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.