Drug testing for contractors moves closer in Putnam
WINFIELD - Putnam County commissioners took the first step Tuesday to ensure contractors employed by the county enforce a drug- and alcohol-free work environment.
The proposal will require all contractors employed in the county to implement a drug- and alcohol-testing program for its workers on county-funded construction projects.
Implementing and adhering to a testing program will be the responsibility of the contractor.
The commission will review a resolution based on the proposal at its next meeting.
The proposal stems from the West Virginia Alcohol and Drug-Free Workplace Act passed by the state Legislature in February.
The law went into effect July 1 and requires all businesses that are awarded public improvement contracts with the state to regularly test employees for drugs and alcohol.
The new law, however, does not apply to county-funded projects, said Dave McComas of the state Building and Trades Council, an umbrella organization that represents unions across West Virginia.
McComas pointed to a report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration that found one in 12 full-time workers in the United States acknowledged having used illegal drugs in the past month.
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