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‘Ice’ is crystal methamphetamine, a form of methamphetamine (d-methamphetamine) Why do people take methamphetamine?  Methamphetamine use (including ice) increases levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates sleep, mood and appetite. Its use results in feelings of intense euphoria, exhilaration and increased arousal and activity. This can result in the user feeling alert, energised, talkative, happy, confident and powerful. The effect of any drugs, including methamphetamine, can have a significant impact on workplace health, safety, relationships and productivity. Methamphetamine use can impact on the workplace in several ways. ·          Some people may use methamphetamine while at work because they feel it improves their ability to work. For example, shift workers, hospitality staff or long haul drivers may use it to help them stay awake and concentrate for long periods of time. In reality, it affects the way a person sees the world and how they react t

The new fitness for work amendments under the Building Code 2013 will commence on Friday, 16 October. Master Builders Australia welcomes the phased approach to implementing the drug and alcohol fitness for work amendments for the building and construction industry under the Building Code 2013. The new fitness for work amendments under the Building Code 2013 will commence on Friday, 16 October. This will require contractors to have a comprehensive policy for managing drug and alcohol issues in the workplace which includes mandatory drug and alcohol testing on Commonwealth funded projects. Fair Work Building and Construction will be responsible for monitoring compliance and will have a three stage approach to auditing the drug and alcohol testing requirements. FWBC will initially help industry understand the implications of the policy through education. The second stage will consist of audits with a view to providing feedback on their compliance with the requirements

New drug and alcohol tests for building sites In an attempt to improve workplace safety standards on construction sites, the Federal Government has announced plans to introduce compulsory drug and alcohol testing on building sites. Mr Abetz on Friday introduced amendments to the Building Code to improve workplace safety standards on construction sites. Fair Work Building and Construction will be responsible for auditing contractors to ensure they have a fitness for work policy in place within 28 days. "It is essential that workers on construction sites do not present a risk to themselves, their co-workers, and the public by having drugs and alcohol in their systems," Senator Abetz said. "Safety is a paramount consideration on construction sites. It is simply an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of employees and the public to have workers affected by drugs or alcohol on construction sites." For further information and to access th

Drug testing both saliva and urine can be OK in the workplace, says Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission For the first time, the Full Bench of the Fair Work Commission has endorsed an employer's right to enforce a drug testing regime that incorporates both random saliva and urine testing, in an important decision which gives employers more scope to manage safety risks in the workplace (Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union ‒ Construction and General Division v Port Kembla Coal Terminal Limited [2015] FWCFB 4075). Although the Full Bench allowed the CFMEU's appeal, it still concluded that a policy that required employees to undergo both forms of testing was reasonable , given the deterrent value of the testing and its role in allowing the employer to identify and manage safety risks at the workplace. Read more

As many are aware accuracy of Saliva Drug Testing and the detection of THC is frequently questioned. There is substantial research in the last 15 years that indicates that Saliva Drug Testing for THC is quite unstable, even with monumental advances in technology in recent years it still remains so. I don't want to create a "how to buy good marijuana article" however some practical facts need to be covered as well as the technical information.   Below is a typical product insert for a saliva test device showing the types of THC molecules tested. This tests detects both the Parent THC and the metabolite THC-COOH   Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) (Parent) 50 ng/mL (-)-11-nor-Δ 9 -THC-9-COOH 12 ng/mL 11-Hydroxy-Δ 9 -THC 300 ng/mL 11-nor-Δ 8 -THC-9-COOH 12 ng/mL The emphasis is on detection of the Parent Drug at 50ng as that is deposited in the mouth via when marijuana is smoked.

Privacy Intrusions and When Drug Testing in Australia National Law Review 19 May 2015 There has been a long running battle in Australia about whether an employer, when testing for drug use, can ask employees to provide a urine sample. Many unions have resisted the introduction of urine testing, arguing that saliva testing is sufficient and, as such, the process of sampling urine is an unjustified invasion of privacy. Employers, however, want to have both methods available, arguing that saliva testing has recognised limitations. Last month, the Fair Work Commission ( Commission ) sided with an employer by granting them the right to perform both saliva and urine testing on its employees for drug use. More...........

Staying drug-safe at work By Staff Writers - Government News Continued recreational drug use in Australia presents an urgent challenge for local governments to show leadership to ensure all their staff have a safe workplace, according to testing expert Michael White. A recent United Nations report on worldwide drug use showed that, per capita, Australia has the highest rates of dangerous and illicit drug use in the world. In effect, Australians are the world’s highest users of Ecstasy, Ice and Cannabis, and many of those drug-using Australians work in local government jobs. The variety of potentially dangerous roles carried out by local government employees is of significant concern to Michael White, who says that local governments need to get serious about drugs in the workplace, and develop procedures and protocols to ensure local government worksites are drug-safe. “Council workers are driving trucks, operating heavy machinery, in charge of roadside mowers, bu