important message ---------------------------------------- from: aidat date: 20 october 2012 to:...

IMPORTANT MESSAGE----------------------------------------

From: AIDATDate: 20 October 2012

To: Australian WorkplacesCc: Industries, Unions and WHS Regulators

Re: D R U G T E S T I N G H A R M O N I S A T I O

N ----------------------------------------------------------------------

DISCLAIMER: Although this presentation is made in support of Safe Work Australia Week, it is not authorised by Safe Work Australia and does not represent any official or other views of Safe Work Australia, who may not endorse, adopt, confirm, guarantee or approve of any material or representations in this AIDAT presentation.

http://www.drugtesting.org.au/

UniformDrug Testing

Standards

© Copyright 2012 AIDAT ® Drug Testing Today ®Australasian Institute of Drug & Alcohol Testing Inc.

All rights reserved.

Roadmap to

Drug Testing Today®

By

Sylvest LarsenSafety Ambassador

Safe Work Australia Week


Drug Testing Lawswithout Flaws

All TestingAll Workplaces, All Roadsides

All States, All TerritoriesAll Australians

© Copyright 2012 AIDAT ® Drug Testing Today ® Australasian Institute of Drug & Alcohol Testing Inc. ®

Same Standards

Drug Testing Trends

State Rail Bus Ferry Road Air FWA L.Gov.

FED 2013* 2008 2012

VIC 2004

TAS 2005

SA 2006

NSW 2006 2012

QLD 2007

WA 2007

NT 2008

ACT 2010


* The Australasian Railway Association will set up a new single National Rail Safety Regulator in January 2013, which will replace the seven state-based regulators in Australia. NRSR will replace 46 pieces of state, territory and national legislation related to railway safety, bringing national, consistent and uniform (drug testing) regulations.

? Urine Oral

Drug Testing Milestones 1988-2008

1988: Ronald Reagan introduces urine based mandatory drug testing in federal workplaces for illicit drugs

1995: Standards Australia introduces AS 4308 urine drug testing for illicit and prescription drugs

2004: Victoria is the first state to introduce random roadside oral fluid drug testing for illicit drugs

2006: Introduction of AS 4760 - the world’s first oral fluid based drug testing standard for illicit drugs

2008: Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) introduces AS 4760 based mandatory testing for illicit drugs


Drug Testing Milestones 2009-2012

2009: AIRC Full Bench: urine to be replaced with oral fluid when AS 4760 accredited laboratories are

available

2009: The first laboratory is NATA accredited to AS 4760 oral fluid (for screening and confirmatory testing)

2010: ACT is last, and Australia first country, to adopt random roadside, AS 4760 based, drug testing

2012: The first oral fluid based on-site/rapid drug test is NATA certified to AS 4760 (screening testing)

2012: FWA Full Bench declares AS 4308 urine testing to be replaced with AS 4760 oral fluid for all testing


Key Drug Testing Rulings [2009] FWA 424: Random, drug & alcohol testing justified

at dangerous refinery - for safety-critical staff only

[2009] AIRCFB 428: Urine to be replaced with oral fluid as soon as accredited laboratories becomes available

[2010] NSWIRC 1068: On-site, urine testing of truck drivers justified - in the absence of accurate oral fluid tests

[2011] FWA 8288: On-site, urine testing of coal miners ruled more effective than current, deficient, oral fluid tests

[2012] FWAFB 4998: Urine “unjust and unreasonable” and to be replaced with oral fluid for all testing purposes


Key Drug Testing Standards

DrugsUS NIDA

1988, UrineWorkplace

AS 43081995, UrineWorkplace

AS 47602006, OralWork/Road

Amphetamines

Benzodiazepines

Cannabis

Cocaine

Opiates

Phencyclidine Irrelevant Irrelevant


Conformity: All standards test for most common illicit drugs Discrepancy: Only AS 4308 tests for BZO prescription drugs

[2012] FWA Full Bench 4998

DrugsUS NIDA

1988, UrineWorkplace

AS 43081995, UrineWorkplace

AS 47602006, OralWork/Road

Amphetamines

Benzodiazepines

Cannabis

Cocaine

Opiates

Phencyclidine Irrelevant Irrelevant


Progress: AS 4760 replaces AS 4308 for all testing purposes Regress: Benzodiazepines (BZO) to be included in all testing

Benzodiazepines (Benzos, BZO)

Benzos are a group of 30+ drugs called minor tranquillisers prescribed to help people cope with grief or trauma, to help calm people and relieve anxiety or to help people sleep.

● Anxiety/Stress ● Nervousness ● Depression ● Sedation ● Insomnia ● Seizures ● Muscle Relaxation ● Panic Attacks

Benzos are depressants which can cause drowsiness and other impairments. Extended use (against medical advice) can lead to tolerance and dependence, and BZO can also be misused in combination with alcohol and other drugs (AOD).


Permanent Problem

By adding benzodiazepines (BZO) to the testing menu you mix common prescription medicine with illicit drugs (cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, ice and heroin).

“Employees shall not have to disclose any information about prescription medication - unless and until they have returned a confirmed positive drug test” (FWA).

With increasing popularity of on-site testing, staff testing“positive” to BZO will be sent home in front of colleagues(often branded as illicit drug users), before the screen testhas been confirmed and the usage/prescription validated.


Pending Problems

BZO is not part of current oral fluid standard (AS 4760)

The number of BZO drugs to be included is not clarified

No (official) cut-off levels have been set for above drugs

No (accurate) rapid/on-site testing devices are available

No (accredited) on-site testing providers are available

It has taken 25 years to develop an accurate on-site test forillicit drugs, and it may well take another five years beforeon-site screening becomes available for AS 4760 complianttesting incorporating the most important benzodiazepines.


Drug Testing Status


Fair Work Australia

Standards Technology Australia & Industry

- are not in sync any time soon ..



Drug Testing Perspective

Review ∙ Refine ∙ Resolve

Drug Testing Regime

ReasonNon-Safety-Sensitive

Safety-Sensitive

Pre-employment

Periodic Check-up

Random/Blanket

Suspicion/Incident

Counsel/Follow-up

Rehab/RTW

AS 4308 AS 4760

Urine Oral


Endeavour Energy

Drug Testing Regime


Safety-Sensitive

Pre-employment + BZO + BZO

Periodic Check-up + BZO + BZO

Random/Blanket + BZO + BZO

Suspicion/Incident + BZO + BZO

Counsel/Follow-up + BZO + BZO

Rehab/RTW + BZO + BZO

AS 4308 AS 4760

Illicit & BZO Illicit Drugs


Fair Work Australia

Drug Testing Framework


Safety-Sensitive Setting

Pre-employment Clinic

Periodic Check-up Clinic

Random/Blanket Work

Suspicion/Incident Work

Counsel/Follow-up Work

Rehab/RTW Clinic

Unjustified

Justified



Drug Testing Options




Periodic Check-up ? Clinic

Random/Blanket Work


Counsel/Follow-up ? ? Work

Rehab/RTW Clinic

AS 4308 AS 4760

Urine Oral



Drug Testing Code




Periodic Check-up Clinic

Random/Blanket Work


Counsel/Follow-up Work

Rehab/RTW Clinic

AS 4308 AS 4760

Illicit & BZO Illicit Drugs



Drug Testing Demarcation

UNIFORM Drug Testing MODEL

HEALTH(Medical)

SAFETY(Operational)

Area Pre-employmentPeriodic, Rehab

Work, Road, RailBus, Ferry, Air

Setting Medical Facility Work/Roadside

Domain Private Public

Participation “Voluntary” Mandatory

Notification Announced Unannounced

Specimen Urine Oral Fluid

Drug Classes Illicit & BZO Illicit

Detection Window Days Hours

Standard AS 4308 AS 4760




At last, two standards, relying on different specimens,revealing different pictures, serving different purposes,can be applied in unison - complimenting each other.

AS 4308 AS 4760


Drug Testing Harmonisation

On the road For employers and at work and employees



Drug Testing Synchronisation

- is one small step away

Clarity ∙ Simplicity Consistency ∙ Stability

which you can take today ..

Drug Testing Mission

ESTABLISHMENT OF

Uniform Standards



Drug Testing Mission

AKA OPERATION

“Double Standards”



Workplaces, employer associations, trade unionsand other organisations with an interest in

Uniform Drug Testing Standards

Thank You

© Copyright 2012 AIDAT ® Drug Testing Today ®Australasian Institute of Drug & Alcohol Testing Inc.

All rights reserved.


www.drugtesting.org.au


Drug Testing Invitation

please register here

http://www.drugtesting.org.au/html/register.php


important message ---------------------------------------- from: aidat date: 20 october 2012 to:...

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