Synthetic cannabinoids is becoming an easy workplace drug of choice for Australian high flyers and workers alike, increasing the risk of death and serious injury in the workplace.
Up to one third of Australians working in safety sensitive industries are getting away with taking the herbal and chemical product also known as kronic, legal weed, K2, Spice and Kaos.
According to one of Australia’s leading supplier of drug and alcohol screening programs, Medvet Laboratories, ambiguous drug testing policies are increasing the risk of death and serious injury in the workplace.
Medvet Laboratories national operations and technical manager Steve Korkoneas said mining, manufacturing, transport and construction organisations must ensure their drug testing policies proactively addressed synthetic cannabinoids.
“Synthetic cannabinoids is usually smoked and imitates the psychoactive and physical effects of real cannabis,” Mr Korkoneas said.
“Users may experience short-term memory loss, changes in sensory perception, a decrease in alertness and reaction time, loss of balance and coordination, feelings of euphoria, hallucinations and psychosis.
“The addictive drug is potentially 100 stronger than real cannabis, impairing workers’ ability to operate machinery, make sensible judgements and turn up fit for work.
“While synthetic cannabis has been banned in 16 countries and is illegal in Australia, regulation and control is limited, and legislation only outlaws specific compounds.
“People are subsequently creating new, modified compounds in order to dodge the system and legally sell the product on the street and in retail outlets such as delis.
“In fact, the Western Australian State Government’s drug testing laboratory has found that up to thirty per cent of miners had used synthetic cannabinoids and there was an average of ten percent usage across all sites.
“As synthetic cannabinoids does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical present in real cannabis, it cannot be detected by commonly used, on-site urine and oral fluid tests.
“While laboratory drug testing can detect synthetic cannabinoids, a suspected user can only be tested if the specific substance, required detection levels and method of testing are stipulated in the organisation’s drug testing policy.”
Mr Korkoneas said organisations must vigilantly monitor the introduction of drugs and create drug testing policies that could quickly adapt to new products as they became available.
“Organisations may need to review and expand their individual policies to take synthetic cannabinoids and other new drugs into account,” Mr Korkoneas said.
“It is estimated that 20-25% of all workplace injuries are a result of drug and alcohol use.
“Workplace drug testing should therefore be considered an essential element in all safety-sensitive industries.”
Mr Korkoneas offered the following tips on how to implement an effective drug and alcohol testing policy:
- -Establish a committee to oversee policy development.
-Outline the organisation’s aims and objectives.
-State who can be tested, prohibited substances, required detection levels and testing methodologies.
-Stipulate what constitutes an infringement.
-Describe how to identify an hindered person.
-Implement a trial period.
-Distribute the policy to all employees, regardless of position.
-Conduct mandatory information and training seminars.
-Regularly evaluate and modify the policy.
