Workplace Drug testing should be Outsourced; National NCETA Report

Posted By; Drug Test Australia

Original;  MICHELLE PAINE  November 19, 2012 12.01am

http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2012/11/19/366313_ Tasmania-news.html

WORKPLACE drug testing is inefficient and can lead to workers simply changing drugs or avoiding reporting incidents, says a national report.

In Tasmania, where testing has been growing, unions are gearing up for a fight if companies decide to do drug testing in-house, instead of outsourcing.

National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction deputy director Ken Pidd said there was little evidence testing was effective, despite its increase.

Dr Pidd said one of the risks was that workers changed their consumption patterns or drug types to avoid detection.

"Drug testing could be contributing to the increase in synthetic drug use such as Jack3d and Kronic, and pharmaceutical drug misuse," Dr Pidd said.

His findings will be presented at the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and Other Drugs conference in Melbourne today.

Dr Pidd said there was evidence less serious accidents were not being reported for fear of post-incident drug tests.

Western Australia, where many mining companies used urine testing, had the highest rate of Methamphetamine use.

"Some employers incorrectly think that drug testing is required to meet their workplace health and safety obligations. What they do need are high quality education and training programs which help develop a workplace culture conducive to health and safety," Dr Pidd said.

Unions Tasmania president Kevin Harkins said in-house testing opened the door to targeting individuals.

"Testing must be totally independent. We don't support companies doing it themselves. And it should be done across the board, from the top of the organisation," Mr Harkins said.

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