Report: Nearly 150 plant workers tested positive for drugs (at nuclear power plants)

Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, PA) ^ | 11/14/2003

[LizardQueen]

D'oh!

LQ

[ClintonBeGone]

Let me interject and assume that snopercod may actually consume two glasses of wine with supper.

Well, according to his wife he's a cheap SOB and won't provide guests anything better than Boone's Farm. :(

[SuziQ]

The majority of the 143 workers with positive drug tests at both Three Mile Island and the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station were short-term contractors,

Does this mean they don't have anything to do with the continual RUNNING of the place? If they are not involved in the OPERATIONS of the plants, then the headline is inflammatory!

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[jmc813]

Thanks, I've searching for good oral-tests that are better then the 85% accuracy now available, the need for immediate test results is huge in industry now a days....

If you don't mind my asking, what business are you in that you feel that drug tests are a sound investment?

[Semper Paratus]

How many West Wingers in the Clinton WH failed background checks and how got booted as a result.

Hint, answer is in the middle of Homer Simpson's donut.

[dakine]

Many private companies have drug-tests as a requirement for hiring, plus public (read: government) employment such as military, police, etc. test regularly....

[robertpaulsen]

"what business are you in that you feel that drug tests are a sound investment?"

He's in the business of staying in business.

Reform the tort laws that say the employer is responsible for injuies caused by an employee under the influence, then maybe there won't be a need for employers to test everyone.

[jmc813]

Reform the tort laws that say the employer is responsible for injuies caused by an employee under the influence, then maybe there won't be a need for employers to test everyone.

Can't argue with that. As a small-l libertarian, I fully support the rights of private businesses to set their own employment policies, including drug testing. I did hear a while back, though, that testing is not exactly cheap, so I was curious as to how testing fit into a cost/benefit analysis.

[ClintonBeGone]

--I did hear a while back, though, that testing is not exactly cheap, so I was curious as to how testing fit into a cost/benefit analysis.--

I've read employee drug use cost employers some $6600 per year. For a test that cost even $200, its probably a good investment.

http://www.labcorp.com/ots/why_drug_test.html

[OldFriend]

All those lamebrains at the last dem debate thought it was something to cheer about when the candidates admitted (bragged) about being marijuana users.

Will the media now get all huffed and puffed about this report??? Of course they will.

[lancium]

did they say over 100ng/mL ?


I think the standard federal drug test is 60ng/mL and most people try to stay below 50 for that

[TexKat]

Do they all have the same supplier?

Who is their supplier?

What nationality is their supplier?

[eleni121]

The issue here is the illegal use of cocaine, marijuana, and amphetamines. No nuclear facility should have druggies running it.

They should have been fired immediately.

[chimera]

No nuclear facility should have druggies running it.

Probably true for people involved in safety-related functions, like operations, plant engineering, and security. Howver, if you're busting the person who cleans out the latrines, the safety implications of that are probably less severe. Likewise for groundskeepers, receptionists, secretaries, painters, window washers, etc. (i.e., contractors).

[eleni121]

...if you're busting the person who cleans out the latrines, the safety implications of that are probably less severe.

I understand the reasoning but then again I remember reading about the strategies the Soviet/other Communists used to infiltrate important institutions. One is to take the menial jobs which even though may not have direct access to the serious stuff do have access nevertheless. These guys are also easily "bought"

[chimera]

But you were talking about "druggies", people whose judgement and performance are supposedly degraded by their using illegal substances, not spies or saboteurs.

Security/background screening is routinely done for persons who have access to sensitive areas of these facilities. If someone is not adequately cleared, they are escorted at all times.

[N. Theknow]

The issue here is the illegal use of cocaine, marijuana, and amphetamines. No nuclear facility should have druggies running it.

They should have been fired immediately.

Union won't ALLOW that to happen. Caught a druggies at CL&P and the union got him moved to be superintendent of the tool crib with a nice raise in pay.

[eleni121]

But you were talking about "druggies", people whose judgement and performance are supposedly degraded by their using illegal substances, not spies or saboteurs.

Druggies can be compromised easily because of their addictions. One result of that: Becoming a saboteur.

Security/background screening is routinely done for persons who have access to sensitive areas of these facilities. If someone is not adequately cleared, they are escorted at all times.

Back to my original point about the rest of the "non-sensitive" positions. They can be as damaging to operations as any scientist or engineer who is cleared regularly.

Bottom line: any and all drug users should be fired.

[eleni121]

Union won't ALLOW that to happen. Caught a druggies at CL&P and the union got him moved to be superintendent of the tool crib with a nice raise in pay.

As I believe and many others as well: unions have become the 5th column in this nation. The ACLU and the unions are kissing cousins...