Posted on 07/18/2009 4:18:42 AM PDT by don-o
OAK RIDGE - Four security guards at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant were fired after testing positive for steroids, a spokeswoman for Wackenhut Services Inc., the government's security contractor, confirmed Friday.
The guards' union, however, is challenging two of the cases, claiming that the positive readings were linked to use of over-the-counter supplements.
News of the drug firings comes just a few days after Wackenhut confirmed that three Y-12 guards had been suspended without pay for bringing electronic game devices into the inner sanctum of the high-security weapons facility.
Security police officers at Y-12 are subject to regular and random drug testing, but those tests are typically for Schedule I and II drugs, such as cocaine and marijuana. Courtney Henry of Wackenhut said the company began testing some guards for anabolic steroids, a Schedule III drug, "for probable cause."
snip
In response to questions, Wackenhut said seven Oak Ridge security guards - all of them at Y-12, where nuclear warhead parts are manufactured and dismantled - were asked to submit to tests for steroid use.
"The seven individuals complied, which resulted in two found to be negative," Wackenhut said. "One was positive but had a valid prescription; and four were positive with no prescription and were terminated under the provisions of the (Wackenhut) policy."
(Excerpt) Read more at m.knoxnews.com ...
Whack a nut security services.
This is stupid. Someone explain how steroids affect their work performance.
Looks like they wanted these guys gone and had to take some extended measures.
Let me preface this by saying that I do not think steroids should even be controlled (require Rx, illegal to sell or trade without license, etc).
However, because steroids currently are controlled, it is possible that their source for steroids is not exactly an otherwise clean kind of person, and it is this association with their dealer which could be of legitimate concern to the NNSA/BWXT. But I very much doubt this was the concern.
Most likely, as someone else pointed out, there was a desire to terminate their positions for reasons unrelated, but a justification subject to the terms of the union agreement was needed.
Also, standard drug tests by the DoE and DoD do not look for (or at least do not record) steroid presence - the test needs to be specifically requested (for the DoD, though tests can be performed as a result of direct command, either probable cause or consent is required for the results to be applicable for Article 15, Article 1128a, and such - obviously none of this is applicable for civilian employment under BWXT).
Not BWXT, probably Wackenhut. OOps.
It could be because they became type A assholes. These guys weren’t doing just a little to be noticed like that.
That is kind of funny. Usually those type A types are the ones who succeed... promoted to their level of attitude! Must have threatened another type A with more power, :-).
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