The Fair Work Commission has described a union's defence of a worker who was sacked for a serious drug breach as "illogical", but stressed that dismissing workers shouldn't be the automatic response to failed workplace drug tests.
Construction companies will be required to test their workers for drugs and alcohol to be eligible for Victorian Government contracts, under a controversial plan to amend the industry's Code of Practice announced this morning.
A Victorian Office of Public Prosecutions solicitor was unfairly sacked for "misconduct" after his bouts of depression affected his work performance, attendance and conduct, the Federal Circuit Court has ruled.
Endeavour Energy's renewed push to replace oral swabbing with urine tests - as part of its drug and alcohol policy - has been rejected by the Fair Work Commission, despite a national association's recent decision to suspend accreditation of workplace saliva tests.
Employers should consider reassessing their workplace drug testing regime in light of a recent National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) decision relating to saliva tests, according to law firm Ashurst.
A worker has failed to convince the Fair Work Commission that his positive drug test was "exacerbated" by the surge of adrenalin he experienced while fighting a fire on a front-end loader.
The provision of simple information booklets can help mitigate the health risks associated with FIFO work, such as sleep and weight problems, Australian researchers say.
An employer unfairly sacked a train driver for allegedly breaching the new national rail safety laws, after he failed a drug and alcohol test when he attended work for a meeting, the Fair Work Commission has found.
Employers urged to maintain "hard-line" anti-drug stance despite cannabis study; Shrinking NSW IRC to be less effective at tackling bullying; WA to crack down on unsafe supervisors as ACT issues supervision guide; and Seven overhead powerline incidents prompt warning.
