Council to begin random drug testing

File Image.

The merits of random drug testing versus impairment testing have been the subject of debate in the Whakatane District Council this week.

The council recently signed an agreement with The Drug Detection Agency to provide all drug and alcohol screening for staff in 'safety sensitive areas”.

However, councillor and cannabis advocate Nandor Tanczos says the council should really be concentrating on impairment testing of staff rather than screening for use.

He says he has evidence that random drug testing does not improve health and safety in the workplace.

'My concern is that random drug testing doesn't improve safety, it instead moves people onto less detectable drugs,” says Tanczos.

'Impairment testing would be better.”

Councillor and Matata Volunteer Fire Brigade chief Gavin Dennis agrees the emphasis should be on impairment.

'In my experience, picking people up off the side of the road, you can tell straight away who is impaired and it is generally those people who are involved in the worst crashes.

'Impairment affects judgement and is a big risk. We should test for impairment rather than drugs.”

Mayor Judy Turner says she too supports testing of impairment but not just for health and safety reasons.

She says many years ago she worked alongside someone who was consistently drunk and although they were not a safety risk, they were not very good at their job.

Councillor John Pullar asked if elected members will also be tested but was told that because they did not work in a 'safety sensitive area” they would not.

The New Zealand Drug Foundation website notes that workplace drug testing does not always improve workplace safety, can be ineffective at managing impairment, and is highly invasive.

It says this is because random drug testing only detects previous use of drugs, not whether someone is currently impaired or affected by drug use.

Many drugs only have a short effect so if someone takes them at the beginning of the weekend it is unlikely to be affecting them when they return to work.

Urine is the most common sample type and is the least expensive although it is highly invasive as usually employees are required to pee into a cup under the supervision of a drug agency staff member.

Saliva is the least invasive and is the least reliable method of testing.

A standard drug test tests for cannabis, amphetamines, cocaine, opiates, and PCP.

Cannabis can be detected in urine for up to four weeks after use, methamphetamine for three to five days, heroin and morphine for four to five days, and cocaine for two to four days after use depending on the person's age, weight, and how much and how often they use.

The New Zealand Drug Foundation notes impairment should be the focus to improve workplace safety and this can be from tiredness, stress, dealing with grief or a breakup, medications, or drug and alcohol use.

Whakatane council chief executive Stephanie O'Sullivan says random and pre-employment drug testing was only a small part of what the council did to improve health and safety in the workplace.

She says the council will undertake proactive education and the drug testing could catch something before it happened.

It might also help people recognise they had a problem.

She notes the council provided a suite of wellbeing initiatives to staff like free support and counselling services.

Community and engagement general manager Emlyn Hatch says the council, like thousands of other organisations in New Zealand, is waiting on the result of the cannabis referendum and what that might mean for workplace health and safety.

He says the council wants to put a wraparound service in place for staff who are struggling and deals with each person on a case by case basis.

The Drug Detection Agency is now reviewing council's policy to ensure it is fit for purpose.

This policy will then be provided to staff for consultation and training will be conducted.

You may also like....

2 comments

SORRY, but I don't have a problem !!

Posted on 30-10-2020 21:49 | By The Caveman

I as a ratepayer, I pay their "staff" wages. AS such I expect that ALL - YES ALL - of the council staff to ON DECK and UP TO DOING THEIR JOBS 100% - WHEN THEY ARE AT WORK when they expect that I pay them via my RATES. IF they are NOT - then DOWN the road !! AND it's NOT just health & safety - if you are paid to do a job - them FRONT UP in a condition that you can DO THE JOB.


Impaired alright

Posted on 31-10-2020 13:14 | By Slim Shady

What is the level of impaired that Tanczos finds acceptable? Legless or unconscious? A bit woozy? Or just nicely chilled dreaming of who knows what rather than focusing on the job in hand? Dimwits have taken over.


Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.