Drug and drink tests: Blacktown council ramps up measures to bust workers under suspicion

EXCLUSIVE: A Sydney council is hiring a team of drug specialists to test employees for cocaine, cannabis and ice in an unprecedented crackdown on staff.

The union that represents Blacktown council staff says the tests are harsh. Picture: Thinkstock

A SYDNEY council will drug-test its employees for cocaine, cannabis and ice in an unprecedented crackdown on staff.

Blacktown Council is hiring a team of drug specialists to test any employee on “reasonable suspicion” they are abusing drugs in the workplace.

Blacktown Deputy Mayor Tony Bleasdale says the measures aren’t too tough.

A spokeswoman for the Minister for Local Government Paul Toole’s office said the health and safety of all council employees was paramount and supported any council implementing policies supporting this principle.

But the United Services Union, which represents Blacktown City Council workers, has attacked the harsh measures, saying the tender for the contract did not ­appear to adhere to council policy.

Blacktown deputy mayor Tony Bleasdale rejected suggestions the strict drug-testing regime was too tough.

“The testing is an extension of drug and alcohol guidelines which are already in place,” Mr Bleasdale said.

“The standards expected by the community in regards to alcohol and drug abuse is that they will not accept it. If you are drinking, the community expects you to be responsible.”

As part of the testing the council hierarchy will give contractors a “random” list of 20 names to be tested every month, with workers screened for trace levels of cocaine, MDMA, opiates, amphetamine and methamphetamine, cannabis and benzodiazepines.

The testing will focus on the Blacktown Council chambers at Flushcombe Rd. Picture: Supplied

Once selected, staff will be given 24 hours notice before they are forced to give urine samples or oral swabs. But in the event of an accident or other incident, workers will be tested within 90 minutes.

Testers will focus on the council chambers at Flushcombe Rd and the depot in Rooty Hill.

The details of the new drug tests are contained in tender documents, which encourage veteran drug testers to apply for a three-year contract, with an option to extend for the program for a further two years.

“(The contractor must provide) a mobile facility suitable to conduct the testing for circumstances where a suitable on-site venue is not available,” the tender documents state.

“Drug testing is to be conducted in accordance with (the Australian Standard) which details the levels of unacceptable risk for ‘drugs of abuse’.”

The council will also breathalyse employees, using the same tolerance levels drivers obey on the roads, with people who work directly with children or who drive 13.9 tonne vehicles permitted to have a blood alcohol of 0.02 before they are reprimanded.

USU general secretary Graeme Kelly said abuse of alcohol and drugs was not acceptable but there were question marks over the implementation of the testing.

“Addressing the risks posed by drug and alcohol abuse in the workplace is essential, but it must be done in a supportive, co-operative way,” he said.

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