Barnsley Council staff could face drug and alcohol testing

The proposal is to be discussed by the council's cabinet on Wednesday

If the policy gets the go-ahead, any Barnsley Council employee could be randomly selected for drug or alcohol testing.

A report on the proposal states that if a manager had concerns about a specific employee’s behaviour, targeted testing would apply.

The report states: "The council is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for its employees, customers and visitors.

"This includes ensuring that employees are fit to carry out their duties safely and effectively in a working environment which is free from alcohol and drugs misuse.

"The importance of drug and alcohol testing has been increasingly recognised across the United Kingdom, not only because it is necessary to fulfil regulatory requirements, but due to the potential, financial and reputational implications, of not doing so."

Coun Alan Gardiner, cabinet spokesman for corporate services, said: "The misuse of alcohol or drugs could affect not only an employee’s work performance, but also their health and personal life.

"As a council we are committed to protecting the health of our staff and we will operate a zero-tolerance policy on the abuse of drugs or alcohol that will impact on an employee during the working day.”