Pubdate: Tue, 27 Nov 2012 Source: Edmonton Journal (CN AB) Copyright: 2012 The Edmonton Journal Website: http://www.edmontonjournal.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/134 Author: Dave Werlin Page 17 RANDOM TESTS VIOLATE RIGHTS Re: "Test cases; Canada doesn't have much experience with random on-the-job drug and alcohol testing. That may be about to change," the Journal, Nov. 24. Ed Secondiak, president of ECS Services, which has designed drug-testing programs, says that test results "are kept under lock and key with limited access, and never shared with outside agencies without the employee's permission." That is simply untrue. Having served many years on the Employment Insurance Board of Referees, I can assure you that since random drug testing became common, notably in oil-sands operations, numerous workers have been disqualified from receiving EI benefits because their employers have informed the Employment Insurance Commission, without the employees' permission, that they were dismissed because of a positive random drug test. Secondiak also said employees' rights are protected because random drug tests are reviewed by a medical review officer. As a rule, the medical review officer is a company employee or a security firm contractor owing allegiance to the company. While safety on work sites is vitally important, random drug testing is an unreliable measure. It might result in job loss for a person who is a casual user of marijuana, not impaired and not a risk to workplace safety. While marijuana stays in a person's system and can be detected for up to 30 days, other more addictive drugs, such as cocaine, can go undetected. Random drug testing violates workers' rights, their privacy and dignity, and it fails the safety test. Further, it is used as a smokescreen and is a poor substitute for serious corporate measures and government actions to improve workplace safety in Alberta. Dave Werlin, Edmonton - --- MAP posted-by: Matt