how common is drug testing in the UK?
BBC News Online contacted a handful of blue-chip companies in the UK and asked each for its policy on drug testing. Three of those questioned – Railtrack, BP and Shell – admitted to some form of random drug testing. Railtrack said it randomly tests 5% of employees. “We have a policy against drugs and alcohol. Any worker discovered to be using drugs would be sacked immediately,” a spokeswoman said. BP said it was company policy to test all people who work offshore. Drug testing was commonplace in the oil industry, said a spokesman. “For people on the mainland it’s harder to enforce, but they would certainly receive advice or discipline if they were found to be using drugs.
