Project (P.R) About Elssi

ELSSI worldwide Drug & Alcohol analytical services

Class: P.R. Techniques

Student’s name: Georgatou Alexandra

1


It has been mentioned that in many countries there is lack of

information to people about how important is the testing in ships. There are

many questions which the answers aren’t known to many of us. Have you

ever consider how many accidents caused because of lack in testing to the

crew? During which season do most workplace accidents happen? And one

of the most important is how many workers are injured in the “work zone”

each year? According to the federal government Household Survey on Drug

Abuse 73 percent of all illegal drug users 18 and older are users. Ninety

percent of alcoholics work. That means that one out of six is employee. The

alcohol and drug testing has as goal to determine probable cause in major

transportation accidents, after documenting numerous maritime accidents in

which drug and alcohol testing was done improperly. If an employee use

illegal drugs like marijuana, cocaine and alcohol that affects their ability to do

their work properly and that has as result the cause of accident not only to the

people who are in the ship but also to the other people who work in the ship.

There is a company although which tries to eliminate all these accidents and

tries to control the people who work in a ship as far as concerns the use of

alcohol and drugs and it’s known as ELSSI.

E- EURO

L- LABORATORY

S- SERVICES

S- SHIPPING

I- INDUSTRY

2


About ELSSI

ELSSI was formed in 1993 with one mission to learn more about the

needs and the demands of the Shipping Industry. It is organised through

supervision and witnessing of procedure. By identification of sample and

sample security and finally through specially designed, COC Form, providing

full documentation. Until then was a worry for putting in practice a

Drug/Alcohol Policy so it could support the US Pollution Act. Today has

practice in 35 countries and used in many industries such as shipping,

aviation, petroleum sector, mass transportation, insurance companies,

factories and in many others industries. It exceeds the requirements of all the

Organizations that are concerned with Drug Testing and the US Coast Guard.

The ELSSI program is based on a SAMHSA (the highest US Accreditation

available) Approved Lab for Testing and a Medical Review Officer Service.

Vision

ELSSI has as main vision to eliminate as much as possible the

accidents not only in ships but in every industry and company and to protect

the rights of both employee and employer. It is believed that within 2-3 years it

will be compulsory for all types of ships and most forms of mass

transportation, sea/land structures, etc.

3


Types of testing

ELSSI uses five ways of testing. The first is the pre employment

which is used as a way of screening job applicants who are currently using

drugs or alcohol inappropriately. Second is the use of post-accident which

it takes place following an accident. Third is the reasonable suspicion

testing or “for cause” testing is based on an employer’s reasonable belief

that a worker may be using drugs or alcohol. Fourth is the random which

is probably the best test because it is unpredictable and un-announced and is

considered very effective at discouraging the use. Fifth is he return to duty

which takes place before the employee returns to his/her work. Finally the

sixth is the post rehabilitation, is a form of random testing, which takes place

to employees after they return to their work and they have followed a

treatment.

Mission

A nationwide survey of employees, conducted by Roper Starch for the

California-based Managed Health Network showed that the use of alcohol,

which it might be legal but is a kind of drug, and drugs are the number one

cause of accidents in the workplace. ELSSI wants to provide a substance

abuse program; drug/alcohol testing that fully meets not only international

specifications for forensic analysis but conforms to all US standards and

includes the following services:

4


• Urine collecting on board ship currently in 550
• Collection sites by trained personnel
• Collector to be equipped with sampling bottles and chain of custody
forms
• Couriers services of urine samples to U.S.A. lab under chain of
protective procedures
• Testing of samples for 10 drugs and alcohol

The Advantages

• The most cost effective, highest quality drug testing program services
available worldwide.
• Highest accreditation internationally: Substance Abuse of Mental and
Health Services Association (S.A.M.H.S.A.) approved Laboratories in
U.S.A.
• Very Competitive Prices. We "monitor" your testing needs and choose
"economics ports". The savings realized from collection and courier
costs are shared with our clients.
• ELSSI Services are offered internationally in 500 ports.
• Collectors are doctors/nurses or trained marine surveyors.
• Legal services and expert testimony.
• Minimum administration for clients.
• Sampling kits are available to meet emergencies and U.S. Coast
Guard requirements.

5


Objectives

The whole program tries to make sure that no one employee has use drugs in

the workplace and if he/she does it will identify him properly. There are many

methods and techniques that can be used but the criteria for which of these

techniques should be used must be the most effective and the one which

provides the most reliable, truth and clear result of all. Safeguard life, property

and the environment, caring for the human elements are some of the ELSSI

objectives.

Goals

ELSSI goals are:

To control as much as possible the accidents
which have been caused by employees in use.

Screen job applicants who may misuse drugs or
alcohol.

Control health care costs.

Determine on the job use.

Maintain a competitive edge.

6


Legal Aspects

Unfortunately Drug & Alcohol Testing is disregarding here in Greece.

The only exception is the Shipping Industry. Generally the policy against the

Drug and Alcohol use is very well known in many countries (Germany, France

and mainly in the United States), in all public agencies and in 95% in private

organizations.

All these collections are totally accepted from the U.S court (U.S

Supreme Court).

Legally defensible testing for drugs and alcohol

• Chain of custody (COC) procedure to safeguard the integrity of the

sample.

• An effective two stage analytical procedure for drug abuse detection

combined with Medical Review Officer (MRO) Service to ensure that

suspected drug is identified properly and conversely, that no on will be

falsely accused of drug abuse. This is an absolute necessity in order to

protect both employee and employer.

• Samples tested positive are stored for one year for litigation purposes.

• The analyst must have at least 10 years forensic analytical experience

to qualify as an operative for drug analysis.

7


Conclusion

ELSSI has succeeded in making many employees consider drug testing and

according to American Management Association 90% of them believes that is

a very effective program. Employees from all the industries and companies of

all sizes are turning to drug and alcohol testing as way to send a message

that work and drugs do not mix. The ELSSI program fully meets all

international specifications for forensic analysis, conforms to stringent U.S

standards and is very competitive. No investment, administration or credit risk.

Some things to remember:

• Involve employees
• Emphasize fairness
• Protect confidentiality
• Ensure proper use of program
• Ask for legal review
• Pay attention to human factor
• COMMUNICATE
• Stay current
• Address concerns and barriers

8


Bibliography

1. www.hrresourses.com

2. www.cnn.com

3. www.ukp&iclub.com (Serious marine incident)

4. www.elssi.eu

5. Book: ‘’The truth about drug testing’’, (William E. Current & Robert
M. Stutman).

9


ARTICLE

“Addressing the Issue of Substance Abuse in the Workplace”

Drug abuse, has become the scourge of the civilized world threatening not
only the health and life of the community, but the very fabric of our society,
our family. Drugs are of concern to all of us. They kill, they maim and they
destroy our quality of life. They undermine economies, tear apart families,
promote and sustain criminal activity. The drug habit recognizes no barriers,
color, race, religion, sex, age or social standing.

According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
(EMCDDA), the workplace is a setting, which seems to be “ripe” for the further
development of drug demand reduction activities.

Definitions of Substance Abuse

What does substance abuse mean and what does it include?
The abused substances can include a wide variety of chemical compounds,
but let’s describe how some of these are “abused”.

1. The use of alcohol, definitely classified as a narcotic, in quantities
which negatively affects our ability for working, driving, etc.
2. The use of illegal drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and heroin.
3. The misuse of legal drugs such as prescription drugs and over-the
counter medications. For example, the use of someone else’s
prescription drugs, for other purposes than those intended.

We can further classify abused substances as any chemical compound that
can affect our perceptive system, which when abused can cause the following
results:

1. Harm to him/her self;
2. The possibility of potential harm;
3. Actual or potential harm to another person;
4. Harm to the community, to his company, etc.

Basic Drug Classification

The most commonly abused substance by world-wide workforce is…alcohol.
Marijuana is the most frequent used illegal drug.

10


Alcohol

Alcohol derives its name from the Arabic world ‘Al Kuhal’ but no one knows
when and by whom it was first used. It is believed that it is the oldest and
most frequently abused substance, dating back to 7000 BC.
Les us further classify some of the known abused substances by order of their
increasing affect on our perceptive system.
Types of testing – When to Test

There are basically six types of testing from which there are many variations. They
are:

• Pre-Employment: used for screening job applicants.
• Post- Accident: following an accident.
• Reasonable Suspicion: based on employer’s reasonable belief
requiring at the same time proper documentation procedures.
• Random: highly effective type because it is unpredictable and un-
announced.
• Return to duty: following substance abuse rehabilitation leave.
• Post rehabilitation: taking place for a specified period of time after an
employee returns to duty following rehabilitation.

Shipping Industry

Over 80% of marine accidents are caused by human error, as per IMO –

International Maritime Organization. Serious disasters at sea have forced a

series of actions to be taken by National and International Organizations and

Governments to reduce the incidence of marine accidents

Substance abuse management programs when properly executed will

protect the interests of both employer and employee. They have proven to be

a powerful deterrent to drug use, motivating many drug users to think twice

before jeopardizing their long-term employment opportunities for the short

term pleasure they might perceive from illegal drug use.

11


12

Project (P.R) About Elssi

Recomendados

Recomendados

Mais conteúdo relacionado

Semelhante a Project (P.R) About Elssi

Semelhante a Project (P.R) About Elssi (20)

Project (P.R) About Elssi