Cleanaway Alcohol Testing

• General News
• 29th June 2016

The TWU fully understands the need for drug and alcohol policies in the workplace ;mind altering substances and work do not go together.

However, we believe there needs to be some tolerance and the opportunity for a second chance for those who test positive.

Which leads me into a story about a new alcohol testing system recently introduced at all Cleanaway depots.

Under their new ZERO TOLERANCE policy, employees are required to blow into newly installed wall-mounted breathalyzers that must have cost the company a small fortune.

And if the slightest trace of alcohol was identified – the blower was made to wait 60 minutes before testing again.

If the second test didn’t show ZERO ALCOHOL – that was it. No more second chance. Out the door you go buddy!!!

Even if you had toiled for the company for 20 or 30 years – if you had a stubby the night before and blew 0.001 that was it. TERMINATION.

Now I reckoned that was a bit rough and so did many of Cleanaway’s drivers. Even those whose lips never touch a drop of alcohol.

The great Aussie belief in a fair go and everyone’s right to a second chance if they f..k up, came to the fore.

We approached Cleanaway with our concerns about their new policy and I must admit they were pretty reasonable on the issue.

To make a long story short we reached a compromise position on the tests that both parties could live with.

Employees will now be able to do a “voluntary” test by entering the prefix 999 to their employee identification number.

If you blow any numbers you take a second test within 60 minutes.

If you are still over zero you are driven home with no disciplinary action taken against you.

But you are then excluded from “The Second Chance Lotto” testing for the remainder of the year.

If you blow above again, that year, you are in serious trouble.

And at that point I am afraid there will not be much we can do.