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Guide to Selecting an Impairment Detection Technology (IDT) Provider


What is IDT?

Impairment Detection Technology (IDT) refers to systems and tools designed to detect whether an individual is impaired, typically due to substances like alcohol, drugs, or other factors such as fatigue, illness, chronic conditions, injury (including concussion), severe stress, or environmental conditions (extreme heat, cold, or altitude). The National Safety Council (NSC) defines IDT as “technology with the potential to screen for multiple forms of impairment to aid in fitness for work assessments.”

 

IDT can be used in various settings, including workplaces, vehicles, healthcare, and law enforcement. The primary goal of IDT is to reduce risk and enhance safety by preventing deaths, injury, accidents, or harm. Another goal of IDT is to reduce costs, including the costs of insurance premiums, business disruption and lost productivity, legal fees and judgments, government fines and penalties, and damaged morale, turnover, and reputation.

 

How do I find an IDT provider?

In the last 10 years, Impairment Detection Technology providers have emerged with a variety of solutions. Choosing the right solution can be overwhelming, with a wide array of types, scant research available, and the lack of regulation oversight.

 

Recently, the NSC has published helpful information on this topic, including a 2022 Impairment Detection Technology & Workplace Safety report that outlines advantages of this technology and the major providers. This report is, indeed, a helpful primer, but it lacks up-to-date information and does not thoroughly review the practical use of the options available.

 

What key issues are important when evaluating an IDT provider?

IDT offers numerous potential advantages, such as real-time assessment of impairment and the ability to identify it from various sources. However, challenges like validation issues, test duration, costs, and employee acceptance can hinder its implementation. This report aims to help employers evaluate these factors by exploring the current state of IDT and the supporting evidence. When evaluating providers, the following criteria are most important:

 

Type of Technology – Each technology has advantages and disadvantages. Be sure to research the scientific merits to understand the product’s validity.

 

o   Oculomotor - Based on saccadic eye movement and pupillography, oculomotor testing measures changes in pupil size in response to changing light and cognitive conditions. Significant alterations from a baseline may indicate brain function anomaly.

 

o   Psychomotor – Measuring head and/or eye movement for drowsiness, fatigue, and impairment, psychomotor testing uses various tools including accelerometers, force plates, motion capture systems, special glasses, and body scans.

 

o   Cognitive testing – Based on traditional cognitive tests done manually, like the well-known Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test, these video-game-like apps measure behavioral abilities, such as hand-eye coordination, time estimation, pattern recognition, decision-making, and balance.

 

Scientific Basis – When evaluating any IDT solution, note whether there is an underlying scientific basis that correlates the particular testing measures used with their potential for identifying impairment. For instance, there are many dozen scientific studies published over decades that show a close correlation between impairment and balance, which can be a key element in cognitive testing. Hence, the use of a balance task as a fundamental component of the common standard field sobriety test. But an underlying scientific basis does not, by itself, tell you whether the specific IDT solution actually works in practice to identify impairment.


To determine validity and effectiveness, look for IDT solutions that have scientific studies demonstrating the validity of the solution, not merely the scientific principles that underlie it. The kind of scientific studies that offer the best proof are those that are peer-reviewed and published in a reputable scientific journal.

 

Duration of Test – Note how long it takes to take the test. This period can vary greatly from solution to solution. Note also the training and setup time required for implementation.

 

Baseline Set Up – For solutions that require a baseline score, be sure to factor in the initial time to establish that baseline. For some solutions, this process can take hours or even days; others, minutes or less. Find out if baselines are static, or if they adjust over time to reflect the user’s current unimpaired state.

 

Hardware Required – If the technology is app-based, be sure it can run on both Apple iOS and Android operating systems, and on any mobile device. For non-app technology, find out the cost of any hardware, like vision goggles or cameras, as well as the cost for maintenance and replacement cost if lost. Remember, hardware has the challenge of inventory stocking, theft, and service.

 

API Integration – Determine if the technology is stand-alone or if it can integrate with other software platforms. For example, managers that already use software to monitor workers for attendance, compliance, or safety incidents would benefit from the IDT solution having an API that brings all the data into a single dashboard.

 

Pricing – Pricing can be affected by many variables. Find out per user and per company usage rates and if there is a discount for volume and testing frequency. Another factor in pricing is the duration of the contract.

 

Conclusion – Product Review Prep

Product reviewing is best done over a concentrated period of time to most effectively evaluate providers. Whether the IDT solution provider offers free trials or not, it is critical to have a detailed checklist of all the criteria to evaluate, then to envision the best fit for your workplace.

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