ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

Sir: Your features on driver fatigue and drug testing in the workplace (Fast
Track, Law, 19 November) expose some of the problems that many members of
this union face. We have 150,000 commercial drivers and an increasing number
of members (drivers and others) being drug-tested and, sometimes sacked when
their blood or urine shows traces of recreational drug use .

As the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) have shown,
around 1,000 of 3,500 road deaths each year involve people working. They are
work-related deaths. Yet, our workplace police, the Health and Safety
Executive (HSE), do not support them being recorded as such and therefore
investigated. Why not? Many of these deaths have been shown to be
fatigue-related. Our drivers are stressed-out, work very long hours (the new
Working Time Directive does not cover transport), often load and unload many
times, have lousy cab conditions and are very poorly paid. No wonder some
fall asleep at the wheel!

Drug testing is only valid where your activities may endanger other people's
health and safety and/or your work performance is significantly impaired. If
found positive you may need help; not discipline or the sack. If it is to be
introduced then let the company boardrooms and House of Commons - both after
lunch and the weekend - set us an example first!

A J P Dalton, Health and Safety Co-ordinator, Transport and General Workers
Union, London SW1

Checked-by: Don Beck