Construction work is fast, physical, and full of moving parts. At that constant forward pace, a meaningful and compliant drug and alcohol program can feel like a nuisance that’s in constant opposition to your schedule. But not only is drug testing a meaningful way to keep your job sites safe places to work, it also doesn’t have to be a significant drain on time and resources. Onsite testing takes compliant drug testing to your job sites instead of pulling workers away from their work.
Below is a practical look at how mobile collections strengthen compliance for builders and trades without weakening your ability to meet deadlines. You’ll also find some simple steps any safety manager can use this month, and details about how to pick the right drug testing partner.
Why construction programs benefit from onsite testing
Let’s start with the basics. Why should a construction company or program consider onsite mobile drug testing? Here are the top 4 benefits we’ve seen in this unique industry.
Less downtime and fewer missed tests.
Getting employees to a clinic can turn into half a day lost, especially when jobs are remote or traffic is heavy. Onsite collections cut that time, which makes it easier to hit random selections, post-accident windows, and start-of-shift testing without throwing off production. Butterfield Testing Solutions runs 24/7 onsite drug and alcohol testing across Oregon, which helps crews meet program timelines on early mornings, swing shift, and weekends.
Better alignment with triggers that drive compliance.
Construction programs often include pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident testing. When a collector comes to the job trailer or laydown yard, the team can act right away after an incident or when signs of impairment appear. Butterfield supports post-accident, randomized, and pre-employment testing at the worksite, which maps well to how field teams operate.
Alcohol testing that fits real job-site needs.
Breath alcohol testing is a mainstay for both DOT and non-DOT policy testing. Some employers also use touch-based alcohol detection for quick, non-invasive checks. Butterfield offers breath testing and touch alcohol testing, both delivered onsite.
Clear documentation and secure chain of custody.
Good collections help avoid rejected results and audit headaches. A provider that focuses on onsite work tends to be ready for high headcount, changing locations, and limited space on site. Butterfield’s pages highlight high-volume collections, accurate paperwork, and responsive staff, which are the small details that keep audits calm later.
The DOT: Unique Compliance Requirements
Many construction firms run DOT-regulated fleets for lowboys, dumps, or service trucks. For those drivers, the FMCSA Clearinghouse and supervisor training requirements apply.
Supervisors who oversee CDL drivers need live training that meets DOT drug testing rules. Butterfield offers reasonable suspicion training for supervisors, which helps leaders spot signs and document observations the right way. That can be the difference between a sound call and a dispute.
Smaller contractors and owner-operators can join a DOT consortium to meet random testing requirements. Butterfield’s consortium is available across the United States, which helps companies that move between states for projects.
Testing Methods that Match the Risk
Different test methods solve different problems on a specific job. The key is to match the method to the moment.
- Urine and oral fluid drug testing. Both are widely used. Oral fluid is observed by design and is useful when you care about recent use. Butterfield performs onsite collections for these common methods.
- Breath alcohol testing. Fast, reliable, and common for post-accident and reasonable suspicion events. Butterfield supports onsite breath alcohol testing for DOT and non-DOT programs.
- Touch alcohol testing. Some job sites add touch-based alcohol checks for quick screening at gates or before safety-sensitive tasks. Butterfield offers this option as part of its onsite alcohol testing services.
The “right” testing approach is the right one for your needs, and one that will help you stay compliant.
Start Here to Tighten Up Compliance
If you’re looking for some steps you can take this month/quarter to ensure you’re on the right track for drug testing compliance, start with the 5-step guide here.
- Write down triggers and timing. Spell out when each test applies, who calls it, and the time windows you aim to meet. Butterfield’s onsite service menu maps to pre-employment, random, reasonable suspicion, and post-accident testing, so the field can match practice to policy.
- Train the people who make the call. Supervisors are the front line for reasonable suspicion. A live class builds confidence with signs, notes, and next steps. Butterfield provides supervisor training that meets DOT standards, which helps construction leaders document well in real conditions.
- Set your Clearinghouse routine. Buy query credits, decide who runs limited and full queries, and check your calendar so annual queries do not slip. Butterfield’s guidance shows the employer purchases the plan and can authorize its C/TPA to act on their behalf.
- Plan for nights and weekends. Put mobile testing numbers in the emergency plan and test your call tree. Because Butterfield covers onsite work 24/7, teams can get a collector to the scene rather than sending a driver across town at 3 a.m.
- Keep records close. Store training certificates, random selections, chain-of-custody forms, and results where auditors can find them. If you want help with documentation and record keeping, a TPA can handle many of those pieces. Butterfield offers Third Party Administrator services that cover program management and record maintenance.
Extra support construction teams often need
Collection methods often get a lot of the attention surrounding drug testing compliance. But construction safety managers also need to manage physicals, fit testing, and site access too.
With Butterfield Testing Solutions, drivers can complete exams at the job site or at our walk-in clinics in Bend and Sherwood. That flexibility keeps drivers in the field.
If your work takes you beyond Oregon, we provide collection support across the country and offer a DOT consortium open in all states. That helps when a project or shutdown pulls crews to another region.
Where Butterfield fits without fanfare
Great drug testing partners are able to blend into the workday so that you and your employees don’t feel like they’re being constantly pulled away from their work. Butterfield brings 24/7 onsite drug and alcohol testing for Oregon builders, supports high-volume hiring waves, and helps safety managers keep programs aligned with real job-site life. Our team offers breath and touch alcohol testing, oral fluid and urine collections, supervisor training that meets DOT rules, and TPA services for random pools, record keeping, and Clearinghouse support. For drivers near Bend or Sherwood, clinic access and onsite DOT physicals keep fleets moving.
Construction will always be about people as much as it’s about projects. When testing comes to the site, compliance becomes easier, simpler and safer at the same time. If you want a hand building a program that fits the way your crews actually work, Butterfield can meet you where you are and keep progress steady. Contact us today to learn more.