Supreme Court to rule on random alcohol testing

CDNBear

Custom Troll
Sep 24, 2006
43,839
207
63
Ontario
Yes, it can. Employees that are too fat to use the emergency stairs, or to run quickly in the event of a chlorine leak are a danger, and shouldn't be allowed to work in an industrial environment.
Phew! I'm safe than, especially since I'd always been on the emergency response team and a First Aider. Usually running towards the danger.

As to being a danger, what would you propose for these people–
For fat people, he proposes murdering them. Saves on health care and getting in the way of skinny people running away from danger.
 

damngrumpy

Executive Branch Member
Mar 16, 2005
9,949
21
38
kelowna bc
There are a great many things going on where I do support the efforts of organized labour.
They have brought a great deal of social progress to our country.
In this case, you have to be kidding. Its not just expensive equipment these people are
working with, in some cases they are near communities that could be effected in many way.
Everything from harm to to explosions, or through contaminated water, air and so on.
Workers going out to job site drunk or on drugs do pose a problem for other workers and for
the families of those abusing drugs and booze.
I expect Worker Comp and employers to do all they can for the safety of their employees at
large.
Zero tolerance in sensitive work areas is not a bad idea. that includes those in a plant, a well
site or even as a bus driver. Ask yourself would like a drunk Doctor doing heart or brain surgery
on you? Didn't think so.
 

gerryh

Time Out
Nov 21, 2004
25,756
295
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All employees should be sober on the job. But what someone does on their own time when they aren't paid is their own business. The employer should have no right know what people do during their off time.

Random drug and alcohol testing does not mean being tested when you are not working. :roll:

Not even alcohol, caffeine, or solvents?

solvents? Caffeine is not an illegal drug. It also doesn't adversely effect one like alcohol.

My position is 0 tolerance for any alcohol or illegal drugs while on the job site.
 

wulfie68

Council Member
Mar 29, 2009
2,014
24
38
Calgary, AB
All employees should be sober on the job. But what someone does on their own time when they aren't paid is their own business. The employer should have no right know what people do during their off time.

I agree except in cases where what a person does during their time off can affect their performance when they are on the job. If being hungover or suffering from residual effects of some other substance impairs your judgement or ability to perform critical tasks on a job site then you are putting others at risk.

Now this isn't going to apply to people like accountants or most sales professionals, but it can and does come into play in many industrial settings. Like PoliticalNick mentioned, it is very important in a lot of energy sector occupations, especially when dealing with high pressure and/or sour production.
 

TenPenny

Hall of Fame Member
Jun 9, 2004
17,467
139
63
Location, Location
Random drug and alcohol testing does not mean being tested when you are not working. :roll:



solvents? Caffeine is not an illegal drug. It also doesn't adversely effect one like alcohol.

My position is 0 tolerance for any alcohol or illegal drugs while on the job site.

Caffeine most definitely adversely effects people. It makes them jittery, increases one's heart rate, and is also a diuretic.
 

taxslave

Hall of Fame Member
Nov 25, 2008
36,362
4,340
113
Vancouver Island
This is going to be a tough question for the Supremes. One I have given much thought to. Ignoring for a moment the personal privacy question, Workers compensation boards in many jurisdictions have deemed companies liable for their employee's actions. So to protect themselves as much as possible from lawsuits companies naturally too the easy way out and have mandatory drug tests. Now we have a conflict with personal liberty and what a person does off the job not being the employers right to know. Problem is that smoking a joint to night will show up on a piss test next week while one could drink a bottle of whiskey every night and not show a day later. So if say a truck driver has an accident and is forced to do a test which comes out positive is the company liable if they are not permitted to test employees. And perhaps more important could the results of the test be used against either the company or the driver if they can't prove he was under the influence at the time of the accident.
 

earth_as_one

Time Out
Jan 5, 2006
7,933
53
48
Random drug and alcohol testing does not mean being tested when you are not working. :roll:



solvents? Caffeine is not an illegal drug. It also doesn't adversely effect one like alcohol.

My position is 0 tolerance for any alcohol or illegal drugs while on the job site.

My position is that it depends on the work. A fashion designer is paid to have inspired ideas...no one is at risk. Likely they are smoking a doobie once in a while. Operating a crane or flying an airplane would be different.. I'd want to know the person was fit for work. In that case, you should have to blow and pee before taking control. A sales person should be able to expense alcoholic beverages on the 13th hole.
 

gerryh

Time Out
Nov 21, 2004
25,756
295
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Caffeine most definitely adversely effects people. It makes them jittery, increases one's heart rate, and is also a diuretic.


I see Bear and Goober have already schooled ya, so I will just let this ride.

My position is that it depends on the work. A fashion designer is paid to have inspired ideas...no one is at risk. Likely they are smoking a doobie once in a while. Operating a crane or flying an airplane would be different.. I'd want to know the person was fit for work. In that case, you should have to blow and pee before taking control. A sales person should be able to expense alcoholic beverages on the 13th hole.


Again, I have zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol during work hours.

Personally, I see no reason for drugs at any time.