Pubdate: Mon, 20 Jul 2015
Source: StarPhoenix, The (CN SN)
Copyright: 2015 The StarPhoenix
Contact: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/400
Author: Jason Warick
Page: A1

MINING BOSS FRUSTRATED BY DRUG TEST FAILURES

The owner of a Saskatoon mining company says it's getting tougher to 
find good workers after nearly all recent applicants failed a routine 
drug screening.

All applicants had the required equipment training and some even had 
sales experience or university education for the lucrative positions, 
most of which paid between $30 and $45 per hour. But over a 10-day 
period last month, 22 of 26 people who wanted a job with Xtreme 
Mining and Demolition failed the drug test, said owner Leonard Banga.

"I was surprised, for sure. That's way higher than it's ever been," Banga said.

Most of the failures - 17 of them - were for cocaine rather than 
"softer" drugs like marijuana. Marijuana was detected in one sample 
and amphetamines in another. Two other samples detected agents 
attempting to mask illicit drug use, and one man attempted to give a 
sample by hiding a bag of urine and a tube under his armpit.

The tests shouldn't have been a surprise, Banga said. The explanation 
of pre-employment drug testing is on the application form, and 
prospective workers are given 48 hours notice.

"I guess they knew they were getting tested and still decided to do 
coke. It really makes me think," Banga said.

Banga used to see the occasional failure, and it was almost always 
young, single men. The recent failures included a number of much 
older men with families.

"Imagine coming home and telling your wife why you didn't get this 
job? They all want to blame the system, but they should take a look 
in the mirror," he said. "I can't let someone like that work for me. 
They could hurt themselves or someone around them."

Banga said there aren't many jobs in Saskatoon that pay so well and 
require only a few months of training - a high school diploma isn't 
even required. He said those willing to work on the northern Canadian 
sites can earn up to $65 per hour. With his company expanding into 
Alberta and British Columbia, and a growing number of contracts with 
Saskatchewan potash miners, it took Banga a lot longer than he 
expected to find drug-free workers.

He's now filled those positions, and is confident his current staff 
will follow the rules. He said he's never had a positive drug test 
following the mandatory post-incident evaluations. There have been no 
other on-the-job drug failures, although a few have quit on the spot 
rather than be tested.

Lori Boen of Your Choice Drug and Alcohol Testing said most workers 
expressed surprise when told their result. She said a few revealed to 
her that they conducted a home test themselves before coming for the 
screening and passed.

Boen, a registered nurse with specialized training to collect and 
analyze samples, said workers may have passed less rigorous tests in 
the past. Her test, however, can catch drug use which may have 
slipped past others.

She checks for seven types of drugs, as well as masking agents, in a 
cup containing built-in test strips. The test even detects 
abnormalities in the urine's temperature to see if it came from 
inside the person's body or not.

"I feel bad for them, but everyone has a right to come home safe," she said.

Banga believes the spike in test failures mirrors the explosion of 
illegal drugs on Saskatoon streets. Banga said police are doing all 
they can, but he'd like to see an even greater crackdown on the gangs 
and dealers peddling the drugs. He hopes that will lead to a safer 
city, but also safer workplaces.

"Unless the streets change, I can't see this getting any better," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom