CARPER URGES EXPANSION OF DRUG-TESTING POLICY

County Commission President Kent Carper believes a proposed
drug-testing policy for the county does not go far enough.

The commission had an initial review of the proposal on the agenda for
its meeting on Thursday.

The proposal would require employees in safety-sensitive positions to
be randomly tested for drugs. The positions include any commission
employee who routinely operates a vehicle, carries a firearm and uses
dangerous tools, equipment or chemicals.

Carper said positions he considers safety-sensitive were left out of
the plan. He said the definition in the proposal needs to be expanded.

"What about someone who handles money or computer and medical records?
Aren't they safety-sensitive as well?" Carper said. "This policy left
out a lot of folks. If we are going to approve this plan, it needs to
be clear and be specific."

Of the 407 county employees, 146 are considered to be in
"safety-sensitive" positions under the current proposal.

The proposal also would require employees using legal or prescribed
narcotics during work hours to notify department heads or elected officials.

Commissioner Dave Hardy asked for that section to be removed from the
plan. Hardy said it might infringe on privacy rights.

The matter was discussed but not voted upon.

"If a person is scheduled for a test, that's when they can report to
the tester which drugs they are taking," Hardy said. "I don't want to
create a scenario where someone reports a prescribed medication when
they don't have to."

The proposal would allow employees to come forward and get counseling
if they admit to a drug habit prior to testing.

The drugs to be tested include marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines,
opiates and PCP. The testing also would determine if a person's
blood-alcohol content was 0.02 percent or above.

Carper said prescription drug abuse is on the rise and should be
included in the plan.

"The lawyers that were selected to work on this said to keep it in
there," Carper said. "If the premise is to keep this a drug-free
workplace, then we can't leave that out."

The law firm of Steptoe & Johnson has worked on the plan for two
months. The firm plans to look over the commission's notes and submit
a revised proposal next week.

Carper commended the firm for its effort but said the plan is far from
final.

"I just think this needs to be well-thought-out," Carper said. "My
feelings are just observations, not objections."