Why do Drug an Alcohol-free Policies Matter in Temp Recruitment?

In temporary recruitment, maintaining a safe and healthy workplace isn’t just best practice, it’s essential for business success. Employers, agencies, and labour providers share responsibility for ensuring temporary workers operate in environments free from drug and alcohol misuse.

Whether the role is based in an office, on a construction site, in a warehouse, or behind the wheel, the risks associated with substance misuse can be serious, not only for the individual involved but also for their colleagues, clients, and the reputation of the employer or agency.

Why Does Drug and Alcohol Testing Matter in Temp Work?

Substance misuse can impair judgment, coordination, reaction times, and decision-making abilities. All of these are critical in fast-paced or safety-sensitive roles, commonly filled by agency workers or temporary staff.

In sectors like construction, logistics, manufacturing, and healthcare, a single lapse caused by drug or alcohol impairment could result in an accident, injury, or worse. Beyond safety concerns, productivity, team morale, and trust can all be damaged when these issues are not addressed. For temporary employees, who are often placed into new working environments with minimal onboarding time, it’s even more important that standards around drug and alcohol use are clear and enforced from day one.

Legal Responsibilities for Employers and Agencies

In the UK, both end employers and recruitment agencies must comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, which requires taking reasonable steps to ensure a safe working environment. This includes making sure that temp workers are not under the influence of drugs or alcohol while on assignment.

Temp Recruitment agencies and employers alike should have clear policies in place and ensure they are consistently applied, not only to permanent staff but also to temps and contract workers. This reinforces a shared commitment to wellbeing and legal compliance across all levels of the workforce.

The Role of Drug and Alcohol Testing in Temp Recruitment

Incorporating drug and alcohol testing into your health and safety strategy isn’t about catching people out, it’s about prevention, protection, and early support. Testing also supports the development of a culture of accountability, where safety comes first and expectations are clear.

Common reasons for testing include:

• Pre-employment screening – particularly relevant for safety-critical or high-responsibility temp roles.
• Random testing – to discourage misuse and maintain safety standards across both permanent and temporary teams.
• For-cause testing – when impairment is suspected or following an incident.
• Post-incident testing – to determine whether drugs or alcohol played a role in an accident.

Supporting Temporary Workers

While testing is important, it should be backed by a compassionate and structured support framework. Temp recruitment agencies can play a proactive role by offering access to occupational health advice, Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs), or referrals to specialist support services when needed.

By promoting a supportive culture, businesses can help temporary workers feel valued and protected – even if they’re only on assignment for a short time.

Final Thoughts

Creating a drug and alcohol-free workplace isn’t just about legal compliance—it’s about prioritising safety and wellbeing for all workers.
This includes both permanent and temporary staff, ensuring they remain productive, supported, and able to work in a secure environment.

By combining clear policies, fair and consistent testing, and genuine employee support, employers and recruitment agencies can protect their people. In turn this reduces risks, and enhances their reputation. Ultimately, a safe workplace is a successful workplace, no matter how temporary the contract may be.