October 24, 2008-- WVCA ‘s Senior Vice President Chris Hamilton testified this past week at MSHA’s public hearing on the agency’s mandatory drug testing rule. Hamilton complimented the agency for recognizing that individuals under the influence of alcohol or prohibited substances were a known safety hazard and generally supported the proposed rule but was highly critical of the rule as written serving to compromise existing company programs which provide for a “zero tolerance” policy.
Hamilton asserted that without a federal standard to provide a uniform drug testing program nationwide, many miners who test positive in one state apply for work in a state like West Virginia that does not have a state wide program. MSHA announced it would take written comments through October 29. MSHA has announced further hearings related to the issue.
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