Pubdate: Fri, 10 Aug 2001
Source: Colchester Evening Gazette (UK)
Copyright: 2001, Quicksilver Media
Contact:  43-44 North Hill, Colchester, Essex CO1 1TZ
Fax: 01206 508295
Website: http://www.thisisessex.co.uk/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/799
Author Jeremy Price

STORM BREWS OVER FIRMS' PROPOSED NEW DRUG POLICY

Testing Plans 'breach Human Rights'

PLANS by firms to test employees for alcohol or drug abuse have come 
under heavy fire.

Some firms intend to carry out tests to crack down on problems such 
an accidents and absenteeism, a report has revealed.

But the implications for workers and limitations of the tests 
themselves. have been criticised by the Braintree-based spokesman for 
the legalise Cannabis Alliance.

Don Barnard said: -These test. fail on their own terms. No drug test 
can check for impairment."

He believes random testing would be against human rights and advised 
employees and trade unions to look very closely at decisions being 
made.

"Some 36 per cent of known drug users are in employment," he said.

UNSAFE

"It wouldn't be legal to dismiss someone because they had tested 
positive because the tests themselves are known to be unsafe.

"People, especially cannabis users, must be aware that they could 
lose their job or driving licence or whatever because of an unsafe 
test"

- - Research showed an increasing number of problems at work caused by 
alcohol and drug use cost British industry UKP 2.8 billion a year.

- - Nationally, three out of four firms surveyed said staff had been 
absent from work in the past year because of alcohol abuse, while 
three out of 10 reported workers had stayed home to recover from 
drug-related problems.

- -Charities Alcohol Concern and DrugScope both voiced concern about 
how tests will be carried out and launched a new service to give 
advice to employers.

"Drug-testing should he brought in only after full consultation with 
staff and within the context of a clear and humane policy on what to 
do with positive results,' said Roger Howard chief executive of 
DrugScope

Mary-Ann McKibben, assistant director of Alcohol Concern, said it was 
"worrying, that one in four employers had no formal policy on 
tackling drink and drug problems.

She said: 'We need to get to a situation where organisations feel 
equipped to deal with people's problems in a sympathetic manner 
rather than knee-jerk reactions such as blanket testing or automatic 
sackings."

Many companies admitted they did not have the skills to deal with 
staff with alcohol or drug problems.
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MAP posted-by: Kirk