STAFF TESTED FOR DRINK AND DRUGS

Council staff are to become the first in Leicestershire to face random
tests to ensure they are not high on drink and drugs at work.

Oadby and Wigston Borough Council is introducing the checks as part of
its new health and safety policy.

Officials say staff most likely to be checked are those who drive
vehicles or use machinery.

Business leaders in Leicestershire predicted more and more companies
would turn to the methods which are widely used in American firms.

Martin Traynor, managing director of Leicestershire Chamber of
Commerce, said: "Drug and alcohol testing is becoming more common
across the country but, as far as I am aware, there are not too many
businesses in Leicestershire that do so yet.

"It is often American-owned companies which use testing their
staff.

"Sadly, drug and alcohol abuse is becoming more common and
organisations are moving this way, using testing mainly as a deterrent."

The council plans to carry out the tests as part of the recruitment
process and randomly among existing staff.

Workers will blow into breath testers and those with more than a 0.8
per cent blood alcohol concentration will fail. Urine will be tested
for traces of drugs.

It is hoped the threat of drug testing will force people with alcohol
or drug problems to speak to a GP or a member of the council's management.

The council said it wanted to help staff but said serious cases may
end in dismissal and people caught with drugs at work will be reported
to the police.

The Health and Safety Executive said nationally, drugs and drink
account for a quarter of all workplace accidents, and five per cent of
all sick days.

None of the county's other councils has a drug or drink-testing
policy. However, Hinckley and Bosworth council said it would consider
testing.

The new policy is in a council report, which states: "The council, as
an employer, and staff, have a duty of care to themselves and to others.

"An alcohol and drugs policy is one way of promoting and encouraging
that duty of care. The policy encourages employees who have alcohol
and drugs misuse problems to seek help, by contacting their general
practitioner, line manager or personnel section who will be able to
signpost to the appropriate advisory services and offer the
appropriate support."

Human Rights organisation Liberty said the move was not a breach of
human rights.

A spokesman said: "Testing may not be carried out without the
employee's consent.

"Consent may be obtained by making it a standard term in the contract
of employment that employees consent to such tests.

"Random drugs screening and subsequent dismissal for a positive result
has been held to be fair and not a breach of the right to a private
life."