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ON-SITE WORKPLACE drug testing is on the rise. The New Zealand Drug Detection Agency has released its annual statistics with on-site workplace drug testing up 31 percent in 2012, with the NZDDA carrying out 68,561 on-site drug screenings. This number has increased from the 52,124 conducted in 2011. The NZDDA on-site alcohol screening tests are up 32 percent from the previous year. Positive results for alcohol have gone down, with 0.4 percent in 2011 and 2012 and 1.9 percent in 2010. NZDDA's workplace drug tests are retested at Canterbury Health Laboratory for independent verification. CHL uses sensitive equipment to identify individual drugs, as opposed to drug classes, meaning that prescription drugs are eliminated from test results. Positive results are known as "nonnegative" with 6.4 percent of tests carried out in 2012 showing nonnegative results. Cannabis (THC) remains the most commonly detected drug in workplace screening. Results for cannabis have increased, with 71 percent of non-negative results detecting the drug in 2012 and only 68.5 percent in 2011. NZDDA plans to include synthetic cannabis test results in their 2013 statistics. NZDDA's 2012 report provides hair testing data for the first time. Hair testing gives a history of drug and/ or alcohol use over the 90 days prior to testing. Of the 200 tests carried out, 65 returned positive results – 38 tests found cannabis and 29 detected methamphetamine. NZDDA chief executive Chris Hilson says hair testing mostly takes place for "white collar" pre-employment testing and the testing of witnesses in court. "Most of our testing takes place in the safety-sensitive sectors such as forestry, transport and construction – sectors in which it's vital for employee safety but also for their customers and suppliers, and in some cases, the general public," says Hilson. "The rise in the number of on-site workplace drug and alcohol tests in 2012 illustrates that many more employers are taking workplace safety very seriously." Soldier drowns when standing orders breached PRIVATE MICHAEL ROSS, aged 29, drowned during a training exercise on a lake near Waiouru in September. Chief officers of the New Zealand Defence Force met with family members to tell them of the series of failures which led to the drowning. Ross fell overboard and his life jacket failed to inflate due to an empty gas canister. According to procedure the previous user of the life jacket was responsible for the re-filling of the canister and the equipment had not been checked prior to the exercise. The lifejackets had been provided by the navy and no training had been given for their use. The boat was found to be improperly inflated which led to poor balance, causing Ross to be pitched overboard. Ross was weighed down by equipment, his machine gun, ammunition, webbing and helmet. Ross managed to stay afloat for over a minute alerting his fellow soldiers that he could not inflate the life jacket, but the boat was unable to return to him quickly enough due to engine trouble. A safety boat attempted rescue, but did not have a diver and medic, a breach of standing orders. When the boat arrived Ross was unable to gain hold of anything and there was no one to haul him aboard. When the inflatable boat also reached him he had already slipped below the surface of the water and the two soldiers who dived in to rescue him were unable to find him. "He was an experienced soldier and the best swimmer in the platoon, but with all those things that happened, there was no way he was going to make it," said a source. The investigation into Ross's death found that the inflatable boat had been used to cross the lake initially without a safety boat, another breach of standing orders. The commanding officer will face internal charges over the breach and Ross's family has sought legal advice and awaits the completion of all inquiries before commenting. Sergeant Mark Toms of Taihape was unable to comment on the findings of the police report until an inquest, however an inquest date has not yet been set. The health and safety investigation underway by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment is nearing completion and prosecution action seems a likely outcome. ANNOUNCING ANOTHER BREAKTHROUGH IN SAFETY. . . KIWI SHAFT SEAL TM NOW FITTED WITH HEAT SENSOR A Warning Light and/ or audible Alarm will be activated BEFORE the Kiwi Shaft Seal is compromised due to lack of coolant/ lubrication. Allowing safe return to dock to affect repair. Fit a Kiwi Shaft Seal for added SAFETY. Now available at: Marine Solutions Gulf Harbour (09) 424 1260 (09) 416 6460 (07) 866 0551 HENLEYS PROPELLERS & MARINE LTD VIP.S93 DRUG SCREENING ON THE RISE May/June 2013 Professional Skipper 41