Mandatory Drug and Alcohol Testing for BC Construction Workers

All unionized construction workers in B.C. who have had workplace accidents or near misses will now face mandatory drug and alcohol testing under a groundbreaking industry-wide policy.

Construction unions and contractors in the province have ratified a substance-abuse testing and treatment policy that applies to all unionized construction workers.

Drug and alcohol testing will also be conducted on employees when there's reasonable suspicion of on-the-job impairment.

The Construction Labour Relations Association and the Bargaining Council of British Columbia Building Trades Unions heralded the policy as the first industry-wide pact on substance abuse in Canada.

Clyde Scollan, president of the labour relations association representing employers, told CBC News the new policy is a good "compromise" to enhance worksite safety.

"What this policy does is try to balance the safety needs of construction owner and contractor and the workers' rights as individuals," Scollan said Thursday.

The program checks for alcohol and nine common drugs, including marijuana, but all sides insist the program will only measure current impairment and won't affect the after-hours actions of workers.

Scollan said workers who test positive for drugs will not face dismissal but will be barred from the job site until a doctor who specializes in substance abuse has conducted a second test and given approval. Those workers will have to undergo followup testing for up to two years.