 BA runs breath tests for alcohol and urine tests for drugs |
Drug and alcohol testing for all UK-based staff by British Airways comes into force on Sunday. Employees will be subject to breath tests for alcohol, or urine tests for drugs, if they are suspected of being under the influence.
The company's move is an effort to extend legal limits for pilots, to cover staff at airports.
Tests will also be used if drugs or alcohol are thought to be involved in accidents at work.
The airline says it is offering confidential support for employees who may have a problem with drink or drugs.
Criminal offence
The new tests are in addition to a company policy which says staff must not be impaired by drugs or alcohol when at work.
And it follows the introduction of national safety laws giving police the power to breathalyse on-duty flight and cabin crew and engineers if they believe alcohol limits have been exceeded.
The alcohol limit for all ground staff will be the current UK drink drive limit of 80mgs of alcohol per 100mls of blood.
The 2003 Railways and Safety Transport Act limits flying staff to the nearly zero amount of 20mgs of alcohol per 100mls of blood.
And it makes being over the limit a criminal offence for flight staff and engineers.
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