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Cate wrote: "I've been asked to give my views on drug and alcohol testing in the workplace. . . " You may want to look at "Drug testing in the workplace: the report of the Independent Inquiry into Drug Testing at Work." June 2004, Joseph Rowntree Foundation. http://www.drugscope.org.uk/goodpractice/ ki_pubs_template.asp?sid=6&id=19&title=Drugs+in+the+workplace or go to www.drugscope.org.uk>Good Practice & Research >Community & Social Exclusion>Key Issues>Drugs in the workplace Drawing on evidence from a wide range of professionals and experts, this report examines: the context for today’s debate about workplace testing; the business case for testing; the scientific, legal, ethical, social, economic and cultural dimensions; and the growth and development of testing in the UK. The report reaches three main conclusions: Drug testing can have a role to play in sectors where safety or public trust is an issue. But it has no role in the majority of workplaces, and should never be used simply to investigate the private lives of staff. Drug testing can, at most, have only a limited impact on safety and performance. Testing the general workforce is a costly and divisive way of managing staff and an inappropriate use of managerial power. The Inquiry was concerned about the unsatisfactory means for accrediting and regulating drug testing laboratories. It calls on all services to bring themselves up to UK Accreditation Standards or to set up an equivalent regulatory system within three years. A voluntary system is not acceptable. Chris Dyer Editor Health and Safety Bulletin ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please remove this footer before replying. For list archives and documents, go to http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html for list archives For jobs in Occupational Health, go to http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/OHJobs/