Drug use at work

Kimbo600

Hello.

I am a regular forum browser on other parts of MSE but never had the need to make an account until now because I need some advise if possible please..

I work with heavy machinery.. Some folk lifts and some handlers etc.. It needs to be a very safe place.. I have worked here some years in our metal pressing area but as we moved that to elsewhere in the business I am moved to the warehouse department but I am beginning to fear alot about the people I work with and drug abuse. I have been working here two weeks.

- One person I see every morning with powder on his nose and struggling to stand up
- Another I know 100% smokes cannabis before shifts start - he drives a folklift!
- I found a can in the toilets with crushed white powder on it which I suspect is drugs
- One person had an ambulance come because of pain in stomach area, others laughed and said it was down to 'ket cramps'.. He seems 'out of it' alot! He drives machinery
- One of the workers bragged how him and a female member of staff were 'doing coke' all night at the last xmas party, he drives machinery
- Everyone says one member of staff is addiction to Tramadol and always 'necks' them at specific times.. I watched him and can confirm he has tablets at these times

- The manager there was reported for 'cocaine use' by a member of staff a few months ago which he denied.. Reported to the owner.. The staff member who reported him was sacked soon after for taking an unauthorised break, though he denied it was true and said it was revenge..

I really fear working here but as I've been part of the company for several years I get benefits I wont in other places and I am not very skilled and not many qualifications so Im worried about that.. And I have not worked anywhere else.. But also fear for my safety, I always see machinery not turned off properly or folk lift without breaks.. Last week the manager left the break off an outside folk lift and it rolled down the yard whilst he was at the toilet and went into the container about 10 metres down and stopped but that could have killed someone! He was reported for that but the owner kept it all quiet like he did the drugs accusation.

I have no faith in the owner to do anything they are friends.. I need my job I dont have a car and I can walk here and I struggled so long without a job.. Do you think I can have some drugs testing.. Maybe a union can help me and come to the work and test everyone for drugs and maybe the drug users will be sacked? I do not want to report it to the owner for me to be sacked like the last person.. But maybe if someone can come from the outside?

Im very inexperienced in work regards so looking for some help thank you..

sangie595

Kimbo600 wrote: »

Hello.

I am a regular forum browser on other parts of MSE but never had the need to make an account until now because I need some advise if possible please..

I work with heavy machinery.. Some folk lifts and some handlers etc.. It needs to be a very safe place.. I have worked here some years in our metal pressing area but as we moved that to elsewhere in the business I am moved to the warehouse department but I am beginning to fear alot about the people I work with and drug abuse. I have been working here two weeks.

- One person I see every morning with powder on his nose and struggling to stand up
- Another I know 100% smokes cannabis before shifts start - he drives a folklift!
- I found a can in the toilets with crushed white powder on it which I suspect is drugs
- One person had an ambulance come because of pain in stomach area, others laughed and said it was down to 'ket cramps'.. He seems 'out of it' alot! He drives machinery
- One of the workers bragged how him and a female member of staff were 'doing coke' all night at the last xmas party, he drives machinery
- Everyone says one member of staff is addiction to Tramadol and always 'necks' them at specific times.. I watched him and can confirm he has tablets at these times

- The manager there was reported for 'cocaine use' by a member of staff a few months ago which he denied.. Reported to the owner.. The staff member who reported him was sacked soon after for taking an unauthorised break, though he denied it was true and said it was revenge..

I really fear working here but as I've been part of the company for several years I get benefits I wont in other places and I am not very skilled and not many qualifications so Im worried about that.. And I have not worked anywhere else.. But also fear for my safety, I always see machinery not turned off properly or folk lift without breaks.. Last week the manager left the break off an outside folk lift and it rolled down the yard whilst he was at the toilet and went into the container about 10 metres down and stopped but that could have killed someone! He was reported for that but the owner kept it all quiet like he did the drugs accusation.

I have no faith in the owner to do anything they are friends.. I need my job I dont have a car and I can walk here and I struggled so long without a job.. Do you think I can have some drugs testing.. Maybe a union can help me and come to the work and test everyone for drugs and maybe the drug users will be sacked? I do not want to report it to the owner for me to be sacked like the last person.. But maybe if someone can come from the outside?

Im very inexperienced in work regards so looking for some help thank you..

Nobody who isn't the employer can impose drug testing on employees.

If you are concerned about health and safety then you can anonymously report to the Health & Safety Executive. But all they can do is inspect a workplace. They cannot force the employer to drug test and they can't drug test themselves.

BTW, what everyone says is not evidence of anything. If you watch me too, you will find that I take tramadol routinely every four hours. It's called a prescription, not an addiction!

Samsung_Note2

Either look for another job or call the Health and Safety executive and let them investigate the firm.

Your choices are limited to either walking away..joining in with the drug taking or as above call the HSE and let them investigate.

People will say they are not addicted..i did for years as i wouldnt admit i was,i can stop any time i want,but why should i as i dont want too.

Weak spineless people will always make excuses...until they realise they are in fact addicted and by then its a very hard to change,its possible but you need to want to before that can happen.

mpython

Kimbo600 wrote: »

......... Do you think I can have some drugs testing.. No Maybe a union can help me Do you belong to a union? and come to the work and test everyone for drugs No, they can'tand maybe the drug users will be sacked? sacking is an employer's decision not yours or a union'sI do not want to report it to the owner for me to be sacked like the last personSo the employer already knows about.. But maybe if someone can come from the outside?Like the police?

Im very inexperiencedHow long have you worked there? in work regards so looking for some help thank you..

As far as I'm aware, no UK employer drug tests its employees. Happy to be corrected

There are many professions where its illegal to be under the influence whilst working - e.g. airline pilots, taxi drivers, and some have been sacked whilst under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs, but its the police that test them based on reports from the employer or accidents that have happened.

marliepanda

mpython wrote: »

As far as I'm aware, no UK employer drug tests its employees. Happy to be corrected

There are many professions where its illegal to be under the influence whilst working - e.g. airline pilots, taxi drivers, and some have been sacked whilst under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs, but its the police that test them based on reports from the employer or accidents that have happened.

My work recently brought in drugs testing for those who drive vehicles and work in 'reaction' sensitive jobs. Our occupational health nurse performs the test.

My friend who operates heavy machinery has been subject to random drugs testing for at least 10 years. What makes you think nobody does?

Gavin83

sangie595 wrote: »

BTW, what everyone says is not evidence of anything. If you watch me too, you will find that I take tramadol routinely every four hours. It's called a prescription, not an addiction!

Does tramadol come with any restrictions, ie: are you allowed to drive or operate machinery?

Red-Squirrel_2

Gavin83 wrote: »

Does tramadol come with any restrictions, ie: are you allowed to drive or operate machinery?

From the PIL:

"Tramadol capsules may make you feel drowsy, dizzy or in rare cases blur your vision. This may be made worse if you drink alcohol or take other medicines such as strong painkillers with tramadol. Make sure you are not affected before you drive or operate machinery."

Mrs_CP

mpython wrote: »

As far as I'm aware, no UK employer drug tests its employees. Happy to be corrected

My previous employer, a very well-known international company, would test all employees for drug and alcohol on a random and 'with just cause' basis. A manager was dismissed for having cannabis in his system when tested. He never went near heavy machinery or drove any MHE.

Mrs_CP

OP - have a look at notice boards or within your handbook for a confidential hotline number, where you may be able to report the goings-on confidentially.

pogofish

mpython wrote: »

As far as I'm aware, no UK employer drug tests its employees. Happy to be corrected

It has become pretty routine in companies operating in the North Sea oil sector and has been happening for years now.

mpython

marliepanda wrote: »

My work recently brought in drugs testing for those who drive vehicles and work in 'reaction' sensitive jobs. Our occupational health nurse performs the test.

My friend who operates heavy machinery has been subject to random drugs testing for at least 10 years. What makes you think nobody does?

Thank you for that - just outside my sphere of experience.

https://www.gov.uk/monitoring-work-workers-rights/drug-testing