Unions And Business Draft Policy To Test For Drug And Alcohol Abuse On The Job In The Construction Sector

The B.C. construction industry's new drug and alcohol policy could inadvertently exacerbate an already chronic labour shortage if substance abuse is found to be widespread.

The policy, which affects only unionized workers, allows employers to test workers based on a reasonable suspicion of impairment on the job, an accident or a near miss.

Employees who test positive are suspended and given access to a rehabilitation program until they can prove they're clean.

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