NSW: 100 rail staff fail drug tests

Started by Buzz Killington, March 13, 2008, 08:12:15 PM

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Buzz Killington

QuoteBy Nick Ralston and Andrew Drummond

March 13, 2008 06:21pm

THE NSW government says almost 100 positive drug and alcohol tests on NSW Rail personnel last year has reinforced its zero tolerance policy towards drunk or drug-affected workers.

But employees are given a second chance, with an opportunity to rehabilitate themselves and sacked only if they fail to do so.

Responding to an opposition charge that the government was failing to take tough enough action against rail employees affected by drugs or alcohol, Transport Minister John Watkins said fewer than one per cent of the 22,000 tested last year had returned positive results.

"Even that very small number is too many and that's why we'll continue this rigorous drug and alcohol testing regime to try to get it down to zero," Mr Watkins told reporters.

"Safety always has to be the highest priority when it comes to our network."

The opposition said the government was not taking tough enough action against rail employees because it was scared of a union backlash.

"We have a culture within RailCorp which clearly accepts drug and alcohol use as being acceptable," acting opposition transport spokesman Mike Gallacher told reporters.

"The message is not getting through to these employees that it is no longer acceptable to participate in drug and alcohol abuse and then turn up for work."

Mr Gallacher called on the government to involve police when positive tests were returned, and not deal with the matters "in house".

RailCorp today said 29 employees had returned positive alcohol tests last year, compared to 22 in 2006.

A total of 66 employees tested positive to drugs in 2007, compared to 61 in the previous year.

Mr Watkins said the 29 positive alcohol results made up less than one per cent of the 22,000 tests that were carried out last year.

There were 4,482 drug tests, with the 66 positive results making up 1.47 per cent of that figure, he said.

RailCorp chief of service delivery Rob Mason said the consequences of positive tests were well known to employees.

Contractors who tested positive were immediately dismissed, while employees were given the opportunity to rehabilitate and address their drug or alcohol consumption with the support of the corporation.

However, if they failed to get it under control they would be dismissed, Mr Mason said.

"The company effectively has a zero tolerance policy regarding drugs and alcohol," he said.

"Last year we undertook over 25,000 random tests, that is, on average, our staff can expect to be tested over twice a year."




http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23369371-5001021,00.html