Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 17, 1993 TAG: 9308170446
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
But there was no consensus on what role the state should play, if any, in regulating drug-testing in workplaces across Virginia.
Brenda Minnick, occupational medicine manager at Lewis-Gale Hospital in Salem, said the state's role should be limited to drug-testing programs for its own agencies.
She related the experiences of a furniture company with two Roanoke Valley plants that began testing its employees in 1991.
From September 1991 to February 1992, she said, 17 percent of those tested showed indications of drug use. From February to October 1992, that dropped to 13 percent and now it is down to 5 percent, she said.
As the percentage of drug-use findings dropped, she said, production and quality went up.
Minnick said businesses without drug-testing programs would end up with employees rejected by companies that do test. "They will experience the problems which come from not having a drug-testing program," she said.
Ed Bradley, human resources director at Appalachian Power Co., said its random testing program since March 1992 has come up with only six positive findings in 1,767 employee tests at all levels including senior management.
The six who tested positive were fired. About half are appealing.
"Deterrence is the goal we seek to accomplish," Bradley said. "No clean employee is harmed - only users."
Lt. George Daniels of the Virginia State Police, a committee member, said his organization's testing program is similar to Apco's and has the same goal.
Thomas Blos, president of Local 987 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers at Apco, said a majority of the union members have supported testing from the start because they feel it makes for a safer working environment.
"We have a lot of employees who say, `I don't care if I'm tested every month because I'm drug-free,' " Blos said.
The hearing at Wytheville Community College drew about a dozen people but only three speakers.
It is one of three hearings scheduled by the Virginia Department of Labor and Industry. The agency was charged by the 1993 General Assembly with studying the matter and submitting findings and recommendations to the governor and 1994 legislature for possible legislation.
Marilyn Mandel, director of the office of planning and policy analysis with the department and chairman of the study group, said about 10 people spoke at an earlier hearing in Charlottesville. Generally, they felt that the state's role should be in education and training for drug-testing.
There will be one more hearing, Wednesday in Norfolk.
At this point, Mandel said, the study group has an open mind on "whether the state should get into it. . . . It's still on the table for discussion."
by CNB