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WORKINGATHEIGHTTHEATRE
WORKINGATHEIGHTTHEATRE
TheWorkplaceHealthandSafetyLegalFrameworkforCannabisUsebyAdv.HendrikTerblanche
• TheConstitutionalCourtruling.• Thescience.• Whatismeantby“undertheinfluence”as,andif,referencedinoccupationalhealthandsafetylegislation?• Whatarethelegalrequirementsinhealthandsafetylegislationregardingpersons“undertheinfluence”?• Whattestscantheemployerusetodetermineifapersonis“undertheinfluence”?
Content
• MinisterofJusticeandConstitutionalDevelopmentandOthersvPrince(ClarkeandOthersIntervening);NationalDirectorofPublicProsecutionsandOthersvRubin;NationalDirectorofPublicProsecutionsandOthersvActon(CCT108/17)[2018]ZACC30;2018(10)BCLR1220(CC)(18September2018)• http://www.saflii.org/za/cases/ZACC/2018/
ConstitutionalCourt
• Itisdeclaredthat,witheffectfromthedateofthehandingdownofthisjudgment,theprovisionsofsections4(b)oftheDrugsandDrugTraffickingAct140of1992readwithPartIIIofSchedule2ofthatAct• andtheprovisionsofsection22A(9)(a)(i)oftheMedicinesandRelatedSubstancesControlAct101of1965readwithSchedule7ofGNR509of2003publishedintermsofsection22A(2)ofthatAct• areinconsistentwithrighttoprivacyentrenchedinsection14oftheConstitutionand,therefore,invalidtotheextentthattheymaketheuseorpossessionofcannabisinprivatebyanadultpersonforhisorherownconsumptioninprivateacriminaloffence.
ConstitutionalCourt
4
• Itisdeclaredthat,witheffectfromthedateofthehandingdownofthisjudgment,theprovisionsofsection5(b)oftheDrugsandDrugTraffickingAct140of1992readwithPartIIIofSchedule2ofthatActandwiththedefinitionofthephrase“dealin”insection1oftheDrugsandDrugTraffickingAct140of1992• areinconsistentwiththerighttoprivacyentrenchedinsection14oftheConstitutionand,are,therefore,constitutionallyinvalidtotheextentthattheyprohibitthecultivationofcannabisbyanadultinaprivateplaceforhisorherpersonalconsumptioninprivate.
ConstitutionalCourt
5
• Theoperationoftheseordersisherebysuspendedforaperiodof24monthsfromthedateofthehandingdownofthisjudgmenttoenableParliamenttorectifytheconstitutionaldefects.• Duringthisperiod,theabovementionedlegislationmustbereadasifithascertainexemptionsstipulatedbytheConstitutionalCourtarepartofthelegislation.• ShouldParliamentfailtocuretheconstitutionaldefectswithin24months,thereading-ininthisorderwillbecomefinal.
ConstitutionalCourt
6
• Thepointofthisjudgmentisthatthereareamultitudeofoptionsavailabletofightthisproblemasopposedtothebluntuseofthecriminallaw.• ItispreciselyforthisreasonthatthisCourtcontendsthatlessrestrictivemeansmustbeemployedtodealwiththeproblem.• Thebluntinstrumentofthecriminallawisdisproportionatetotheharmsthatthelegislationseekstocurbinsofarasthepersonaluseandconsumptionofcannabisareconcerned.
ConstitutionalCourt
7
• Thepotentialharmfuleffectsofcannabisusearenoted,however,onthemedicalevidenceonrecorditisequallyclearthatthereisalevelofconsumptionthatissafeinthatitisunlikelytoposeanyriskofharm.• Themedicalevidenceonrecordissilentonwhatthatlevelofconsumptionis.• Noristhereanyevidencesuggestingthatitwouldbeimpossibletoregulatetheconsumptionofcannabisbyrestrictingitsconsumptiontothatsafelevel.
ConstitutionalCourt
8
• WorldHealthOrganisation(WHO)TheHealthandSocialEffectsofNonmedicalCannabisUse:• Suggeststhatalcoholismoreharmfulthancannabisuse.• Supportsthegeneralpropositionthattheauthorityofthestatetoexertcontrolovertheindividualextendsonlytoactivitiesoftheindividualwhichaffectothers,orthepublicatlarge,asitrelatestomattersofpublichealthorsafetyortoprovideforthegeneralwelfare.• Webelievethistenettobebasictothefreesociety.Thestatecannotimposeitsownnotionsofmorality,propriety,orfashiononindividualswhenthepublichasnolegitimateinterestintheaffairsofthoseindividuals.
ConstitutionalCourt
9
• Therightoftheindividualtodoashepleasesisnotabsolute,ofcourse:Itcanbemadetoyieldwhenit…infringe[s]ontherightsandwelfareofothers.
• TheHighCourt’sconclusionthatthelimitationwasnotreasonableandjustifiablewasbasedon,amongstothers,thepositiontakenbytheSouthAfricanCentralDrugAuthorityasreflectedinitspositionstatementissuedin2016intheSouthAfricanMedicalJournal.
ConstitutionalCourt
10
• Anassessmentofcurrentlyavailabledatainothercountriesindicatesthatalcoholisthesubstancethatcausesthemostindividualandsocietalharmandisthereforekeytoputparticulareffortsintoimplementingthemostevidencebasedpoliciesandinterventionsforcombattingsuchharm.
• Wehavenointentionofdecriminalisingdealingincannabis.• Policehavearrestedacannabisshopownerbarelyaweekafterheopenedhis
businessinthecentralbusinessareainSedgefieldnearKnysnaintheSouthernCapeattheweekend.www.cbn.co.zaApril23,2019
ConstitutionalCourt
11
• http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/msbcannabis.pdf• Theprincipalcannabinoidsinthecannabisplantincludedelta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol(THC),cannabidiol(CBD),andcannabinol(CBN).• ThecannabinoidthatisprimarilyresponsibleforthepsychoactiveeffectssoughtbycannabisusersisTHC.
WHOReport
12
• InhalationbysmokingorvaporizationreleasesmaximallevelsofTHCintothebloodwithinminutes,peakingat15−30minutesanddecreasingwithin2−3hours.• EvenwithafixeddoseofTHCinacannabiscigarette,itseffectsvaryasafunctionoftheweightofthecannabiscigarette,theTHCpotencyinthecigarette,itspreparation,theconcentrationofothercannabinoids,therateofinhalation,thedepthanddurationofpuffs,thevolumeinhaled,theextentofbreath-holding,thevitalcapacityandtheescapedsmokeanddosetitration.
WHOReport
13
• Cannabisintoxicationisdefinedasthefollowing:• Recentuseofcannabis• Clinicallysignificantproblematicbehaviouralorpsychologicalchanges(i.e.impairedmotorcoordination,euphoria,anxiety,sensationofslowedtime,impairedjudgment,socialwithdrawal)thatdevelopedduring,orshortlyafter,cannabisuse.
• DataarerequiredonthetypicaldosesofTHCandothercannabinoids(e.g.cannabidiolorCBD)thatusersreceivethroughdifferentmodesofuse(smoked,vaporized,ingested).• Therearelimiteddataoncannabispotencytrendsovertimeandtheirimpactonhealth(e.g.cognition,psychosis,accidents,motivation,emergencydepartmentmentions,cannabis-usedisorders).
WHOReport
14
• THCcanbedetectedinplasmawithinsecondsofsmokingcannabisandithasahalf-lifeoftwohours.• PeakplasmalevelsofTHCarearound100μg/Laftersmoking10–15mgofcannabisovera5–7minuteperiod.• μg=microgram=1millionthofagram• ng=nanogram=1billionthofagram• dl=decilitre=100millilitres
WHOReport
15
• Cannabisalterstimeperceptionandcoordinationbyactingoncannabinoidreceptorsinthebasalganglia,frontalcortexandcerebellum,whicharebrainregionsinvolvedinmotorcontrolandmemory.• Cannabisalsoaffectspsychomotorfunction.• Itimpairsmovementandcoordination,manipulationanddexterity,grace,strengthandspeed.
WHOReport
16
• Evidencesuggeststhatrecentsmokingand/orhavingaTHCbloodconcentrationof25ng/mLareassociatedwithsubstantialdrivingimpairment,particularlyinoccasionalsmokers.• Cannabisacutelyimpairsseveralcomponentsofcognitivefunction,withthemostrobusteffectsonshorttermepisodicandworkingmemory,planninganddecision-making,responsespeed,accuracyandlatency.• Somestudiesalsoreportincreasedrisk-takingandimpulsivity.
WHOReport
17
• Lessexperiencedcannabisusersundergostrongerintoxicatingeffectsonattentionandconcentrationthanthosewithestablisheddrugtolerance.• Cannabisalsoacutelyimpairsmotorcoordination,interfereswithdrivingskillsandincreasestheriskofinjuries.• Evidencesuggeststhatrecentcannabissmokingisassociatedwithsubstantialdrivingimpairment,particularlyinoccasionalsmokers,withimplicationsforworkinsafety-sensitivepositions.• Complexhuman/machineperformancecanbeimpairedaslongas24hoursaftersmokingamoderatedoseofcannabisandtheusermaybeunawareofthedrug’sinfluence.
WHOReport
18
• TheDrivingUndertheInfluenceofDrugs,Alcohol,andMedicines(DRUID)studywasapopulation-basedstudyofaccidentrisksrelatedtotheuseofcannabisandotherdrugsinnineEUcountries(Helsetal.,2012).• ApooledanalysisfoundthatdriverswhotestedpositiveforTHCwere1−3timesmorelikelytobeinanaccidentthansoberdrivers.• Thisiscomparabletoablood-alcohollevelof0.05g/dlto<0.10g/dlbuttheconfidenceintervalsaroundtheseestimateswerewide.• ADepartmentofTransportationcase-controlstudyintheUSAfoundthatdriverswhotestedpositiveforTHChad1.25timeshigherriskofcollisionthanasoberdriver,buttheassociationdisappearedwhenage,gender,ethnicityandblood-alcohol(BAC)levelsweretakenintoaccount.
WHOReport
19
• Overall,eventhoughtheeffectissmallcomparedtotheeffectsofalcohol,trafficinjurymaybethemostimportantadversepublichealthoutcomeforcannabisintermsofmortalityinhigh-incomecountries.• Theeffectsofcannabisuseoncognitioninthecontextofworkandeverydaylife,andwhetheroff-sitecannabisuseendangersaworkerorhiscolleagueswhileatwork,areofconcern.• Thistopichasnotbeensystematicallyinvestigatedinrecentyears.• Weneedtoknowmoreaboutthedurationofacuteimpairmentsproducedbycannabis(thelengthoftimeafterusingcannabisthatpsychomotorandcognitiveperformanceareimpaired).
WHOReport
20
• ChronicheavydrinkersdeveloptolerancetoalcoholandshowfewerobvioussignsofintoxicationevenatextremelyhighBAClevels.• TheycaninmanycasesdriveacarwithBAClevelsatwhichotherswithalowertolerancewouldnotbeabletodrive.• DifferencesinimpairmentsforthesamedoseofTHCalsoneedtobeinvestigatedinnaïveandexperiencedusers.• StudiesareneededtoinvestigatetheeffectsofhighTHClevelsondriving.• Studiesarerequiredtocomparetheeffectsofsmokingandofingestedcannabisondriving.
WHOReport
21
• https://www.denverpost.com/2017/08/25/marijuana-impairment-testing/• Therewasatimewhenmarijuanawasillegaleverywhereandtestingforitwasaseasyascouldbe.• Itdidn’tmatterthelevelofcannabinoidsfoundinaperson’sbody.Ifitwasthere,theywerebreakingthelaw.• It’sdifferentnow.
OtherSources
22
• THCisnotthesameasalcohol.• Itreactsdifferentlyinthebody,itmetabolizesdifferentlyanditsimpairingimpactisdifferent.• Unlikethe0.08blood-alcohollevelthat’swidelyacceptedasindicativeofdrunkendriving,establishingacrediblelevelforTHChasbeenelusive.
OtherSources
23
• Wespent25or30yearsfiguringoutwherewewerearewithalcohol,andfinallygottobreathalysers.• ColoradohasestablishedthataTHClevelof5ng/mLisenoughtochargesomeonewithDrivingundertheInfluence(DUI).• Unlikealcohol,whereareadingof0.08isenoughtoconvictsomeoneofdrunkendriving—knownasperseevidencethatadriverisimpaired—THClevelsareonlyconsideredas“permissibleinference”ofimpairment.• ThatmeansthatdespitethelevelofDelta-9THCfoundinadriver’sblood,aColoradojuryorjudgedecideswhetherthedriverwasimpairedornot.
OtherSources
24
• WashingtonandMontana,unlikeColorado,treatthesame5ng/mLlevelofTHCasifitwerealcohol,wherenootherproofofimpairmentisneededtoconvictadriverchargedwithDUI.• However,12states—includingArizonaandUtah—havezero-tolerancepolicies,soanydetectableamountofTHCcanleadtoaconviction.
OtherSources
25
• AnumberofstateshavesetaTHClimit…indicatingthatifasuspect’sTHCconcentrationisabovethatlevel,…thenthesuspectistobeconsideredimpaired,”theNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministrationsaidinareport.• Thisperselimitappearstohavebeenbasedonsomethingotherthanscientificevidence.
OtherSources
26
• Relevantlegislationthatregulatesintoxicationintheworkplaceis:• TheOccupationalHealthandSafetyAct,Act85of1993(the“OHSA”)• TheMineHealthandSafetyAct,Act29of1996(the“MHSA”)• EmploymentEquityAct,Act55of1998(“EEA”)
SouthAfricanLegislation
27
• GeneralSafetyRegulation2AIntoxication• (1)Subjecttotheprovisionsofsubregulation(3),anemployerorauser,asthecasemaybe,shallnotpermitanypersonwhoisorwhoappearstobeundertheinfluenceofintoxicatingliquorordrugs,toenterorremainataworkplace.
• (2)Subjecttotheprovisionsofsubregulation(3),nopersonataworkplaceshallbeundertheinfluenceoforhaveinhisorherpossessionorpartakeoforofferanyotherpersonintoxicatingliquorordrugs.
• (3)Anemployerorauser,asthecasemaybe,shall,inthecasewhereapersonistakingmedicines,onlyallowsuchpersontoperformdutiesattheworkplaceifthesideeffectsofsuchmedicinedonotconstituteathreattothehealthorsafetyofthepersonconcernedorotherpersonsatsuchworkplace.
OHSA
28
• Iftheprohibitiononpossessingintoxicatingliquorataworkplaceistobetakenliterally,thefollowingwouldbeillegal:• Restaurantswithliquorlicences(workplaceforwaitersandotherstaff).• Bottlestoresandsupermarketsthatsellalcohol(peopleworkthere).• Breweriesanddistilleries.• Alcoholinprivatehomeswithdomesticworkers.• Workplacebars.
Comments
29
• Section9Codesofpractice• (1)Anyemployermayprepareandimplementacodeofpracticeonanymatteraffectingthehealthorsafetyofemployeesandotherpersonswhomaybedirectlyaffectedbyactivitiesatthemine.• (2)AnemployermustprepareandimplementacodeofpracticeonanymatteraffectingthehealthorsafetyofemployeesandotherpersonswhomaybedirectlyaffectedbyactivitiesatthemineiftheChiefInspectorofMinesrequiresit.• (3)AcodeofpracticerequiredbytheChiefInspectorofMinesmustcomplywithguidelinesissuedbytheChiefInspectorofMines.
MHSA
30
• GuidelinefortheCompilationofaMandatoryCodeofPracticeonMinimumStandardsofFitnesstoPerformWorkataMineinAugust2000,withaneffectivedateof16February2001.
• 8.3.4.2.1Persistentalcoholorsubstanceabuseaffectinghealthbycausingphysicalorbehaviouraldisordermayrenderapersonunfitforaparticularcategoryofwork.SuchpersonswillnotbecertifiedfitforemploymentbytheOMPasdriversofpassengerordangerousgoodsconveyances.
• 8.3.4.2.2Anypersonbeingconsideredforemploymentasadriverofpassengerordangerousgoodsconveyanceshouldbescreenedforalcoholorsubstanceabuse.Itisadvisedthatanalcoholandsubstanceabusepolicy,whichhasbeenagreedbytheHealthandSafetyCommittee,beinplaceonmines.
MHSA
31
• 4.7.1Nopersoninastateofintoxicationorinanyotherconditionwhichmayrenderorbelikelytorenderhimincapableoftakingcareofhimselforofpersonsunderhischarge,• shallbeallowedtoentertheworkingsofamineorbeintheproximityofanyworkingplaceornearanymachineryonthesurfaceofamineorataworks,• andanypersonwhomayhaveenteredtheworkingsofamineorwhoisfoundintheproximityofanyworkingsornearanymachineryonthesurfaceofamineoratanyworksinastateofintoxicationmaybearrestedimmediatelybythemanagerorsomepersondulyappointedbyhimandimmediatelyhandedovertothepolice,andshallbedeemedtobeguiltyofanoffenceundertheseRegulations.
MHSAMinesandWorksRegulations
• Section6Prohibitionofunfairdiscrimination• (1)Nopersonmayunfairlydiscriminate,directlyorindirectly,againstanemployee,inanyemploymentpolicyorpractice,ononeormoregrounds,includingrace,gender,sex,pregnancy,maritalstatus,familyresponsibility,ethnicorsocialorigin,colour,sexualorientation,age,disability,religion,HIVstatus,conscience,belief,politicalopinion,culture,language,birthoronanyotherarbitraryground.• (2)Itisnotunfairdiscriminationto-
• (b)distinguish,excludeorpreferanypersononthebasisofaninherentrequirementofajob.
EmploymentEquityAct
33
• CodeofGoodPracticeonEmploymentofPersonswithDisabilities–GN1085of2015• Forreasonsofpublicpolicy,certainconditionsorimpairmentsmaynotbeconsidereddisabilities.• Theseincludebutarenotlimitedto-
• disordersthataffectaperson'smentalorphysicalstateiftheyarecausedbycurrentuseofillegaldrugsoralcohol,unlesstheaffectedpersonisparticipatinginarecognisedprogrammeoftreatment;
• Employersmustreasonablyaccommodatetheneedsofpersonswithdisabilities.
EmploymentEquityAct
34
• Mainlysourcedfromlabourlaw–CCMA• Alcoholismisrecognisedasadiseaseandthelegalrulesfor
incapacitymustbefollowed.• However,whenanemployee,whoisnotanalcoholicanddoesnot
claimtobeone,reportsfordutyundertheinfluenceofalcohol,shewillbeguiltyofmisconduct.
CaseLaw
35
• Anemployeeis'undertheinfluenceof(alcohol)'ifheisunabletoperformthetasksentrustedtohimwiththeskillexpectedofasoberperson.(TankerServices(Pty)LtdvMagudulela[1997]12BLLR1552(LAC)(aLabourAppealCourtdecision))• Theevidencedependsontheoffencewithwhichtheemployeeischarged.• Ifemployeesarechargedwithbeing'undertheinfluence',evidencemustbeledtoprovethattheirfacultieswereimpairedtotheextentthattheywereincapableofworkingproperly.
UndertheInfluence
36
• Thismaybedonebyadministeringbloodorbreathalysertests,evidenceoftheirbehaviour,smellofalcoholandslurredspeech.• AlsostatedassuchinBuildersTradeDepotvs.CCMAandothers
UndertheInfluence
37
• 'Howeverthepleathatthemoralculpabilityofapersonwhoisdrunkinchargeofavehicleormachineryisdiminishedbecausehefailedtohaveanaccidentbeforebeingapprehended,isclearlypreposterous.Werethatdefencetobeupheldintrafficcourts,theoffenceofdrivingundertheinfluenceofliquorwouldberenderedunenforceable,exceptwhentheaccusedhadhadanaccident.‘• Donothavetoshowactualimpairment,butreasonableexpectationofimpairment.
• NUMSAoboDavidsvBosalAfrica(Pty)Ltd[1999]10BALR1240(IMSSA)
Impairment
38
• “Adismissalisnotanexpressionofmoraloutrage;muchlessisitanactofvengeance.Itis,orshouldbe,asensibleoperationalresponsetoriskmanagementintheparticularenterprise.• Thatiswhysupermarketshelfpackerswhostealsmallitemsareroutinelydismissed.• Theirdismissalhaslittletodowithsociety'smoralopprobriumofaminortheft;ithaseverythingtodowiththeoperationalrequirementsoftheemployer'senterprise.”
• DeBeersConsolidatedMinesLtdvCommissionforConciliation,Mediation&Arbitration&others(2000)21ILJ1051(LAC)
Dismissal
39
• “Ifindthisapproach(ZeroTolerance)tobeunfair.Aclerkforexamplewouldnotbeadangertohimselfortoothersandwouldnottarnishtheimageofthecompanyashewouldseldom,ifever,dealdirectlywithclientsorcustomers.• Howeverthiswouldbetotallydifferentforanindividualwhoheldthepositionofadriver,apilotoramanagingdirector.”
• Taxi-TrucksParcelExpress(Pty)Ltdvs.NationalBargainingCouncilForTheRoadFreightIndustryandothers
ZeroTolerance
40
• LabourCourtheldinSouthAfricanBreweriesvs.CCMAandothers• “Theconclusionthattheemployeehadnotplacedthebusinessatriskmustalsobeseeninthelightoftheapplicant’sowndisciplinaryguidelines.• ThoseguidelinesspecifythatitisanoffencetoworkonaSABproductionsitewhile“beingintoxicatedand/orundertheinfluenceofalcohol.”That,inturn,isdefinedashavingabreathalcoholcontentofmorethan0,24mg/1000ml.• Inthiscase,therewasnosuchevidence;infact,theemployee’sbreathalcohollevelwas0.• Therewasnoevidencetoshowthathewasintoxicatedorundertheinfluenceofalcohol;
OwnDisciplinaryGuidelines
• HoffmannvSouthAfricanAirways(ConstitutionalCourt)• Themedicalfactsdidnotsupporttheemployer’sapproach.• “Legitimatecommercialrequirementsare,ofcourse,animportantconsiderationindeterminingwhethertoemployanindividual.However,wemustguardagainstallowingstereotypingandprejudicetocreepinundertheguiseofcommercialinterests.“• ThefactthatsomepeoplewhoareHIVpositivemay,undercertaincircumstances,beunsuitableforemploymentascabinattendantsdoesnotjustifyablanketexclusionfromthepositionofcabinattendantofallpeoplewhoareHIVpositive.
Medicalfitnesscertification
42
• Thehealthandsafetylegislationdoesnotrequirethatanemployeemustinfactbeundertheinfluence,buttheemployermustnotallowsuchanemployeetoworkevenifitonly“appears”thatthepersonisundertheinfluence.(Intoxication)• TheMHSAalsocontainsrequirementrelatingtoemployeeshavingany“persistent”problem.(Fitnessornotforaparticularposition)
Discussion
43
• Generaldutyofcaretoensurethatreasonablypracticablemeasuresareimplementedintheworkplacetoensurethesafetyofpersons.
• Abiologicaltestbyitselfmaynotbesufficientevidenceof“beingundertheinfluence”,anditisalsonottheonlyacceptableevidence;otherevidencesuchasbehaviour,slurredspeech,etc.couldalsoberelevant.
• Noclearguidelinesorsufficientcaselawonsubstancesotherthanalcohol.
Discussion
44
• Ablanketapproachcouldbeunfair,andeachindividualhastobeevaluatedonhisorherownabilitytoperformtheworksafely.• Theacuteeffectsthatalcohol(andpossiblyothersubstances)mayhaveononepersonmaynotbethesameforanotherperson.• Howevertodetermineforexampleaperson-specificbloodalcohollevelatwhichsuchapersonisnolonger“abletoperformthetasksentrustedtohimwiththeskillexpectedofasoberperson”isobviouslyridiculouslyimpractical,andwouldbethesameforcannabisuse.
Discussion
45
• NationalRoadTrafficActandRegulations:3differentoffences:• Drivingamotorvehicle“undertheinfluenceofintoxicatingliquororadrughavinganarcoticeffect”(smell,slurredspeech,unsteadiness).• Bloodalcohollevelabovecertainlimits.• Breathalcohollevelabovecertainlimits.
Discussion
46
• ManyemployerseitherfollowtheNationalRoadTrafficActguidelinesforbreath-andbloodalcohollevels,whilemanyemployershaveadoptedazerotoleranceapproach,meaningthatbreath-andbloodalcohollevelsmustbezero.• Appliedatthepointofentrytotheworkplace,standardorrandomtesting,forthepurposesofdeterminingwhetheranemployeeshouldbeallowedtogotoworkornot.• Shouldideallybesupportedwithadditionalevidence.
Discussion
47
• Preventapersonwhoisundertheinfluencefromenteringtheworkplace,wherethismayendangersomeone’shealthandsafety.• Haveclear,writtenguidelinesonhowitwillbedecidedifapersonisundertheinfluence,andtrainallrelevantpersonsonthis.• Haveclear,writtenguidelinesonhowthiswillaffectaperson’spay,leave,disciplinaryrecord.• Employeesmustpreferablyagreetothisinsomeway,bywayofcollectiveagreement,individualemploymentcontracts,etc.
Controls
• https://businesstech.co.za,13April2019• InarecentCCMAcasethearbitratorhadtodecidewhetherthedismissalofemployeeswhotestedpositiveforcannabisatworkwasfair.• Theemployeradoptedazero-tolerancestanceonsubstanceabuse.• Thearbitratorheldthattheemployees,bybeingundertheinfluenceofintoxicatingsubstanceswhilstonduty,hadwilfullydisregardedtheemployer’ssafetyrules.• Theywereawareoftheemployer’szero-tolerancepolicyandthepossibilityofdismissaliftheytestedpositive.• Foundthatdismissalwastheappropriatesanction
RecentCase
• ApplyzerotoleranceforTHCinbiologicalsamplesinthesamemannerasalcohol.• Refusetoemploysomeonepurelyontheresultofapre-employmentbloodtestthatshowspresenceofTHC.Thiswillnowbealmostsimilartorefusingtoemploysomeonewithnicotineintheirblood.• Havepoliciesandteststhatare“skewed”,namelyfocusonTHCandalcoholonly,andnototherintoxicatingsubstances,suchascocaine,crack,Ecstasy,tik,crystalmethormethamphetamine,amphetamines,ephedrine,khat,heroin,mandrax,LSD,etc.
Itcouldbeariskto:
• Writtenpolicyandproceduresonalcoholanddrugtesting,drawnupinconsultationwith,andpreferablywiththeapprovalofthehealthandsafetycommitteeandtradeunions,aspartofemploymentconditions.
• Thepolicymuststatethereasonsforit,namelysafetyandproductivity.
• Jobcategoriesanddescriptionsshouldclearlyindicateforwhichjobsintoxicationisnotallowed.
• Employeesmustbetrainedontheimplicationsofintoxicationintheworkplace
Recommendation
• Bepro-active,don’twaitforParliamentorthecourts.• TrainpersonsonmeaningandoutcomeofConstitutionalCourt
judgment.• Requestpersonstodeclareanymedicinaluse(cannabisoil),subjectto
medicalprivacyrules.• Firsttrytounderstandbeforebeingunderstood.
Recommendation
• Intellectuallaziness(onesizefitsall).• THClevelsinblood,urine,andpossiblyevensalivamaynothavethesameevidentiaryvaluetoproveintoxicationasalcohollevels.• Inconsistencyinmanagingintoxicationfordifferentsubstances.• Lackofscientificevidence.
Concerns
53
