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Union to mount challenge against drug tests for miners

By Babs McHugh ABC Rural

Miners preference Saliva Drug Tests over Urine Drug Tests

A union plans to mount a legal challenge against urine testing for drugs on mine sites.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union has called it intrusive and degrading and wants urine tests replaced with saliva tests.
Secretary of the West Australian branch, Steve McCartney, says saliva tests are used by police and the judiciary and should be implemented on mine sites.
"Now we've got the technology that proves saliva testing works, why would we have our members subjected the indignity of having to do a urine test?" he said.
"Not only a urine test, but a urine test in company (of others) or under camera surveillance.
"So there's an issue for our members that's there somebody from the company standing around while you're urinating in front of them, while there's a test that proves the same fitness for work by simply putting a stick in your mouth and checking your saliva.
"Why should they be subjected to it?"
Saliva tests pick up readings of drugs that are currently in the system, while urine tests can give readings on drugs that have been used some time previously.
"My understanding is the saliva tests meet an Australian industry standard and it's supported by the West Australian police and criminal courts as a legitimate test for readiness to either drive a vehicle, or, in this case, work on the job," Mr McCartney said.
"We believe there's a lot of other things they could be concentrating on around workplace safety to save more lives than trying to make our members expose their genitals and urinate in a cup, when there's a test that can do the same thing."
Read the full article here

 MediNat Australia supplies the Mining and Gas Industry with both Urine and Saliva Drug Testing Kits for mpreliminary onsite screening.

MediNat is soon to release a new range of urine drug test cups for onsite tests.
Including K2 + 6 Drugs and 6 Adulterants, also a new larger cup coming soon!

We also supply some of the most reliable and accurate Saliva drug tests available
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