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From: ronc@fai.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.misc
Subject: Re: Drug testing
Message-ID: <207@fai.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 3-Jun-86 16:14:01 EDT
Article-I.D.: fai.207
Posted: Tue Jun  3 16:14:01 1986
Date-Received: Sat, 7-Jun-86 00:53:58 EDT
References: <1929@ihlpg.UUCP> <10600209@uiucdcs> <1953@ihlpg.UUCP> <919@mhuxt.UUCP> <1965@ihlpg.UUCP>
Reply-To: ronc@fai.UUCP (Ronald O. Christian)
Organization: Fujitsu America, Inc.
Lines: 36

In article <1965@ihlpg.UUCP> dms@ihlpg.UUCP (Spang) writes:
>> > If you had any idea how it must feel to
>> > work with someone on a plate shear knowing he's just had a lunch of 2 jays
>> > you might see what I mean.
>> > Debra Spang
>>     And of course, since a four martini lunch could leave someone just as
>> debilitated, you would support firing anyone who had drunk any alcohol within
>> the last month, right?
>First - I have no idea what your point is.
**
I believe he is pointing out that the current system is to get tested
*before* you start your employment to try to determine if you've ever
(to the limits of the testing procedure) done illegal drugs.  This would
then be used as a criteria for your prospective employment.  I haven't
yet heard of anyone proposing *regular* tests, although I guess it's
possible.  The plate sheer operator you describe would be 'caught' by
regular testing, but they're not doing that.  (Although why you didn't
consider ratting on him is beyond me.)  Employers who are doing this
testing are assuming that they can prevent people from doing dangerous
drugs on the job by not hiring those who have done dangerous drugs before.
Using the same rule, however, one could argue that one should not hire
anyone who's ever used alcohol, another drug which if taken on the job
in sufficient quantities could make you a hazard to yourself and others.
The present criteria for defining a dangerous drug is: drugs that are
illegal.  No thought is given to testing for dangerous, but legal, drugs
such as alcohol, tranks, etc.


				Ron
-- 
--
		Ronald O. Christian (Fujitsu America Inc., San Jose, Calif.)
		seismo!amdahl!fai!ronc  -or-   ihnp4!pesnta!fai!ronc

Oliver's law of assumed responsibility:
	"If you are seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it."