Urine cheaters may get sacked

Major mining companies in the Pilbara have said they will take a hard-line stance towards workers trying to con drug tests with synthetic urine.

BHP Billiton has said any employees or contractors found tampering with samples face disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

A leading toxicologist said 2-5 per cent of workers “beat the system” and the internet had grown this culture in recent times.

“This (urine tampering) has probably been going on for two decades or so,” said ChemCentre manager of forensic toxicology Robert Hansson.

“As laboratory detection methods have become more sophisticated, there has always been a cohort in society which looks at ways of beating the system.

“It is certainly happening in the Pilbara and across the rest of the State.”

Mr Hansson said samples produced that were lower than body temperature (37 degrees) were highly likely to be synthetic.

One contractor, who wished to remain anonymous, said he had heard of people using other peoples’ urine, stored in condoms, to fool tests but had never encountered synthetic urine in the workplace.

A BHP spokesman said the company had a strong commitment to operating a sophisticated, 24-hour random drug and alcohol program.

“We have a number of controls in place in our screening processes and any employees or contractors found to be tampering with or substituting urine will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment,” the spokesman said.

A Fortescue spokeswoman said they had never come across workers trying to flout drug tests with synthetic urine.

“Workers are breath tested everyday, but we manage issues like this with a holistic focus,” she said.