Last week we sent three employees for random drug tests. It is routine and necessary in a plant with cranes, tons of steel and hazardous fabrication equipment.

All three employees failed and were discharged. This is the first time I can remember that all of the prospects failed. One had levels of marijuana and the other two had high levels of cocaine or opiates. Usually no more than one out of three fails and it is commonly a surpise which one it is.

In our environment marijuana is often the most dangerous drug because of the way it affects both depth perception and response time. For us it is purely a safety issue and not a comment on the drug laws. They could just as easily have been fired for alcohol which is legal.

Our position on drug testing is clear to all our workers, yet they put their safety and their jobs at risk. These three employees just brought home a sour Christmas to their families.

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