BUENA PARK : City to Test Some New Hires for Drugs
Prospective employees in “safety-sensitive areas” must submit to a drug test before being hired under a policy recently adopted by the City Council.
A drug urinalysis also will be administered to employees being promoted in certain departments, including police, fire, public works, and parks and recreation, said Director of Administrative Services Larry Temple.
“It was designed in an effort to prevent the hiring of individuals whose use of alcohol or drugs could impair job performance or create safety concerns,” Temple said.
In case of a positive test result, potential hires are given a chance to appeal and can be retested.
Under the conditions of the current labor contracts, an employee can be tested when there is a “reasonable suspicion” that he or she is using drugs on the job.
Union representatives have reviewed the new policy and agreed to the testing procedures, officials said. The initial cost of the program is estimated at $8,000.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
