Two TTC employees fail random alcohol, drug tests

Last month, the TTC announced it will be implementing a new random drug and alcohol testing program.

And on Wednesday afternoon, the TTC announced that on May 8, its first day of testing, a worker in a safety-sensitive position tested positive for alcohol by blowing over .04 on a breathalyzer – the threshold established for alcohol impairment at the TTC.

As well, the TTC was advised by its third party administrator of the random drug and alcohol program that a different worker, who was also tested on Monday, had a positive test result for drugs although the substance was undisclosed.

The TTC is only advised of pass/fail for drug tests, though they say that a medical review officer does make efforts to review positive drug test results with the employee first before the TTC is advised of the result.

“All of the 10,000 employees working in more than 1,400 positions that are designated as safety sensitive, are critical to ensuring the TTC operates safely and provides a safe workplace,” said TTC CEO Andy Byford in a statement. “The fact that two failed tests were registered in the first three days of testing indicates that the TTC is justified in implementing this program.”

The testing is part of the TTC’s fitness for duty policy to improve the safety of its workplace, its customers and all Toronto road users, according to the TTC.

Byford said that while these initial test failures are concerning, “the overwhelming majority of TTC employees, including those in safety sensitive positions, are professionals that attend work fit for duty and with the safety of their customers and colleagues as their absolute priority.”

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