.

Villasante said these data prove the efficacy of drug testing as an effective deterrent to workplace-related accidents.

"It is a proven fact that drugs blur the decision-making capacity of individuals. This is critical and dangerous if the person referred to is task with public safety," Villasante added.