Drug testing at work

My work place has both random drug tests and accident triggered drug tests, the accident tests happen straight after any accident happens such as falling down the stairs.
Their is a complete zero policy on our site, if any trace of alcohol or illegal drugs are found during a drug test then its a instant dismissal due to the type of work that happens in the area.
We lost 2 apprentices last year, 1 was so tipsy he drove straight into the central reservation writing off his recently financed car, lost his job the same day ( win for all tbh he was a useless ****) and the other was so stoned he couldn't operate the swipe gate, ended up head butting the barrier before security stopped him.


I agree completely with the ruling in work places, as it not only effects the person involved but others around them.
 
As long as the taking of drugs aren't done within the working day, who cares? As long as it doesn't affect you/your work, then it should be fine. If it does, then there should be harsh penalities, i.e. instant dismissal, but it would have to be proven that the drugs were consumed by the individual during their working day.
 
Gackt said:
As long as the taking of drugs aren't done within the working day, who cares? As long as it doesn't affect you/your work, then it should be fine. If it does, then there should be harsh penalities, i.e. instant dismissal, but it would have to be proven that the drugs were consumed by the individual during their working day.
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Or were affecting that individual while they were at work. I seem to recall having an arguement with another poster over the fact that urine tests for cannabis only identify THC metabolites, not active TCH, and tehrefore have absolutely no bearing on one's current state. He was fairly insistent that because there were metabolites in your blood stream, you were still under the effects of cannabis... which is wrong, of course, but some people can't be told :p
 
Deadbeat said:
Or were affecting that individual while they were at work. I seem to recall having an arguement with another poster over the fact that urine tests for cannabis only identify THC metabolites, not active TCH, and tehrefore have absolutely no bearing on one's current state. He was fairly insistent that because there were metabolites in your blood stream, you were still under the effects of cannabis... which is wrong, of course, but some people can't be told :p
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This is my point. Someone who has a smoke the night before can be sacked simply because of that in his body even though he's not under the influence at all. And by working day, I meant while at work, or where they would be at work during that time. So yeah, affecting their work.
 
Drug testing is very common in the oil industry, I don't have my offshore certs yet, another couple of months but I'll have to pass a drug test before I'll get to go offshore, that includes alcohol as well.
 
Gackt said:
This is my point. Someone who has a smoke the night before can be sacked simply because of that in his body even though he's not under the influence at all. And by working day, I meant while at work, or where they would be at work during that time. So yeah, affecting their work.
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My point was its would be a very effective way of reducing the drug problem in the uk and thus other drug related crime.

I was not trying to say that you are not capable of working if you got high over the weekend.

Simple fact is that drugs have a negative effect on society as a whole and any way they can be stamped out its going to be good for the general populations. If you are a government worker being paid by tax payers I think its quite reasonable to expect that you do not help contribute to crime.
 
Dr House said:
What are people’s thoughts on this, if large employers including government workers were subjected to random drug testing with the threat of dismissal do you think it would put a big dent in the drug industry?
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Do you mean the illegal recreational drug industry? (mainly weed, coke, ecstasy, ketamine) Yes. However I dont think it would ever happen.

There are far to many people who work in high end positions who enjoy recreational drugs from time to time

One of my mates worked for a company in London, apparently around 70% of the people who worked there had a few lines at the weekend

Work hard, play hard. Drug laws are ridiculous and outdated (as proven by many people including scientists etc)
 
Testing should only be used if the person tested shows a history of not being able to differentiate between work and play.
I'll admit that recently I had mental health issues and would resort to a "pick me up" before heading off to work.
Rather than sack me or throw me to the cops my employers sat me down and talked things through with me.
I am proud to say I have now redrawn the line in the sand, the very fact that they were willing to forgive and move on gave me all the motivation I needed to clean my worktime act up.

Even more recently I had to alert my team leader to an employee who was drunk as a skunk in work, while this might make me appear to be a hypocrite, it was the fact that this person couldn't walk in a straight line without bouncing off the walls and yet the person proceeded to get in a car and drive off.
Having your own personal problems is one thing, putting innocent peoples lives in danger is another.
 
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On our course it's zero tolerance, and one guy's already ****** the opportunity of a lifetime up the wall 'cos he decided a bit of ketamine was in order to celebrate being selected. He knew the rules, so it's hard to be sympathetic.
 
Meh, it's hard to argue against some drug classifications being off the wall, but if you are aware of your employer's ability to do so... playing with fire.
 
Employers and Government should stay out of peoples lives, what people do outside of work is their own business providing it doesn't impact your work. What you do AT ALL is none of the governments business providing you aren't impacting any others negatively.
 
ScoTTyBEEE said:
Employers and Government should stay out of peoples lives, what people do outside of work is their own business providing it doesn't impact your work. What you do AT ALL is none of the governments business providing you aren't impacting any others negatively.
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Like people getting hammered, starting fights, using loads of NHS resources etc
or people smoking and people including children taking on passive smoke, lung cancer, NHS strain again

ah no wait...govenment profits big time of these so I suppose they dont count :rolleyes:

Its a good job that cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis stay illegal. Cannabis would probably cost £100 for an eighth if taxed, god knows what a gram of coke or pill would cost £200 and £50?
 
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