Drug Testing a 'Form of Control'

A report from Monash University academics has condemned workplace drug testing as a "form of symbolic control" over employees rather than a means to prevent accidents.

Drug testing may be used as a means of relinquishing employer's responsibilities, such as setting reasonable working hours, by shifting the onus onto individual employees.

The 'Drug testing as a moral high ground' report states drug testing overlooks the fact that Australia has one of the most overworked workforces in the world, which could contribute to employees using alcohol and drugs to cope with the pressure.

The report recommends employers would be better to conduct "fitness for duty testing", which tests an employee's ability to carry out tasks, instead of drug testing, which is intrusive and inaccurate.

Such tests would also give an indication of the impairment workers' ability to carry out tasks because of illness, fatigue and emotional preoccupation.

Unions NSW OHS officer Mary Yaager said employers wasted millions of dollars on drug testing, while fatigue caused more workplace deaths and accidents.

She said workplace drug and alcohol testing is a money spinning exercise by the manufacturers of the testing equipment.

"Employers would be far better channeling money into fatigue-related research and the development of effective programs."

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Last modified: Tuesday, 15-Nov-2005 20:37:35 EST