Natural gas fracking delayed in Ohio

[Guynemer]

Not for any environmental concerns.

But because there aren't enough workers who can pass a drug test.

I heard this story on the Columbus NPR station on the way to work today; the closest thing I could find on a quick Google search was this:

http://www.ohio.com/blogs/drilling/ohio-utica-shale-1.291290/failed-drug-tests-hindering-ohio-drilling-hiring-1.313123

What was reported on the radio was that between 50-60% of applicants have been rejected due to failure to pass a urine drug screen, mostly for opiates (Oxycontin being the likely cause) and THC.

I have no words.

[Felch]

Legalize weed. Seriously, some might like to complain about anti-gay discrimination, but the fact that it's legal (and common) to deny employment because of smoking a harmless herb is grotesque.

[Guynemer]

1. I agree, it should be legalized.

2. Calling it harmless is straight-up wrong.

[Felch]

Mostly harmless?

[Guynemer]

I could accept that in some-perhaps most-circumstances, yes.

[DinoDoc]

Legalize weed.

I'm not sure I want people near heavy machinery that can't stay away from opiates and weed.

[Felch]

There's no booze test for heavy machinery. As long as people can be sober at work, there's no need to pry into their personal lives.

[Ogie Oglethorpe]

1. legalize and tax it.

OTOH wrt job tasks that might endanger the safety of oneself, property, and others while under the influence of weed, I would think there needs to be some reasonable standard as to what level of intoxication creates job impairment. Certainly there are known BAC where job impairment is known and employees are subject to disciplinary actions (up to and including termination). (Booze is tested for if there are any accidents, abnormal behavior, and in the nuclear industry everyone is subject to random screenings.) I would think the same would have to apply to THC concentrations conisdering it hangs around in the system longer than alcohol, some reasonable level would need to be established.

2. Need to enlarge the labor pool considering the dregs that are applying. 99 weeks of unemployment and the feeling that only jobs requiring a degree are of worth.

3. Open up more legal immigration.

4. This comes as no surprise. Trades are in very short supply. Finding able craft people to do construction during refueling outages, power uprates, new facility construction is very very challenged.

[Jon Miller]

1. I agree, it should be legalized.

2. Calling it harmless is straight-up wrong.

JM

[Jon Miller]

1. I agree, it should be legalized.

2. Calling it harmless is straight-up wrong.

JM

[Alexander's Horse]

so its okay to drug test people but not okay to have some gun control?

[Felch]

Both things are terrible, AH.

[DinoDoc]

so its okay to drug test people but not okay to have some gun control?

Do they let drug addicts use heavy equipment in Australia?

[Guynemer]

Both things are terrible, AH.

I... I...

what?

[MRT144]

Thats kinda funny but honestly, let the potheads work. It's ridiculous that to complain that weed excludes too many applicants and potheads are shiftless bums but then insist it be illegal despite all we know about it. Creating a situation for people to fail despite harm being questionable.