[Article] Iarnród Éireann begins breath-testing staff

Victor

I thought this was old news?

http://breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhmhidaumhql/

Iarnród Éireann begins breath-testing staff
26/11/2007 - 12:06:46

Iarnród Éireann has begun to conduct random breath tests on staff members as part of a safety drive.

The company says spot checks started three weeks ago as part of its overall drug and alcohol policy.

So far, all the results have been negative.

Iarnród Éireann says it plans to test around 5% of its staff every year.

http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/breaking/11609240?view=Eircomnet&cat=Breaking%20News

Rail staff welcome random breath tests
From ireland.com 10:51 Monday, 26th November, 2007

New rules to carry out random breath tests on staff Iarnrod Eireann have been welcomed by rail workers, the company said today.

The breathalyser tests, which were initiated three weeks ago, will reinforce "the drugs and alcohol policy as part of the company's health and safety policy" spokesman for Iarnród Éireann Barry Kenny said.

He added: "We don't believe it [drugs and alcohol at work] to be a problem but in terms of health and safety it's something that we're doing in line with the Rail Safety Act."

Spot checks are to be carried out on 5 per cent of the workforce including drivers; booking staff; human resources and service depot staff.

Mr Kenny said that the tests had been agreed by the rail workers' unions. He confirmed that so far all tests have returned negative results.

Ham'nd'egger

Victor wrote: »

I thought this was old news?

http://breakingnews.ie/ireland/mhmhidaumhql/

They announced it was coming in a few years back, but found it wasn't a matter of just expecting staff to blow away into bags.

Some legal advice was sought by the company and the opinions gained were that it was a invasion of privacy to expect compliance straight off. There was also the matter that there wasn't any legal ability of the company to expect staff to remain sober off duty (Same for most companies); only to sober for duties.

Chris_533976

I'm surprised they didnt strike

godtabh

Hamndegger wrote: »

only to sober for duties

Isnt tha the point of testing?

Regardless of what you did in your own time you should show up to work sober and the random testing was to show this

ballooba

I know a IR employee who has been suspended a few times for being under the influence of alcohol. Not sure if he was breathalysed.

Ham'nd'egger

kearnsr wrote: »

Isnt tha the point of testing?

Regardless of what you did in your own time you should show up to work sober and the random testing was to show this

True; I agree with you, but the thing with a test is that it can be seen as being invasive. Not all that many companies have an actual testing policy so it needs to be done on a softly softly basis. Test procedures also need to be laid down properly and fairly in order to be accepted properly by staff and to ensure fairness; I am sure we all can agree on that.

Fair play to Irish Rail for bringing this in, it is a good move.

Davidth88

Years ago ( in the mid 90's ) I was staying in a hotel in Rosslare , having just arrived on the ferry.

I was drinking in the bar , quite happily talking to a guy , who was drinking pints with me .....

Anyway around 11:00 he tells me he has to go, he then says he has to take the train to Dublin.
I looked at him , said ' take the train , thats late , why didn't you get an earlier one ? '

He tells me when he says ' take the train ' , he means TAKE the train as in drive it.

It was then I noticed the IE uniform on ............

So perhaps the old breathalyer isn't a bad idea eh !

ian_m

I thought the unions would have had something to say about it. 5 percent of staff per annum is not much in my opinion.

godtabh

ian_m wrote: »

I thought the unions would have had something to say about it. 5 percent of staff per annum is not much in my opinion.

It may look bad on their part if they try to stop health and safety stuff.

BendiBus

ian_m wrote: »

I thought the unions would have had something to say about it. 5 percent of staff per annum is not much in my opinion.

Staff working under the influence in safety critical work can kill colleagues as well as themselves. These tests help ensure the safety of all railway staff as well as customers.

Victor

Staff reluctance seems to have been based on the fact that this system can be used to discipline people. Essentially it is a penalty points-type system, with enough indiscretions over a period of time leading, in say the case of drivers to the removal of their driving certification. They were suggeesting this was an erosion of conditions by the company.

Of course this is actually a common sense system that will save staff, passengers, third parties life, limb and money.

ian_m

Victor wrote: »

Staff reluctance seems to have been based on the fact that this system can be used to discipline people. Essentially it is a penalty points-type system, with enough indiscretions over a period of time leading, in say the case of drivers to the removal of their driving certification. They were suggeesting this was an erosion of conditions by the company.

Of course this is actually a common sense system that will save staff, passengers, third parties life, limb and money.

I think the implementation of these procedures is a good idea. Previously, all a driver had to do was check in and then he or she is cut off in the cab for the day. So essentially the driver could potentially even drink whilst on the job.

How many indiscretions do you think might be necessary for dismissal? I wonder could a dismissal be challenged. What might happen if a driver just refused to be breath tested? Could this be regarded as violation of duty?

Victor

I think it would be more straightforward if the RSC did the tests (although I imagine they are outsourced to a specialist anyway). I don't recollect how many points were needed or the points for each type of infraction.

There is no way for say a truck driver to get around penalty points like this.

www.rsc.ie

godtabh

Whats the RSC?

A Dub in Glasgo

I have worked under similar conditions for the last 14 years on the railways in Britain (under BR then the privitised companies). Every one of the companies called in specialists to do the screening. The screenings were threefold;

1. Random sample of the safety critical staff in the company
2. When a person moved to a safety critical post (even if that position was already in a safety critical post)
3. When your line manager suspected a person was under the influence

A Dub in Glasgo

kearnsr wrote: »

Whats the RSC?

Railway Safety Commission

godtabh

A Dub in Glasgo wrote: »

Railway Safety Commission

Thought it was something like that. Thanks for the link.

Victor wrote:

Staff reluctance seems to have been based on the fact that this system can be used to discipline people

What is the consequence at the moment of being caught drunk on the job?

I could see their view point if the tests werent random tests

Ham'nd'egger

Victor wrote: »

I think it would be more straightforward if the RSC did the tests (although I imagine they are outsourced to a specialist anyway). I don't recollect how many points were needed or the points for each type of infraction.

There is no way for say a truck driver to get around penalty points like this.

www.rsc.ie

Have the RSC any legal jurisdiction or powers to test IE staff for alcohol/drugs? And if so, under what laws?