Drugs & Alcohol Testing during training.

[Ditop23]

Hi all.

I just read on another thread, (survival tips for hotel living) someone commented that they knew of a D & A screening that took place during training. Has anyone else had this experience? Is this a common practice across all TOC's during training?

I think it's a good idea, as alot of trainees who do drink, may let their guard down as they think through training thet won't get tested like when they're a fully qualified driver.

 

[High Dyke]

It has happened during IST. Any work related event could lead to a potential for D&A testing to occur, it would come under the random testing regime.

Years ago I was attending a Network Rail seminar at Westwood, when it was still open. Having an on-site bar and leisure facilities was an invitation to possible issues. Random screening even took place there.

 

[Stigy]

I’ve known of it happen too. To be honest though, unless you go mad and have a proper binge, chances are you’d pass the screening anyway given the usual start time of training.

 

[king_walnut]

They came and did the whole building on day 3 of my training. It happens.

 

[Ashley Hill]

It’s good to observe the 12hr rule. If you start at 0800 then finish drinking by 20.00 the night before. Now that doesn’t mean go out and drink as much as you can by 20.00! A social pint or two should hopefully suffice and not get you into hot water the next day. Even in training you can still be sacked for being over the limit. Remember, the railways limit is less than that for car drivers.

 

[HeelBurton]

Hi all.

I just read on another thread, (survival tips for hotel living) someone commented that they knew of a D & A screening that took place during training. Has anyone else had this experience? Is this a common practice across all TOC's during training?

I think it's a good idea, as alot of trainees who do drink, may let their guard down as they think through training thet won't get tested like when they're a fully qualified driver.

Highly likely to be done during this period to make you aware anyone can be selected at any point

 

[D3WY]

I was told at GTR on day one we could be pulled in for testing anytime from that moment.

 

[driver9000]

Random unannounced D&A screening is a fact of life for safety critical staff on the railway. Doesn't matter if you've done 1 day or 40 years service you can be selected at any time.

 

[Ditop23]

Why do they not just do hair sample testing for drugs. (3 months in the system)
As there are people in the industry who take recreational drugs knowing the drugs are out of their system within 5 days! People literally have a hedonistic weekend knowing it's all out of their system the following week. If they have a weeks holiday!

This seems like a big flaw in the D and A testing... I understand they might be more expensive than urine samples, but surely it's a price worth paying.

 

[transportphoto]

By and large, railway colleagues respect their job more than they do recreational drugs.

I’m going to nip this thread in the bud before it becomes speculative (and/or discusses the pros/cons of each approach to testing.)

I believe the OP’s original question has been suitably answered.