Editorial: Worker's case needs closer look

Peter Corkill says toast with poppy seeds were the cause of a positive drug test.

They're tiny, verging on nondescript, seeds scattered on bread as an afterthought. But they've packed a mighty wallop for Whangarei's Peter Corkill.

Mr Corkill provided a urine sample as a standard pre-work drug test, and it showed traces of opiates. His sample was sent off for further testing, and opiates were confirmed.

The traces were low, in the range that poppy seeds are known to show in. Mr Corkill says he can account for the opiate traces via four slices of toast he ate that had poppy seeds on them.

Mr Corkill is a casual worker and had been offered work at the NZ Oil Refinery at Marsden Pt, with contracting company South Pacific Industrial (SPI).

As a casual worker, Mr Corkill is employed when work is available.

He is also subject to stringent drug testing - all workers are, because safety is paramount on the refinery site.

Mr Corkill's test result meant he missed out on three to four weeks work.

But the black mark that is now next to his name could mean he no longer gets offered future.

Mr Corkill has been told he can't appeal the decision, which seems odd. Somewhere, there must be a process where he can log his complaint, have it reviewed and be re-tested?

It would be grossly unfair to discriminate against him until there had been further examination of his case.

The test Mr Corkill has failed is part of a robust refinery policy focused on worker safety.

But the policy around what happens when you want to challenge the process seems muddy.

Based on Mr Corkill's findings, he has has fallen into a crack, taking his employment prospects with him. He at least deserves a chance to climb back out, and prove his innocence one way or the other.