Rank: New forum user 
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What should I do if I suspect a steeplejack working on our building site is for the most part high as a kite. Some of the other contractors have said they have seen him puffing on a joint but they refuse to report him as they don't want to get involved. The steeplejacks will be gone by the end of this week. I don't want to put someones job in jeopardy based on hearsay but am concerned someone could be under the influence of drugs while working several hundred feet above the ground.
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Rank: Super forum user
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The only way to find out is test him...caught one guy the other day with cannabis in his ecig!!
You are now aware of the risk so you need to act even if it seems harsh..
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Rank: Super forum user
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Now that you know U have to act - Its unfortunate but you will have to pass across the info to the persons line manager
NB: Why are your sites not smoke free sites e.g. no smoking and no vapouring allowed thus such matters are sorted before they become issues
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Rank: Forum user 
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Cant you pull the guy in question aside and have a quiet word with him. You should be able to tell with his response if he's going to stop puffing or keep on puffing. Prob have more effect than getting HR involved, making a big deal on hearsay which he may deny and no one else is going to land him in it by your account so you wont have a leg to stand on.
You also may lose the troops if you're trying to get a man fired before you try speaking to him personally. Its not narcotic you know, he should be able to quit it for a week or so. Discretion and valour ,two weeks to go etc.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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The obvious response is "follow your D&A policy". Don't have one? Oh oh. Take you pick of the other responses above, then act. Then get a policy put in place. Also, you surely have a duty of care to stop someone, who works at height, who may be under the influence of any sustance
let alone an illegal substance.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Not just about policy...allowing this practice to take place is an offence under S8 Misuse of drugs act..
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Rank: New forum user
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Thank you for your responses. Our site is smoke free. I have spent some of this morning re reading all our H&S guidance and after speaking with the people who originally raised concerns will be making a report to my immediate manager once I return from lunch. I did speak to the individual early this morning asking if he was smoking on site (not smoking drugs) and his response was very aggressive and over the top.
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Rank: Super forum user
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A steeplejack - imagine the scenario - two hundred feet up the steelwork. Waiting for the next crane load of bolts.... Wants a quick puff. Ten minutes to climb down, and fifteen minutes to climb back up. for a two minute 'roll your own' puff. It isn't illegal to smoke outdoors in the UK (Despite what many might wishfully think). Neither is it illegal to vape - anywhere that I am aware of...
We're supposed to be a progressive institution promoting sensible, proportionate, risk based solutions - not a bunch of clipboard wielding jobsworths!
There 'may' be a reason for a site smoking ban - but does that reason cover the guys working at height? When the ban was written - did anyone consider the impact on workflow for the guys working at height? Did the guys pricing the contract take into account the likely delay that implementing this policy might bring to completion of the job?
And it is suspected the guys may be 'high as a kite'??? Really??? Have you ever spoken with a gang of steeplejacks??? They are amongst the most risk aware groups I have worked with - and those I have worked with would simply not tolerate any of the team being anything less than 100% fit and present - because their OWN lives will depend on it....
Sorry, but we don't have all the facts here.
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Rank: Forum user
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Rank: Super forum user
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steve e ashton wrote:
And it is suspected the guys may be 'high as a kite'??? Really??? Have you ever spoken with a gang of steeplejacks??? They are amongst the most risk aware groups I have worked with - and those I have worked with would simply not tolerate any of the team being anything less than 100% fit and present - because their OWN lives will depend on it....
Sorry, but we don't have all the facts here.
Just to redress the balance, I was a steel erector for 27 years and the stories i could tell you of people drinking and partying all night and going straight to work the next day were widespread. I can also tell you of people regularly smoking draw at work (and driving to work) through the 90's and even worse just after the turn of the century, a group of lads (including the bosses brother) who dabbled with coke in the pub on a Thursday night (pay day) most weeks. During the day, they were regularly working at heights of 100ft+. I used to find a way of avoiding their work area on a Friday. Fortunately, this is not the norm these days and i believe a lot of that is down to unannounced drug or breathalyser testing.
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