Comments on: Employee Alcohol and Drug Testing Once Again At Issue http://ablawg.ca/2009/04/18/employee-alcohol-and-drug-testing-once-again-at-issue/ Thu, 17 May 2012 19:20:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: James Power http://ablawg.ca/2009/04/18/employee-alcohol-and-drug-testing-once-again-at-issue/#comment-157337 James Power Wed, 08 Jun 2011 18:49:53 +0000 http://ablawg.ca/2009/04/18/employee-alcohol-and-drug-testing-once-again-at-issue/#comment-157337 Pre access D&A should not be used as it does not show impairment on the job. I have been doing safety for close to 35 years and have seen only 2 instances where drug or alcohol impairment were shown to be mitigating circumstances in unsafe work practices. I cannot find anywhere that a hazard analysis conducted on construction sites gives any grounds for such a policy. I agree with testing for cause or post incident but not just to satisfy American drug war mentality; or to refuse access to a work site because you may have smoked a different cigarette than your buddy. It is time for trade unions to stand up to this nonsense. We have safety people, trained supervisors and workers who won't tolerate impairment on the job and that is all that is required. Pre access D&A should not be used as it does not show impairment on the job. I have been doing safety for close to 35 years and have seen only 2 instances where drug or alcohol impairment were shown to be mitigating circumstances in unsafe work practices.
I cannot find anywhere that a hazard analysis conducted on construction sites gives any grounds for such a policy.
I agree with testing for cause or post incident but not just to satisfy American drug war mentality; or to refuse access to a work site because you may have smoked a different cigarette than your buddy. It is time for trade unions to stand up to this nonsense. We have safety people, trained supervisors and workers who won’t tolerate impairment on the job and that is all that is required.

]]> By: Bugs Bunny http://ablawg.ca/2009/04/18/employee-alcohol-and-drug-testing-once-again-at-issue/#comment-76397 Bugs Bunny Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:00:26 +0000 http://ablawg.ca/2009/04/18/employee-alcohol-and-drug-testing-once-again-at-issue/#comment-76397 In Alberta drug use in construction is totally out of control. People buy synthetic urine bags that strap under their clothing and use that when doing the pr-employment screening. When there is an incident/accident on site and there is post incident drug testing the fail rate is around 90%. Almost weekly you hear of people getting caught smoking pot right on site. The use of crack cocaine has exploded in Fort McMurray. Personally I would estimate 10% of the construction workforce are full blown addicts, usually crack, and another 20% very heavy recreational users of pot, coke and booze, usually all three. Drug use is so rampant it has become a political issue among building trade business agents. They fought against implementation of drug testing in the past and seem to have no hesitation dispatching members who have recently been fired for drug use, often sending them out in supervisor positions. In Alberta drug use in construction is totally out of control. People buy synthetic urine bags that strap under their clothing and use that when doing the pr-employment screening. When there is an incident/accident on site and there is post incident drug testing the fail rate is around 90%.

Almost weekly you hear of people getting caught smoking pot right on site. The use of crack cocaine has exploded in Fort McMurray. Personally I would estimate 10% of the construction workforce are full blown addicts, usually crack, and another 20% very heavy recreational users of pot, coke and booze, usually all three.

Drug use is so rampant it has become a political issue among building trade business agents. They fought against implementation of drug testing in the past and seem to have no hesitation dispatching members who have recently been fired for drug use, often sending them out in supervisor positions.

]]> By: Sally http://ablawg.ca/2009/04/18/employee-alcohol-and-drug-testing-once-again-at-issue/#comment-71021 Sally Tue, 15 Sep 2009 16:32:45 +0000 http://ablawg.ca/2009/04/18/employee-alcohol-and-drug-testing-once-again-at-issue/#comment-71021 The way the company I use to work for did their employee drug testing was through a Professional Employer Organization. The drug tests are at random by computer selection after employment. All employees when hired are asked to fill out a First Aid form where they are to list any prescription medications they are taking, etc. That way, if they are ever randomly selected for a drug test and test positive for drugs, the results are sent out and they will be cleared if the drugs found are the same listed on their forms. The way the company I use to work for did their employee drug testing was through a Professional Employer Organization. The drug tests are at random by computer selection after employment. All employees when hired are asked to fill out a First Aid form where they are to list any prescription medications they are taking, etc. That way, if they are ever randomly selected for a drug test and test positive for drugs, the results are sent out and they will be cleared if the drugs found are the same listed on their forms.

]]> By: plumbers in stoke on trent http://ablawg.ca/2009/04/18/employee-alcohol-and-drug-testing-once-again-at-issue/#comment-70843 plumbers in stoke on trent Sun, 13 Sep 2009 06:47:23 +0000 http://ablawg.ca/2009/04/18/employee-alcohol-and-drug-testing-once-again-at-issue/#comment-70843 Trusted plumbers for example in the UK carry a Corgi Certificate. Personal standards should play a part, for example if a plumber decides to have a very large drink in the evening after work on a regular basis with his colleagues which technically sends him over the legal driving limit and he doesn't drive home then fine, however say for example he was tested the next day at work and found to have a large unit count of alcohol would he or she deserve a reprimand or to be fired. No, as long as his or her work was to standard and fell well within the legal standards. It totally depends on the industry, for example there is no way I would want to get on a plane if the pilot had had a few too many the night before or was dabbling in cocaine (not pro-drugs let's also make that clear) but it's a well known fact that some stock brokers fire themselves up with the use of cocaine. Hopefully my point is clear - it depends. Trusted plumbers for example in the UK carry a Corgi Certificate. Personal standards should play a part, for example if a plumber decides to have a very large drink in the evening after work on a regular basis with his colleagues which technically sends him over the legal driving limit and he doesn’t drive home then fine, however say for example he was tested the next day at work and found to have a large unit count of alcohol would he or she deserve a reprimand or to be fired. No, as long as his or her work was to standard and fell well within the legal standards. It totally depends on the industry, for example there is no way I would want to get on a plane if the pilot had had a few too many the night before or was dabbling in cocaine (not pro-drugs let’s also make that clear) but it’s a well known fact that some stock brokers fire themselves up with the use of cocaine. Hopefully my point is clear - it depends.

]]> By: Kenny http://ablawg.ca/2009/04/18/employee-alcohol-and-drug-testing-once-again-at-issue/#comment-65034 Kenny Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:46:02 +0000 http://ablawg.ca/2009/04/18/employee-alcohol-and-drug-testing-once-again-at-issue/#comment-65034 Drug & alcohol testing in the workplace is a must in high risk industries in my personal opinion. Having spoke to many workers in this industry it is very easy to succumb to other elements such as peer pressure, bullying and dependency due to alcohol intake during "social" events after working hours - essentially feeling the need to have to participate. This can regularly cross over into the working day and this is where it impacts on the workforce. Companies should be well within their rights to screen potential & current employees; however they should offer good alcohol rehabilitation support should this occur. Drug & alcohol testing in the workplace is a must in high risk industries in my personal opinion. Having spoke to many workers in this industry it is very easy to succumb to other elements such as peer pressure, bullying and dependency due to alcohol intake during “social” events after working hours - essentially feeling the need to have to participate.

This can regularly cross over into the working day and this is where it impacts on the workforce. Companies should be well within their rights to screen potential & current employees; however they should offer good alcohol rehabilitation support should this occur.

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