drug & booze testing
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drug & booze testing
Just recieved the pamphlet in the mail today re 'drug & achohol' testing. it's going to start at random on any airport about mid this year & not just pilots either.
I personally don't have a problem with it but I do notice that the people who are doing the testing are an outside group contracted CASA to perform these tests. Fair enough I hardly think CASA have the expertise to do the testing but the only thing that concerns me is that will the testing be done in a professional manor & handled accordingly if proved positive for reasons that are perhaps beyond the control of the tested person. (medication of Eg) Obvioulsy I am not aware of all the details but assuming the testing personal have had experience with road users & now they have access to airside where the world can be different, will we see a different sort of result than from out on the Rd?
Comments anybody?....professional comments of course
CW
I personally don't have a problem with it but I do notice that the people who are doing the testing are an outside group contracted CASA to perform these tests. Fair enough I hardly think CASA have the expertise to do the testing but the only thing that concerns me is that will the testing be done in a professional manor & handled accordingly if proved positive for reasons that are perhaps beyond the control of the tested person. (medication of Eg) Obvioulsy I am not aware of all the details but assuming the testing personal have had experience with road users & now they have access to airside where the world can be different, will we see a different sort of result than from out on the Rd?
Comments anybody?....professional comments of course
CW
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Everyone know's drug's are illegal & alcholo in quanties can effect the way we mentally think.....
Common sense you dont rock up to work drunk.
Common sense you dont take drugs and be under the influence.
You get caught, you pay the time......... your own stupid fault
Common sense you dont rock up to work drunk.
Common sense you dont take drugs and be under the influence.
You get caught, you pay the time......... your own stupid fault
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Common sense you dont take drugs and be under the influence.
So what will happen to you when you take some over the counter medication or something you purchase from your local supermarket - that contains a very small amount of codine for your dull headache that just occoured on the way to your work - as you going to still go to work or are you going to call in sick?
There are thousands of people that would take something for a dull headache or 'other pain' that is not going to affect the way they work - but this might show up when your tested
Looks like the only way around this is to go and talk to your DAME and get them to prescribe you something for your dull aches and pains - and then you will have to carry another piece of paper in your nav bag to show to CASA when tested
What if you say no to a test - will the testing people be able to stop you from flying - how will they stop you ? Are they going to lock the door on your plane ??
Just throwing it out there - i think there are probably alot of questions that people are going to ask about this and if there is some constructive answers out there from people that actually know the answers - please post them on here.
I think the testing is a great thing - just like it is being introduced on the roads more and more (drug testing). Maybe more people will be sensible about what they do the night before work.
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yeah well '320' we are talking about humans here, not machines.
Remember the same humans who get caught time after time for drink driving are the same humans who can be & are pilots etc. Being a pilot means nothing. You don't need to be any smarter than someone who can read & write English and have average manipulative skills to be able to fly. We are just as venerable as the next guy, you said it yourself..............Everyone know's drug's are illegal & alcholo in quanties can effect the way we mentally think.....
Yr comments are obvious & I agree totally but only when under the influence of common sense but it will be interesting to see how many do actually get pulled up & caught.
Hopefully none.
CW
Remember the same humans who get caught time after time for drink driving are the same humans who can be & are pilots etc. Being a pilot means nothing. You don't need to be any smarter than someone who can read & write English and have average manipulative skills to be able to fly. We are just as venerable as the next guy, you said it yourself..............Everyone know's drug's are illegal & alcholo in quanties can effect the way we mentally think.....
Yr comments are obvious & I agree totally but only when under the influence of common sense but it will be interesting to see how many do actually get pulled up & caught.
Hopefully none.
CW
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littlehurcules - I want to point something out that I didnt make clear
What I mean is the 'hard' drugs, with the likes of Cocaine, ice etc.... Not the every day headache tablets, cold & flu - thats fine.... There must be acceptable standards and tolarations for the body to take in the effect of traces of codine [found in headache tablet's]
Doesnt mean your nicked, if you fail a drug test..
Common sense you dont take drugs and be under the influence.
Doesnt mean your nicked, if you fail a drug test..
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Been an paramedic myself [probationary, before changing jobs] I have been to many incidents where alcohol has been a major factor in the preceedings;
- A Guy [high on ice] though he was superman and punched in a glass door, splitting his arm open
- Responded to a head on car prang where the guy blew 0.10!!!!
the drunk driver caused four deaths
- A male passenger on the train, assulted an elderly man after he was 'caught' looking at his girlfreind at the time, he ended with a broken jaw, three ribs, and 21 stiches......
- Woman passed out on the side of the road after drinking too much.....
It is obvious that all these contribute to the factors above and play a major part......
Although you can drink socially and have a good time, hard drugs as SS320 mentioned are just not on...
- A Guy [high on ice] though he was superman and punched in a glass door, splitting his arm open
- Responded to a head on car prang where the guy blew 0.10!!!!
the drunk driver caused four deaths- A male passenger on the train, assulted an elderly man after he was 'caught' looking at his girlfreind at the time, he ended with a broken jaw, three ribs, and 21 stiches......
- Woman passed out on the side of the road after drinking too much.....
It is obvious that all these contribute to the factors above and play a major part......
Although you can drink socially and have a good time, hard drugs as SS320 mentioned are just not on...
I don't want to be the best pilot in the world - Just the oldest
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I think just the possibility of being tested will be enough to make anyone think twice about flying or carrying out other essential duties whilst under the infulence. For those who want to run the gauntlet, well all we can do is hope that the system will eventually catch up.
In my job I'm constantly subject to being called down to the gate to p1ss in the bottle but in 14 months it hasn't happened yet. Regardless, the thought that it could is enough to make sure I keep the cap on the JB bottle until after hours.
Back in mid 90s the ADF was going to bring it in and I remember warning all the blokes on morning parade. For some reason though it still hadn't been implemented by the time I left in 2000.
Maybe they followed the advice "if you know you won't like the answer - don't ask the question"
In my job I'm constantly subject to being called down to the gate to p1ss in the bottle but in 14 months it hasn't happened yet. Regardless, the thought that it could is enough to make sure I keep the cap on the JB bottle until after hours.
Back in mid 90s the ADF was going to bring it in and I remember warning all the blokes on morning parade. For some reason though it still hadn't been implemented by the time I left in 2000.
Maybe they followed the advice "if you know you won't like the answer - don't ask the question"
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If you do not already keep a medicine log, now is the time to start. Remember mud sticks and a false positive may cause all kinds of problems.
Keep track of what you take, when it was taken, how much and what for. This will go some way to supporting your case should there be a positive result.
False positives happen far too regularly.
Keep track of what you take, when it was taken, how much and what for. This will go some way to supporting your case should there be a positive result.
False positives happen far too regularly.
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after many years of cr@p patterns and very ordinary rostering ie lates then earlies then lates again, I occasionally aid my journey to snoozetown with a temazopam tablet which is used by many other pilots (and flighties for that matter) as a sleeping tablet. Of course any residual trace of this in your system and its outski.
Its not so much the alcohol, although in past I have overdone it on occasions, but the days of not being able to sleep and 'popping' a temtab are coming to a close, because I will not risk it. If it means that if I cannot sleep due to the companies ordinary rostering I will call in sick. I refuse to have some contractor such as a security screener or a state policeman take a sample and then make an example of me in front of the whole aiport terminal.
Its not so much the alcohol, although in past I have overdone it on occasions, but the days of not being able to sleep and 'popping' a temtab are coming to a close, because I will not risk it. If it means that if I cannot sleep due to the companies ordinary rostering I will call in sick. I refuse to have some contractor such as a security screener or a state policeman take a sample and then make an example of me in front of the whole aiport terminal.
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I honestly believe that this will cause more trouble then it's worth.
A true and professional pilot would never willingly risk the life of his passengers or crew and fly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is a shame that a few pilots try to bend or break the rules and we all end up paying for it. But in saying this I have been flying for a couple of years now and have not know any pilot or operator who takes drugs or would be stupid enough to get behind the yoke half pissed.
Just my opinion of cause, maybe I am not looking hard enough??
False positives will be the biggest battle for us for sure!!
A true and professional pilot would never willingly risk the life of his passengers or crew and fly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It is a shame that a few pilots try to bend or break the rules and we all end up paying for it. But in saying this I have been flying for a couple of years now and have not know any pilot or operator who takes drugs or would be stupid enough to get behind the yoke half pissed.
Just my opinion of cause, maybe I am not looking hard enough??
Ndicho Moja
If you do not already keep a medicine log, now is the time to start
If you do not already keep a medicine log, now is the time to start
False positives will be the biggest battle for us for sure!!
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Professional pilot's don't barrell roll ATR's either, but it happens!
So what after a positive breath test? Off for a blood test I assume? What happens to the passengers while the pilot is hauled away for a blood test?
What happens to the 'B' sample from the blood test?
Many many questions left unanswered...
So what after a positive breath test? Off for a blood test I assume? What happens to the passengers while the pilot is hauled away for a blood test?
What happens to the 'B' sample from the blood test?
Many many questions left unanswered...
Not the every day headache tablets, cold & flu - thats fine
Actually, you'd be surprised what everyday medicines will turn a positive test. I have on occasion taken Lomotil to get me out of Bali - can't anymore.
Sudafed - nope...
Better get yourselves educated - and fast!
Sprucegoose
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No need, it won't affect me, unless of course I get a false positive!
PS: I have now read the documentation a little closer, after positive reading wait 20 minutes and then do another test!
PS: I have now read the documentation a little closer, after positive reading wait 20 minutes and then do another test!
As someone who when working in the mines has returned two false positives for drugs I have never seen in my life I have grave reservations about these procedures.
I am on the ramp with pax ready and tested and I get a positive (which is false). Then what?
I have great faith that the testers will afford flight crew the same level of respect as security in the terminal....
I am on the ramp with pax ready and tested and I get a positive (which is false). Then what?
I have great faith that the testers will afford flight crew the same level of respect as security in the terminal....
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Please excuse my ignorance on this people but I had a quick squiz at the pamphlet that's been doing the rounds, but I'm unsure of the exact tested drugs and quantities. I have done the avmed course and know the list from the CASA site but are all of those drugs being tested? Is it a zero tolerance for something like Sudafed? They are testing all employees, not just aircrew and will they have the same requirements for the unacceptable medications?
Sounds like it might be a bit of a complex thing with juristrictions and legality. I personally think it's not a bad thing but as someone has pointed out what happens if the back is playing up and I take a panadeine, can I lose my job? There might be some interesting results in the early stages. I had random drug tests on minesites for over 10 years with the alchol componenet and it worked well but they were only testing for illegals not the prescribed.
Sounds like it might be a bit of a complex thing with juristrictions and legality. I personally think it's not a bad thing but as someone has pointed out what happens if the back is playing up and I take a panadeine, can I lose my job? There might be some interesting results in the early stages. I had random drug tests on minesites for over 10 years with the alchol componenet and it worked well but they were only testing for illegals not the prescribed.
They were testing for illegals at both the mines where I got false positves. The first test was done in a lab in Cairns and it was not until I got to site that I found out about the barbiturates, but they weren't concerned as we were contractors.
The second was a piss test on site at either Granites or Century (they all blur into one). Woman dismissed the opiates reading with "you don't look like a druggie, so let's not worry about it!!!"
I say again that I have never seen either of these drugs in my life and the only 'medication' I had been on was one Anticol two days prior to the Cairns test to ward off a sore throat.
And is there any legislation forcing us to undertake the test?
The second was a piss test on site at either Granites or Century (they all blur into one). Woman dismissed the opiates reading with "you don't look like a druggie, so let's not worry about it!!!"
I say again that I have never seen either of these drugs in my life and the only 'medication' I had been on was one Anticol two days prior to the Cairns test to ward off a sore throat.
And is there any legislation forcing us to undertake the test?
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I saw the thread title and got excited thinking I might be able to get into this gig....... testing drugs and booze...... good job I reckon. seems I was wrong and the title a tad misleading. 