Cod Beck Blenders puts safety first with adoption of fingerprint drug testing

09.16.2021

Cod Beck Blenders

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Cod Beck Blenders puts safety first with adoption of fingerprint drug testing

  • Intelligent Fingerprinting tests enable random in-house testing on demand, for the first time, to increase employee safety
  • “With drug testing, people don’t challenge the result, they challenge the process, and we know that the Intelligent Fingerprinting system is robust,”  Wayne Harrison, Environment, Health and Safety Manager

Cod Beck Blenders, one of the UK’s leading providers of toll and contract manufacturing services for the food, food additives, veterinary medicines and speciality chemicals sectors, has adopted Intelligent Fingerprinting’s 10-minute fingerprint-based workplace drug testing kit at its purpose-built eight-acre manufacturing site in North Yorkshire. The use of fingerprint drug testing supports the company’s proactive employee welfare and safety policy. Cod Beck Blenders is also deploying alcohol breathalyser tests supplied by Intelligent Fingerprinting, enabling random in-house drug and alcohol testing, on-site, on demand for the first time.

Cod Beck Blenders provides appointments with an occupational nurse every month for employee health checks and wellness support to promote safety for all in the workplace. Previously, check-ups included drug and alcohol tests but, with the date and time of these appointments shared in advance, there was no element of random testing. In addition, the tests were urine-based and samples had to be sent away for analysis, with a three-day wait for results. Cod Beck Blenders felt that being able to conduct random on-site tests would enhance its best practice employee health and safety initiatives and support its proactive drug and alcohol policies. After investigating a range of market options, the company decided to adopt fingerprint drug testing from Intelligent Fingerprinting.

Intelligent Fingerprinting’s simple fingerprint-based sweat test takes around 10 minutes to screen for cocaine, cannabis, opiates and methamphetamine. Hygienic and easy to use, it offers a more dignified and convenient approach to drug testing than conventional tests which require urine or saliva samples.

Wayne Harrison, Environment, Health and Safety Manager at Cod Beck Blenders explains: “Safety for all at our manufacturing and processing plant is a huge part of our company ethos. Employees are not only managing fork-lift trucks and processing machinery, but also handling animal medicines and regulated products so they always need to be alert. Cod Beck Blenders has a proactive approach to drug and alcohol policy adherence as part of its occupational health and support service activities. However, while we’re confident that we don’t have any issues at the plant, we were keen to refine our testing approach. We’re pleased that we have been able to bring both drug and alcohol tests in-house with the help of Intelligent Fingerprinting.

“The fingerprint drug test and alcohol breathalyser tests from Intelligent Fingerprinting are both highly convenient for us. We have found the fingerprint drug test to be non-invasive, and much more hygienic than our previous urine-based tests. Most importantly for us, we can now have results in just ten minutes – a major improvement over our previous 72-hour wait for urine drug test results,” continued Wayne. “In my experience with drug testing, people don’t challenge the result, they challenge the process and we know that the Intelligent Fingerprinting system is robust. At the same time, it is exceptionally easy for us to test in-house. We’ve also been able to broaden our testing capabilities, and we now have multiple members of the team – HR, HS, Management, Night Shift Controller – who can conduct the test 24/7 if required.”

Dr Paul Yates of Intelligent Fingerprinting adds: “Cod Beck Blenders are currently using the drug and alcohol tests for random testing or ‘for cause’ if a situation ever arises. And, now that the company has drug testing kits available at all times in-house, they have the control to increase or decrease testing as required – they can also extend use to support recruitment at a later stage. This is another example of how Intelligent Fingerprinting provides easy to use workplace drug testing kits for organisations to control at their convenience.”

Fingerprint-based drug testing – how it works
Intelligent Fingerprinting’s drug testing system features a small, tamper-evident drug screening cartridge onto which ten fingerprint sweat samples are collected, in a process which takes less than a minute. The Intelligent Fingerprinting portable analysis unit then reads the cartridge and provides a positive or negative result on-screen for all drugs in the test in ten minutes.

An introductory video demonstrating fingerprint-based drug testing in action is available here.

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For media information contact Cheryl Billson at Comma
Email: cheryl.billson@commacomms.com  Tel: +44 (0)7791 720460

About Intelligent Fingerprinting
Intelligent Fingerprinting’s portable Drug Screening System works by analysing fingerprint sweat. It is non-invasive, fast and cost-effective, with sample collection taking seconds and simultaneous screening for multiple drug groups in ten minutes. A laboratory confirmation service is also available.

The system has applications within many sectors and customers include employers in safety-critical industries such as construction, transport and logistics firms, drug treatment and family safeguarding organisations, as well as UK coroners. The company has distributors across the globe, including the USA.

Founded in 2007, Intelligent Fingerprinting is a spin-out company from the University of East Anglia (UEA).  The company is based in Cambridge, England and employs around 40 people. www.intelligentfingerprinting.com

Twitter @iFingerprinting

About Cod Beck Blenders
Operating since 1988, Cod Beck Blenders serves world leading clients across a wide range of industries, from food ingredients and animal feed additives to veterinary medicines and pharmaceutical products. The company provides toll and custom manufacturing of both intermediate and finished products. Its purpose-built eight-acre site in North Yorkshire includes six dedicated units, enabling the company to offer a full range of services including blending, packing and specialised chemical drying of powders and liquids.

With accreditations and licences from the leading industry bodies, consistently delivering contract manufacturing excellence is at the heart of company ethos. As well as offering a high level of operational skills and sound technical expertise, the company has rigorous procedures in place to deliver an effective quality system and ensure safe product stewardship. www.codbeckblenders.co.uk

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