Fingerprint drug test rolled out across engineering service group Quartzelec’s UK-based portfolio of companies

02.04.2021

Quartzelec Drug Testing

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Fingerprint drug test rolled out across engineering service group Quartzelec’s UK-based portfolio of companies

  • Portable test enables flexible drug testing on-demand, from 1-100 tests, all managed in-house with results in minutes
  • Ability to test with full social distancing a major benefit for Quartzelec
  • “Intelligent Fingerprinting’s drug tests mean that, for the first time, Quartzelec will have a proactive Drug Policy in place. Fingerprint-based testing gives us the flexibility to test when and where we need to across our multiple sites – random, for cause or post-incident – to help make our group of companies as safe as safe can be,” – Lindsey Moffitt, HR Director, Quartzelec

Quartzelec, the £66m turnover provider of electrical contracting and rotating machines services, and a leading independent engineering service provider, is rolling out fingerprint drug testing from Intelligent Fingerprinting for some 450+ UK-based employees.

The Intelligent Fingerprinting test can be managed in-house by the Quartzelec HR team, with the simple portable drug testing system used by each of the company’s three SHEQ Advisors (Safety, Health, Environment and Quality) to carry out random, for cause and post-incident drug testing. With all of their business units included in the proactive drug testing drive, the three SHEQ Advisors will be trained (remotely) to carry out tests as part of their standard site visits. Quartzelec has set a goal to randomly test 10% of its workforce annually to encourage drug policy adherence. This will help ensure that staff are fit for duty for their own, their colleagues’ and their clients’ safety, as well as protecting Quartzelec’s best practice reputation.

Commenting on the project, Lindsey Moffitt – Quartzelec’s HR Director said: “We have purchased three fingerprint drug testing systems to equip each of our three SHEQ Advisors covering all our UK locations. Intelligent Fingerprinting’s innovative system will allow us to mobilise quickly when we believe a test needs to be performed, while rapid on-site results will enable us to react accordingly.

“Last year, before we introduced fingerprint drug testing, we had a rare ‘for cause’ requirement to test that ended up taking many hours and proved expensive for an external provider to conduct just eight tests. Our organisation is extremely committed to safety best practice, with this example triggering an investigation into appropriate in-house testing methods that could help us to improve our reaction time, be more cost-effective and also be more flexible in terms of proactive testing. After looking at a range of options we chose Intelligent Fingerprinting as its approach gives Quartzelec the in-house control and flexibility to test as and when we want.

“Due to the fact we have a large number of field-based engineers, it would have been time-consuming and disruptive to have them all come to one site for testing. This not only would have resulted in unproductive travel time, but would also have removed the element of surprise testing. With Intelligent Fingerprinting’s portable solution, we’re now able to test anywhere from one to 100 tests on-site as required, whenever and wherever our employees meet with our SHEQ Advisors – and it only takes minutes to collect a sample.

“Intelligent Fingerprinting’s drug tests and alcohol breathalysers will enable Quartzelec to make our Drug and Alcohol Policy proactive for the first time. Fingerprint-based drug screening gives us the flexibility to test when and where we need to across our multiple sites – random, for cause or post-incident– to make our group of companies as safe as safe can be. Additionally, the fact that the test can be carried out with full social distancing is a major benefit for us,” concluded Lindsey Moffitt.

Quartzelec will also deploy a separate alcohol breathalyser supplied by Intelligent Fingerprinting to support its employee alcohol policy.

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 Quartzelec
An unrivalled service partner in both UK and Global markets, Quartzelec is an independent organisation, employing 580 people with a turnover in excess of £66 million. Quartzelec is recognised as a technical authority in the field of rotating electrical machines, supporting the OEM and owner/operator for new equipment as well as the maintenance, repair and operators market. The electrical contracting businesses deliver a growing portfolio of prestigious projects and currently operate and maintain more than 5000 HV customer assets at over 500 customer sites across the UK.
www.quartzelec.com

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