4% OF FLETCHER APPLICANTS RETURN POSITIVE DRUG TESTS

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 try to
avoid problems with early detection of drug use. So far this year, 4% of
applicants returned positive drug tests.

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

Ms Millar said employees were well aware surveillance cameras were used
routinely and the employees had been sacked for "serious misconduct".

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 Act states employees do not have to comply with any
activity which was an "unreasonable intrusion" on themselves. That includes
being forced to give blood or urine samples without consent.

Mr Raureti said forestry workers were at higher risk of injury than other
workers if drugs were used and it was an increasing problem.

"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 the injuries out in the bush or in the mills is worse and
the cost of an error of judgement is just so much greater," Mr Raureti said.

Head of the Bay of Plenty Law Enforcement Team, Detective Sergeant Chris
McLeod, said drug abuse was not restricted to labourers.

Police had received reports of some truck drivers using methamphetamines
(speed) when driving for long hours.