Drug and Alcohol Screening
Rapid, reliable Drug and Alcohol Screening medicals for offshore, onshore and seafarers
Drug and Alcohol screening is not mandatory for offshore medicals. Some employers do require that that are done, especially for pre-employment medicals such as Saipem and QatarGas etc. We offer 10, 12 and 18 point Urine or Saliva Drug screening.
North East Offshore Medicals
We are conveniently located for easy access by car or public transport. We have free parking so you can avoid city centre parking hassles and long wait times. We provide rapid assessments for those in South Tyneside and throughout the North East. Most medical checkups take under 30 minutes. We issue electronic PDF certificates on the spot and offer evening and Saturday appointments.
Why Choose Us
At South Tyneside Offshore Medicals, we offer friendly and professional services to help you meet specific medical requirements, from OEUK, RUK and Chester step tests to fit to train and return to work medicals.
Short Notice Appointments
We understand that offshore deployment dates can change at a moment's notice. To support energy and maritime workers, our clinic prioritises short-notice and last-minute bookings for OEUK (formerly OGUK) medical assessments.
Competitive Pricing
At South Tyneside Offshore Medicals North East, we deliver tier-one offshore medical services designed to minimize your total cost of ownership while maximizing workforce uptime.
Fast and Efficient
Most medicals generally completed in under 30 minutes. We strive to help you pass your medicals on the day Where an unforeseeable issue is identified at the medical, we provide the opportunity to delay or reschedule Electronic Certificates issued in PDF format for ease of sharing
Book a Consultation
We aim to respond to all enquiries within 48 hours. If you need a quicker response please contact us via phone. 07977462121
FAQs
South Tyneside Offshore Medicals offers alcohol and drugs testing to the European Workplace Drug Testing Society Standards for urine testing using instant point of contact testing and chain of custody procedures being employed where non-negative results are found. Alcohol breath test is carried out using Home Office approved breathalysers which are calibrated on a 6-monthly basis. Companies must have a drugs and alcohol policy in place prior to testing and they should have a clear process for managing employees who have positive and non-negative results.
- Urine Testing: This is a highly accurate method for detecting a wide range of substances and can provide a longer detection window. The sample is collected in a private, supervised setting to ensure the integrity of the sample.
- Saliva (Oral Fluid) Testing: This is a less intrusive method that can be performed on-site and provides an instant result for recent drug use.
- For alcohol, a breathalyser test is the standard method, providing an immediate reading of alcohol levels in the breath.
- Employees with a drink/drugs problem have the same rights to confidentiality and support as they would if they had any other medical or psychological condition.
- Disciplinary action should be a last resort. A court may find a dismissal unfair if an employer has made no attempt to help an employee whose work problems are related to drinking alcohol.
- The cost of recruiting and training a replacement may be greater than the cost of allowing someone time off to obtain expert help.
- Many people with an alcohol/drugs problem are able in time to regain full control over their drinking and return to their previous work performance.
- It may be very difficult for people to admit to themselves or others that their drinking is out of control or their weekend recreational drug use is impacting on their fitness for work during the week. They need to know that you will treat their drinking/drugs problem as a health problem rather than an immediate cause for dismissal or disciplinary action.
- If employees’ drinking/drugs use is a matter of concern, they should be encouraged to seek help from their GP or a specialist addiction agency.
- Drug or alcohol addiction or misuse is not considered to be a disability unless they have ill health effects as a result of this such as liver failure.
A drug and alcohol policy is essential to manage any employees who appear to be under the influence of these substances at work. Guidance on Alcohol and Drugs Policies are available from ACAS and the HSE.
Policies should identify the company’s stance on drugs and alcohol in the workplace. Phrases such as ‘under the influence of’ drugs or alcohol are arbitrary without clearly clarifying the definition. South Tyneside Offshore Medicals recommends that it is defined as a ‘zero-tolerance’ to drugs and alcohol to avoid appeals on the grounds of what is a ‘safe’ level within the body. Each person is different and in the case of some drugs, the dose-response rate varies too much to be able to identify ‘safe’ levels.
Policies should refer to the use of tests under varied circumstances – pre-employment, random or for cause – to determine whether an individual is ‘under the influence’ of drugs or alcohol and in breach of company policy. It should also explain how employees with identified problems will be managed.
The offshore environment demands the highest levels of alertness, coordination, and physical ability. Substance misuse can severely compromise safety and operational integrity, putting lives, assets, and reputations at risk.
Routine and random drug and alcohol screening is not just a compliance checkbox—it's a critical risk management tool that helps:
- Prevent accidents and injuries
- Protect company assets
- Promote employee wellbeing
- Maintain compliance with OEUK and international safety standards
- Build trust with partners, stakeholders, and regulators
Drug and Alcohol Testing Services Ltd offers a full range of testing methodologies, including:
Drug Testing:
- Urine Testing – Ideal for detecting recent drug use; suitable for random or scheduled screening.
- Oral Fluid (Saliva) Testing - Fast and minimally invasive; often used for for-cause and post-incident scenarios.
Alcohol Testing:
- Breath Alcohol Testing - Instant results using calibrated breathalyser equipment; suitable for all screening scenarios.
All tests are conducted using chain of custody protocols and laboratory confirmation where required, ensuring results are legally defensible and meet OEUK compliance standards.
South Tyneside Offshore Medicals understands that substance misuse is a sensitive issue. Their approach combines professionalism, discretion, and support, helping employers create a positive safety culture while ensuring compliance.
They also assist clients in developing or updating their substance misuse policies, offering training and guidance for management and HR teams.
If you knowingly allow an employee under the influence of excess alcohol or drugs to continue working and this places the employee or others at risk, you could be prosecuted.
You may also be at risk of prosecution under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 if an employee is found in possession of large quantities of drugs on your site with intent to supply and steps have not been taken to manage it legally.
The Transport and Works Act 1992 makes it a criminal offence for certain workers to be unfit through drink and/or drugs while working on railways, tramways and other guided transport systems. The operators of the transport system would also be guilty of an offence unless they had shown all due diligence in trying to prevent such an offence being committed.