Pubdate: Fri, 15 Jul 2005
Source: Courier-Journal, The (KY)
OPINION01/507150359/1055/OPINION
Copyright: 2005 The Courier-Journal
Contact:  http://www.courier-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/97
Note: Only publishes local LTEs
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

DRUGS IN THE MINES

This week, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration kicked 
off a "Make the Right Decision" safety awareness campaign that it 
hopes will further reduce mining deaths and injuries, the numbers of 
which remain too high.

But, at the same time, MSHA chief David Dye refused to embrace the 
idea of federal drug testing, saying that any such initiative should 
be run by the coal industry and state regulators. MSHA-administered 
tests for the use of controlled substances by miners would require 
passage of new federal law, which Mr. Dye described as "always a long 
and arduous process."

The industry and the United Mine Workers union also have no 
enthusiasm for adding drug tests to MSHA's mandate. But the Kentucky 
Coal Association supports a state-operated anti-drug regime.

This isn't surprising. Coal operators certainly don't want their 
employees showing up for inherently dangerous work in an altered 
state, or carrying the drugs needed to get altered. But they also 
think miners themselves, not regulators, should take first 
responsibility for their own safety.

There is an obvious argument for uniformly administered federal drug 
testing: It would avoid a patchwork of different programs that could 
advantage mining firms in some states and disadvantage others.

But if federal drug testing is a non-starter for the Bush 
administration, the next best thing may be the state-run program that 
Environmental and Public Protection Secretary LaJuana Wilcher wants 
to develop, with the help of a task force that's now at work.

Any such program should take a cue from MSHA's new safety campaign 
and direct itself not just to miners but to their bosses. "Make the 
Right Decision" will address "miners and mine operators," "miners and 
mine management." So should the design of any state drug testing.
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MAP posted-by: Beth