Council to randomly drug test their staff

West Lothian Council is introducing random drug testing and a zero tolerance drug and alcohol policy for employees.

Unions have voiced concerns that some council staff are being targeted unfairly.

The council’s partnership and resources policy development and scrutiny panel heard the plan was to introduce random tests for “safety critical” roles.

These include HGV or bus drivers, as well as those who operate heavy machinery – around 1,500 staff.

Testing for other staff would be on a “with cause” basis following a manager’s concern there was a reasonable belief an employee was under the influence at work, where an incident had occurred or where there was a complaint or whistle-blowing incident.