Pubdate: Thu, 17 Apr 2003
Source: Daily Herald-Tribune, The (CN AB)
Copyright: 2003 The Daily Herald-Tribune
Contact:  http://www.dailyheraldtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/804

CURBS ON DRUG, BOOZE TESTING OF WORKERS OILPATCH CONCERN

RED DEER (CP) - Policies that prevent sweeping pre-employment drug and 
alcohol testing are causing problems for oil and gas companies that want to 
ensure safe worksites, says an industry spokesman.

''It's becoming very frustrating for us,'' said Patrick Delaney, director 
of health, safety and government relations for the Petroleum Services 
Association of Canada.

''I think for a lot of us, we'll take our lumps with wrongful dismissals.''

Delaney told an association conference this week that without such testing, 
employees and the public are at risk from potential accidents.

According to the Canadian Human Rights Commission, pre-employment alcohol 
or drug testing and random testing of employees in non-safety-sensitive 
situations is not acceptable.

However, Delaney said the association favours policies that would allow all 
employees to be tested.

Currently, testing may only occur when a person has disclosed an existing 
drug or alcohol problem or where a medical examination indicates there may 
be a problem.

Other permissible testing includes random alcohol testing of employees in 
safety-sensitive situations, drug or alcohol testing if there are 
reasonable grounds or following an incident, and periodic or random testing 
after the disclosure of a current drug or alcohol problem.

Meanwhile, Delaney said companies must accommodate employees with substance 
abuse problems by holding their jobs while they're in treatment and finding 
suitable jobs they can perform, although there are exemptions for small firms.

Complaints about how companies are forced to foot the bill for drug 
treatment and how rules over testing have tied corporate hands drew 
applause from the audience.

Audrey Dean, legal counsel for the Alberta Human Rights and Citizenship 
Commission, explained that while safety is a concern, people should not be 
discriminated against. However, she did note that the issue of testing 
hasn't been high on the list of employee complaints submitted to the 
commission, unlike the volume of calls received from employers seeking 
advice on alcohol and drug testing.

Drug testing, she said, is not an effective way to determine how people 
will perform their duties. She encouraged companies to look at alternatives 
such as supervision and peer monitoring.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart