Contractors test workers at Westar site for drugs
By Bobbi Mlynar
Originally published 01:16 p.m., January 31, 2008
Updated 01:16 p.m., January 31, 2008
Unannounced, sitewide drug tests were administered Tuesday to workers at the Westar plant under construction northeast of Emporia on Road 200. One man claiming to be an employee said he had lost his job as a result of the tests.
The tests were done under the auspices of Overland Contracting, a subsidiary of Black & Veatch in Overland Park, according to Carl Petz, associate vice president and director of corporate communications.
“Black & Veatch and OCI has a drug and alcohol policy, and we conduct either what we would refer to as a site-wide test, or we can do random tests,” Petz said. “We do these things all over the United States, all of our projects.”
Petz cited safety as the reason to monitor workers for drugs and alcohol.
“The reason we do that is that we have the industry-leading safety record and we want to maintain that,” he said. “Safety has to be the No. 1 priority. ... It’s really about protecting the health and well-being of our professionals, as well as our client, Westar.”
Plant owner Westar, which hired Overlander, concurred with the need for such testing.
“We expect the same safety out of our contractors as we expect out of our own employees,” said Nick Bundy, Westar spokesman.
Petz said Overlander has a “zero tolerance policy.”
“To the extent we would have some failures, those professionals would be terminated,” he said. “What I can tell you is we’re still in the process of reviewing all of the results. But it’s also a company policy that we don’t discuss all of the results.”
Petz said that OCI had hired a combination of local staff, as well as having brought in OCI staff from other parts of the country.
“We try to support local hiring as much as we possibly can because it helps the local economy and it creates jobs,” Petz said. “We want to be a good corporate citizen and neighbor.”
A caller to the newsroom on Wednesday said that he had lost his job because of the test, and that he was certain that others also had been terminated for the same reason.
madpoet (anonymous) says...
Gee, I hate it when someone gets fired for coming to work with drugs or alcohol in their system. Especially when they're building something big and complex and potentially hazardous like an energy plant.
January 31, 2008 at 3:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
toofast (anonymous) says...
I think we need to take this drug testing to another level. We need to be drug testing all of the people who are collecting food stamps, disability, unemployment, and other forms of goverment payments. If I have to take a drug test to get and keep a job they should have to pass one to get their benefits.
January 31, 2008 at 3:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
09071976 (anonymous) says...
Too bad Washington doesn't feel the same way toofast.
January 31, 2008 at 4:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
emporialifer (anonymous) says...
Couldn't agree more with madpoet and toofast!
January 31, 2008 at 5:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
citizenT (anonymous) says...
toofast, what an excellent idea! I'd support that 100%!
January 31, 2008 at 5:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iamconcerned (anonymous) says...
A republican senator proposed this once and it was shot down by the democrats as being unconstitutional, go figure
January 31, 2008 at 6:16 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iamconcerned (anonymous) says...
I don't agree with Bush but it started long before him and Slick Willy. All I know is I don't want to see another term of the Clintons.
January 31, 2008 at 6:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
phiber101 (anonymous) says...
I agree with the idea of making those on unemployment, disability, food stamps and other forms of government assistance programs getting tested for illegal drugs. I don't agree one bit with someone sitting on their ass all day doing nothing (or drugs) and getting federal assistance......those are MY tax dollars that are being put into the system; however, you have to factor in that testing millions of Americans on a regular basis would end up costing us even that much more in taxes so it's almost a mue point. I know that I work hard for my money and I resent those who take advantage of the system and then complain when they lose their jobs because they got busted doing drugs.
January 31, 2008 at 11:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hottopics (anonymous) says...
I have seen the same comment around before and I agree that those in need should be drug free to get assistance. I have a relative who tried all his work life to get workers compensation and finally BS'd his way into SS disability but he spends at least 12 hours a day in the local bars. HE IS A DISGRACE.
As for these workers who are losing their jobs to the drug tests......I have no sympathy for you if you were that stupid. You guys make killer wages that most here would only wish to make.
February 1, 2008 at 12:27 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jackslap (anonymous) says...
Nothing like a bunch of Drugs, and washing it down with Booze.... TGIF..... OH YEA!!!!!!
February 1, 2008 at 9:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
toofast (anonymous) says...
Phiber 101
I cannot believe that it would cost anywhere near the amount of money to run a drug test on these individuals than we would save in benefits. My plan would be you come up "dirty" you loose benefits for a year.
TO ALL
Just another thought to ponder. When was the last time an elected official ever got a random drug test? (Govenor, Congressman, Commisioner) Do these rules apply to everyone or just to the working person?
February 1, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
phiber101 (anonymous) says...
toofast - you mentioned in your first post that ALL individuals getting government help (i.e. food stamps, disability, unemployment, etc) should be tested for illegal drugs. I do agree with that but when you factor in the cost (maybe just an intial cost basis) for setting up and paying thousands of lab technicians.....the cost would be a hefty one. if that was going to be the standard, our taxes would increase dramatically to help with the cost of building new labs, hiring qualified techs, etc. I do agree that anyone caught using illegal drugs SHOULD lose ALL their benefits for a minimum of one year. that sounds like a good plan to me!
February 2, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Here comes the ACLU.
February 2, 2008 at 5:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )