Two utility workers caught smoking marijuana with undercover officers last fall were not subject to random drug tests.
However, Augusta does routinely screen about 1,300 of its about 2,775 personnel, and last year nine lost jobs after testing positive for marijuana, cocaine, opiates or alcohol, according to Augusta's Risk Management Division.
Responding to an open records request, the office released the names of departments where employees failed the tests. On the advice of the Augusta Law Department, it refused to reveal their names or the positions they held, saying the records did not exist at the time the request was made.
The most prevalent illegal substance turning up in drug screenings last year was cocaine, with four employees testing positive. Two worked for Augusta Utilities, one worked for the Richmond County Sheriff's Office and the fourth was an Augusta firefighter.
Second most prevalent was marijuana, with three positive tests resulting in terminations. Two of those employees worked for the utilities department; the third worked for the sheriff's office.
Two other utilities employees lost their jobs last year after testing positive for alcohol and opiates.
Augusta's personnel manual specifies that employee urine samples be tested at a minimum for marijuana, cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine (PCP) and amphetamines. Risk Management Manager Sandy Wright said the randomly drawn samples are rarely tested for other drugs such as steroids, because of the high cost.
Random testing isn't the only way an employee can be selected for a drug screening. Wright estimated that half of 2010's positives turned up in mandatory testing performed after an employee was injured, involved in an accident on the job or turned in by a supervisor who suspected drug use.
Among public safety personnel, Augusta randomly screens all certified law enforcement officers, jailers, 911 operators, firefighters, airport rescue employees and correctional officers.
Safety-sensitive personnel subject to random screens include employees who maintain airfield facilities or vehicle traffic controls, supervise children, coordinate public food concessions, service or repair city vehicles or operate vehicles requiring a commercial driver's license.
In the utilities department, which has about 300 employees, only those who mix chemicals with water, operate control rooms or use a commercial driver's license to operate heavy equipment are subject to random tests.
However, if you drive a utility department vehicle, you can be high as a kite while on duty- no problem.
RC would be up the creek if an accident happened in a county truck and you had an impaired driver. I think you better rethink you policy.
I say "It's about time"...better safe than sorry...All employees have an obligation to remain drug free while on duty...Common Sense should dictate this policy....
"Most" companies will definitely do random tests on ANYONE that drives a company vehicle or works in a sensitive position "
TR- there's MOST places, and then there's A-RC government. Where common sense is a scarce commodity.
When hiring is based on friends and family, and convicted criminals are welcomed with open arms, no, they don't do drug tests.
Why spend money for the obvious?
"...caught smoking marijuana with undercover officers..."?
I suppose the undercover officers didn't inhale, or maybe just one of them did, since only one deputy has been fired for marijuana use. Or do deputies get to use drugs without penalty if it's job-related?
And what is "routine screening"? Routine implies a predictable pattern, like once each year on your birthday. If you know the routine, just abstain for a week or so before. Why not use random screening, like the military?
And do random screening for every employee, including the mayor and every other elected official. Publish the results in the Chronicle, just like the health inspection scores of restaurants.
Richmond County follows a model program reviewed and approved by the DOT/FTA. Our program (in a nearby county) uses a similar program. Random testing is held to individuals recognized in safety sensitive jobs. Post accident testing is required for all vehicle accidents and injuries that require medical attention. Reasonable Suspicion testing is perfomed when management is alerted that an employee may be working under the influence of alcohol or an illegal drug. Testing for all employees would be too costly and financially irresponsible.
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