Chevron Fires 8 in Drug-Use Probe

A company investigation of drug use at the Chevron refinery in El Segundo has led to the termination of eight Chevron employees and 11 employees of a contractor being barred from working at the sprawling facility, a company spokesman said.

Private investigators hired by the oil firm uncovered the use of small amounts of cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana, according to Chevron spokesman Rod Spackman.

“As soon as we received this information, we felt it was important to act quickly and promptly. This all developed in the space of a couple of weeks,” said Spackman.

The Chevron employees, who had worked at the refinery from one to 13 years, were either maintenance or security personnel, he said. None of the workers, who were paid from $9.50 to $16 an hour, were supervisors.

The investigation was announced in a July 20 memorandum to all employees from Mike Holmes, general manager of the refinery.