Drug Testing Question

[Handback1-4]

Hi guys new to the site. To start of I would like to say I have just got my PTS card to start working as a track Opritave... I have never been one for taking illegal drugs hence why I passed my medical. My question is about drug testing though. I hear you can still fail a drug test by taking certain legal products which have traces of illegal drugs such as nightol. This seems a bit excessive but there you go. Any wayi was wondering if certain legal herbs are band from the railway such as salvia divinorum. I don't drink and hate Tabaco however I have enjoyed smoking legal products such as salvia, wild opium and other "legal Highs" I will post a link to one of the shops I have used in the past so you guys can see it. I apologies for being long winded but I just want to no if I will be okay to continue enjoying this legal products. Thanks for your time. I do however only want responses from railway related professionals who no what there talking about. Is it something that will get my PTS revoked.
Cheers
http://www.herbaleye.co.uk/Salvia-Divinorum/Leaf

 

[badassunicorn]

I'm no expert or doctor, but I think its more to do with the effect the drug/medication has on you rather then its legal status. I know for my job, I have to advise my work of any medication or anything, even stuff prescribed by a doctor. If it has any effects on your concentration/alertness etc etc then likely it will be banned, and I guess, you would fail a random or any other kind of drugs/alcohol test.

 

[Handback1-4]

That's what I assumed, but I was looking for some one who maybe has first hand knolage on if its band or not. Thanks for your post though

 

[anthony263]

When I was having my drugs test for First Cymru Buses a mention was made about nightol and yes it can show up on your drugs test which is why were were advised not to take it.

Before they take a swab they do ask you if you have taken nightol or any painkillers etc. Check the label when you purchase anything from the pharmacy and tell your GP that you either drive for a living or work on the railway.

 

[Daniel]

There is a long list of prohibited drugs in my company, including over the counter medication. Arguably anything which says on the box that it may cause drowsiness or advises you not to operate heavy machinery will probably cause a problem with your employer on the railway.
As others have mentioned, it all comes down to any impairment it causes you.

I have heard drivers, for example, saying that they've had a false positive on a drugs test after eating poppy seeds on a burger - (see http://www.snopes.com/medical/drugs/poppyseed.asp )
However, although you may fail an initial tests, further tests can be undertaken to ascertain what type of positive you have given. I was assured by my company that they would be able to further investigate and tell if you had given a positive result through the use of drugs or something like food.

 

[TDK]

Hi guys new to the site. To start of I would like to say I have just got my PTS card to start working as a track Opritave... I have never been one for taking illegal drugs hence why I passed my medical. My question is about drug testing though. I hear you can still fail a drug test by taking certain legal products which have traces of illegal drugs such as nightol. This seems a bit excessive but there you go. Any wayi was wondering if certain legal herbs are band from the railway such as salvia divinorum. I don't drink and hate Tabaco however I have enjoyed smoking legal products such as salvia, wild opium and other "legal Highs" I will post a link to one of the shops I have used in the past so you guys can see it. I apologies for being long winded but I just want to no if I will be okay to continue enjoying this legal products. Thanks for your time. I do however only want responses from railway related professionals who no what there talking about. Is it something that will get my PTS revoked.
Cheers
http://www.herbaleye.co.uk/Salvia-Divinorum/Leaf

If you take or smoke anything that gives you a high I would imagine that if it is traceable on testing you may be in trouble, The only way to find out is to speak to your line manager and ask them if the substances are banned on the railway for the company you work for at least this way you will know for sure if they are or not. I know for a fact that certain ingredients in shisha are not permitted so I would check it out just in case.

After looking at the site and the effects the drugs have I would definitely say not to taking any of it.

 

[Matt82]

New member to the site too and finding some of the content of this forum absolutely bewildering! Are we seriously discussing which drugs, whether legal or not, that give you some sort of high are permitted when working in the rail industry?!
Firstly, the "legal" drugs you refer to are clearly marked with "not for human consumption"
Secondly, whether these drugs would show up on a drug test or not is irrelevant. Anything that gives you a high, or as a result causes you to feel a low, is never going to be a good idea when performing safety critical roles.
If you want to keep your job I suggest you stop doing all that stuff immediately because the last thing you need is for something to go wrong and it being traced back to you and the consumption of those products.
Put it this way, being tired is not illegal. However, if you make a mistake that jeopardizes safety or costs lives as a result of being tired then you will be the one in a courtroom or prison cell. Legal or illegal doesn't come into it.

 

[Legzr1]

Judging by the spelling in the first post I'd suggest the 'legal drug' is already having a negative affect!

The answer to your question is obvious (and I suspect you know this) - lay off it and steer well clear.

The railways can be a very dangerous place.You need your wits about you at all times.
Attending duty even when slightly impaired makes you a liability not only to yourself but to others.

 

[SPADTrap]

Yeah please don't work on the railways near me...

 

[Handback1-4]

It was just a question that I was curios about but to be fair if you smoked something a few days before being on site would it really have more of a negative effect than something like alcohol a day before work. No it wouldn't!

 

[DarloRich]

Is it something that will get my PTS revoked.

Yes - i would imagine it would. At the very least if you turned up on site appearing to be "under the influence" of anything you risk being reported for testing and being thrown off site.

that might well lead to a less than pleasant chat with your boss. There would be no refreshments offered at such a meeting.

Actually i will go further - personally, i dont want anyone under the influence of ANYTHING working near me on a work site. You are responsible for the safety of rest of your team out on the track, as they are responsible for your safety. If i knew about it, i would report you for jeopardising everyone else.

 

[SPADTrap]

delete

 

[trickyvegas]

Salvia induces some pretty hardcore hallucinations, so I would be surprised if it would be approved for a safety-critical employee.

 

[tinstaafl]

I must have missed the part where he said he was smoking legal highs just before going to work...

Handback, I have no experience of these substances personally so can't answer the question directly. However, the simplest solution might be just to call the occupational health department at your company and ask them. The stuff you're smoking is legal so you have nothing to hide. It would be far more sensible to get an answer from someone who knows the facts.

Right, back to my legal beer. Before anyone asks, I don't book on again until tomorrow morning :roll:

 

[GB]

I must have missed the part where he said he was smoking legal highs just before going to work...

He might not be smoking it just before going to work but how long does it stay in your system even without the symptoms?

 

[tinstaafl]

He might not be smoking it just before going to work but how long does it stay in your system even without the symptoms?

Indeed, that's why he needs to ask a medically qualified person. He (or she) is asking internet strangers and being judged by them, as you'd expect. If there are no effects after, say 12 hours, he's as safe as the guy who drank 3 paints 12 hours ago.

These things are legal - it's only the same as asking occupational health if some prescription drug is on the list of banned substances for safety-crit staff.

 

[Matt82]

It is not the same as asking about prescription drugs! The drug is sold with labelling stating "not for human consumption" and is controlled in many countries around the world, including Australia and Germany. It has even been suggested to ban the substance here in the UK due to its hallucinatory properties and the risk of long term side effects. I can't get over the fact that people are using the "it's legal" card to justify smoking this stuff. If it was completely harmless and okay to use it wouldn't be labelled "not for human consumption" and you'd find it in the supermarket between the alcohol section and the medicine aisle. Think some people need to wise up to the risks of the railways and the potential disasters that can occur.

 

[Ferret]

Indeed, that's why he needs to ask a medically qualified person. He (or she) is asking internet strangers and being judged by them, as you'd expect. If there are no effects after, say 12 hours, he's as safe as the guy who drank 3 paints 12 hours ago.

These things are legal - it's only the same as asking occupational health if some prescription drug is on the list of banned substances for safety-crit staff.

It's the mindset that's the issue - messing about with legal highs and holding a safety critical role are not compatible.

 

[transmanche]

It's the mindset that's the issue - messing about with legal highs and holding a safety critical role are not compatible.

^ This!

 

[TDK]

Indeed, that's why he needs to ask a medically qualified person. He (or she) is asking internet strangers and being judged by them, as you'd expect. If there are no effects after, say 12 hours, he's as safe as the guy who drank 3 paints 12 hours ago.

These things are legal - it's only the same as asking occupational health if some prescription drug is on the list of banned substances for safety-crit staff.

You can still have cannabis in your system detectable after 3 months, where is your evidence that these substances are not detectable or have an influence after 12 hours. I will be honest, the person who is asking if taking legal highs is suitable in a SC role is not suitable for the role and I hope they do not work for the same company as me.

 

[JAMBO]

Is this thread for real, I'm gobsmacked if I'm honest reading it that any normal person would post such a question like that!! Lets all get off our faces on the railway basically!

 

[Handback1-4]

Na I like to smoke up in the van before walking on site, most people are stupid so they don't realise.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
When I'm told to cut rail the sparks look purple and the ballast looks like wet tennis balls

 

[TheEdge]

Well, I feel that comment has just brought this thread down to such a level this image macro is relevant...

 

[JAMBO]

I've heard everything now!

 

[CC 72100]

Na I like to smoke up in the van before walking on site, most people are stupid so they don't realise.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
When I'm told to cut rail the sparks look purple and the ballast looks like wet tennis balls

You can't be for real, surely?

 

[GB]

I think he is being flippant more than anything else.

 

[plastictaffy]

If it's something that you're not sure about, don't do it. Simple really. Most of the people I know that work on the railways love their jobs and would never do anything to jeopardise them. For example, I'd like to go out for a bit (well, quite a lot, if I'm honest) of a drinkypoos on saturday night. I'm so paranoid about turning up slightly over the limit or hungover, that I'm trying to lose my booked sunday. Just a thought after I read that back to myself - even if I don't lose the Sunday, I'll still be going out, don't book on til nearly ten, so can still have a couple of jars!!! I just mustn't get hammered, a little bit of restraint will be required!!
Being under the influence of ANYTHING in ANY job on the railway is bad news, and you're a fool if you continue to do it, and your workmates are fools if they turn a blind eye to it.

 

[tinstaafl]

You can still have cannabis in your system detectable after 3 months, where is your evidence that these substances are not detectable or have an influence after 12 hours. I will be honest, the person who is asking if taking legal highs is suitable in a SC role is not suitable for the role and I hope they do not work for the same company as me.

Sorry TDK, I wasn't suggesting it was or wasn't detectable. I was merely pointing out that the OP should be asking a medical professional for such information, not a load of strangers on the internet.

If he daren't ask his occupational health department, then he should draw his own conclusions about whether he considers it a suitable pastime