Stockton mine workers test positive for drugs

Results of drug and alcohol tests at the Stockton opencast mine have been revealed. File photo / Herald on Sunday

Of 31 people nabbed in drug and alcohol tests at Stockton opencast mine in June, four tested positive for methamphetamine (P), Solid Energy has revealed.

The company conducted blanket testing of 880 employees and contractors at the West Coast mine during the week of June 20.

Four tested positive for P, 15 for cannabis - including a supervisor - and 12 for synthetic cannabis/herbal highs, Solid Energy revealed in response to an Official Information Act (OIA) request from the Westport News.

None tested positive for alcohol.

The company had initially refused to reveal the drugs detected or say whether any supervisors or managers had been caught.

But Solid Energy said it had reconsidered its earlier refusal "in the light of public interest".

Contractors made up almost a third of those caught. Two had tested positive for P and nine for cannabis.

Solid Energy said it had "zero tolerance" for any substance that impaired the ability to work safely.

Solid Energy had not responded to questions about whether any of those caught were repeat offenders and how many, if any, were sacked, by the newspaper's deadline.

The company said last month that those who tested positive for the first time were referred to an external programme for support and could return to work when they had successfully completed it.

Anyone who tested positive more than once had broken their contract and would face further discipline.

Blanket testing is part of Solid Energy's standard drug and alcohol testing procedure. It includes random, causal and pre-employment testing at all its sites, including offices.

In 2008 drug testing at Stockton netted 18, mostly cannabis users, despite workers receiving a month's notice of the tests.

- NZPA