Calfrac - do they do drug testing?

[RMK Junky]

It's funny how 15yrs ago (roughly) this type of thing did not exist. Just goes to show how people deal with their day to day lives to get by

 

[Bogger]

I've NEVER seen random testing being practiced....

Petro-Can, Shell, Syncrude, Imperial Oil(they tried it but lost in Human rights tribunal), DOW, Sherrit, Agrium, Suncore, all use pre-employment and post incident. I would suspect if Random was within thier rights they would jump on it. I've worked industrial construction as a safety coordinator for the last decade and never encountered Random testing.

Like I said Dale will have better info as he is a corporate safety management dude. I've always been front line.

 

[Bogger]

Its a real touchy subject...the rights of an individual vs the rights of a company...

I see both sides...and I would much rather work with a guy that smokes a joint at lunch, than a guy that drinks at lunch, but its the real hard drugs that we see in the field (crack and cocaine) that really bother me...very common!

I don't want him smoking a joint at lunch.... but that said if he chooses to smoke a joint at supper while I drink my 6-pack NO ISSUES.

 

[RMK Junky]

Go out to the bush where your miles from nowhere...random happens alot via helicopter.

 

[Bogger]

Go out to the bush...random happens alot.

It may happen...doesn't make it right...or legal

 

[Bogger]

If I am wrong and Random testing is being done legally (other than extremely high risk such as Nuclear plants) I would like to be pointed in the direction of the literature because it is news to me.

If I'm wrong I appologize and would like to ensure I am up to speed on this issue considering it is part of what I do for a living.

 

[RMK Junky]

It may happen...doesn't make it right...or legal

Funny how that works eh bog....

 

[Longhorn]

It may happen...doesn't make it right...or legal

I think we can all agree that it is 'uncomfortable' but you cant say it isnt 'legal as it is, as long as it is part of the company policy, and you have also waived the right to refuse a random test. This is the part that gets people...

Random testing is 'Illegal'...however it is NOT illegal to make random testing part of your safety program, and company policy, and ask a new hire to sign a document that they will follow and abide by company policy...now it is 'Legal' and VERY COMMON...

Dont forget the other 'loophole' which is 'cause and/or suspicion' which essentially says that even without a company policy, I can test anyone I feel fits a set of actions or suspicions, and this is 100% legal...

You can talk human rights till you are blue in the face, but fact is, if you want to work in the oilfield, you will agree to testing or you wont work, its that simple. Want to argue this upon hiring? You wont finish the interview...

 

[Longhorn]

And trust me, I am NOT condoning or arguing for EITHER side here, just stating the facts, and my experience in the field.

Just dont want you guys to think Im the new drug nazi on the site LOL

 

[Bogger]

Funny how that works eh bog....

How can they guarentee a sample will not be compromized when collecting in a remote location and flying it to a lab without the donor present?

Again I'm sure it happens, but it is against any protocol I've ever dealt with.

 

[Longhorn]

How can they guarentee a sample will not be compromized when collecting in a remote location and flying it to a lab without the donor present?

Again I'm sure it happens, but it is against any protocol I've ever dealt with.

Most testing is 'instant' result, THEN sent to another lab to verify...

And there are all kinds of tricks we see...I have tested 2 men 'pregnant' this year alone...and one of them still tested positive for THC and opiates, so moral of the story...His girlfriend is preggers, and has a drug problem, and he isnt getting a new job LOL

 

[RMK Junky]

That's the thing. Wether your on an assembly line for pampers or drilling through rock at the top of a mountain each industry enforces policies in different ways. The thing with the oilpatch that I see is it's a big problem area and remote areas are the worst. Random is done all the time it's how they deal with the war on drugs....litterally it's a war. How better to deal with the enemy if they can't see ya comin'.

 

[RMK Junky]

How can they guarentee a sample will not be compromized when collecting in a remote location and flying it to a lab without the donor present?

Again I'm sure it happens, but it is against any protocol I've ever dealt with.

the test is done right there and then

 

[Bogger]

And trust me, I am NOT condoning or arguing for EITHER side here, just stating the facts, and my experience in the field.

Just dont want you guys to think Im the new drug nazi on the site LOL

I as well am split on the issue, I don't condone drug/alcohol use at work but at the same time I strongly believe in a persons right to freedoms and privacy outside of work. And NO I don't personally partake. I do believe it is happening, but until I see contradicting legislation, I also believe they are lying to you about the legalities of it.

 

[Bogger]

the test is done right there and then

what kind of test?

 

[RMK Junky]

what kind of test?

I've only been envolved with swab test. There are drug test agencies that will be hired by an oil company to tests in remote areas. Pee in a cup usually in that case.

 

[Bogger]

I've only been envolved with swab test. There are drug test agencies that will be hired by an oil company to tests in remote areas. Pee in a cup usually in that case.

I'm glad I no longer have to deal with that crap......

In some ways good old commercial construction rocks...

 

[Longhorn]

I as well am split on the issue, I don't condone drug/alcohol use at work but at the same time I strongly believe in a persons right to freedoms and privacy outside of work. And NO I don't personally partake. I do believe it is happening, but until I see contradicting legislation, I also believe they are lying to you about the legalities of it.

As a safety guy here is my take...I agree Bog that you are infringing on the rights of the worker BUT...

What about the rights of the other 20 guys on the crew?? We do some pretty dangerous crap and man I do not want to trust my life to some guy that just snorted a line in his pickup during lunch and then is going to jump in a trackhoe or run a sideboom while I am spacing pipe...where are my rights at this point.

See there are at least two sides here so far...

Now, we can talk about the rights of the company that will lose a multi million dollar contract if there is a drug related incident on there job, because EnCana or whoever will skid them as a contractor...Now the company loses and all the other guys on that crew are laid off and out of work.

And lastly there is the client, lets use EnCana again, they also have the right to hire drug free workers as their prime contractors, as there can be catastrophic loss due to an accident on a pipeline, drilling or facility job...

When you add up all these people, the rights of one individual doesnt count for a lot anymore...

I will add this one last point before I go to bed...Most of us here have families, and what about their rights. What if your wife had to tell your kids that daddy isnt coming home tonight or ever again cause his buddy Johnny was doin a little crack at lunch, and accidently blew daddy up while they were doing a 6" gas tie-in...

Daddy fought hard to get rid of drug testing as he felt it was an infringement on his rights...The kids will never understand that one...

For these reasons, I follow the drug testing protocols set out by whatever client I am working for...

Testing has its place, just not sure where or when that is...

 

[Longhorn]

what kind of test?

I've only been envolved with swab test. There are drug test agencies that will be hired by an oil company to tests in remote areas. Pee in a cup usually in that case.

Yep, swab and pee tests are the two most common. They now can test hair folicle which is very accurate, and which is why we see some oilfield guys shaving their ENTIRE bodies, and again why crack is so prevalent...there are very few tests that will show crack after 24hr....

Because I work for a number of different companies, I tested 6 times in the past year...good news, Im clean, and not preggers LOL

 

[Murminator]

I've NEVER seen random testing being practiced....

Petro-Can, Shell, Syncrude, Imperial Oil(they tried it but lost in Human rights tribunal), DOW, Sherrit, Agrium, Suncore, all use pre-employment and post incident. I would suspect if Random was within thier rights they would jump on it. I've worked industrial construction as a safety coordinator for the last decade and never encountered Random testing.

Like I said Dale will have better info as he is a corporate safety management dude. I've always been front line.

We do random drug tests 2-5 per month for US DOT and for ourselves and also pre employment. The loop hole is for pre employment you get "permission" from the candidate if they say no or if they fail..... They do not meet our qualifications you do not have to disclose why..... When a person passes and is hired they signed a drug policy that give the company permission to do randoms as part of the contract. If they fail a random they are offered conciling and rehab paid by the company benefits if they refuse or fail follow up tests they are terminated as per the written contract.
No one ever just gets hired anymore that "paperwork" you will fill out and is gone through with you is an actually a contract agreed on by both parties. This is your job this is what is expected of you this is what happens if you do not follow the contract and by signing you agree to it and they will give you a copy for you to keep and read through. Lawyers write loop holes everyday.