ONE IN 25 FAIL DRUG TESTING

ROTORUA ONE in 25 people who apply for jobs at Fletcher Challenge
Forests fail the pre-employment drug test.

The tests are part of a physical examination and if people fail the
physical, they are not given a job.

Fletcher Challenge Forests and Carter Holt Harvey Forests both
drug-test prospective employees. Fletcher communications manager
Jacqui Millar said it was better to avoid problems by early detection
of drug use. This year 4 per cent of applicants had returned positive
drugs tests.

Despite company policy to help employees with drug abuse, Fletcher
sacked five after catching them on camera using drugs in a staff
tearoom last October.

Rotorua Employers and Manufacturers Union office manager Ken Raureti
said random drug testing was not carried out because it would impinge
on human rights. The Human Rights Apt says employees do not have to
comply with any activity that was an "unreasonable intrusion" on themselves.

Forestry workers were at higher risk of injury than other workers if
drugs were used and it was an increasing problem, he said.

"The thing with industries such as forestry is that if there is an
accident, normally the person will die or have horrible injuries.

"The nature of injuries in the bush or in the mills is worse and the
cost of an error of judgment is so much greater."